The Best of Punjab

Amritsar One of India&rsquos most visited tourist destinations, Amritsar is home to the Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, which is Sikhism&rsquos most important shrine. The grand shrine is known for its round-the-clock langar or &lsquofree kitchen&rsquo. Visitors to the religious centre also visit the Jallian&shywala Bagh, the site of the horrific Jallian&shywala massacre of 1919, where bullet marks are still visible hauntingly prominent. At the Wagah Border separating India and Pakistan, located 28kms from Amritsar, a ceremonial show happens every evening. Amritsar has an international airport located just 13km from the Golden Temple.

Harike Wetland A wetland is defined as a terrain knee-deep in water, and in India, the Harike Wetland located in Pun&shyjab is the largest. It is man-made, and serves the purpose of providing enough water to the visiting animals and birds. Imagine this&mdasha vast stretch of water with scattered patches of verdant flora seeming like a miniature version of our planet itself. Visit the Harike Bird Sanctuary that is ac&shycessed from Ferozepur. While it is a sanc&shytum for numerous endangered bird spe&shycies, the wetlands also support animals such as the mongoose, the Indian wild boar and the jackal. Ferozepur Cantonment is the nearest railway station to Harike.

Virasat-E-Khalsa A monumental em&shybodiment of the Sikh religion and its un&shyderlying culture and traditions, the Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum is a treat for anyone who wishes to learn anything about the re&shyligion. Located in Anandpur Sahib, the Mu&shyseum has an auditorium that can support 400 people, art galleries, a well-equipped library, exhibition spaces, digital and inter&shyactive spaces. And then there&rsquos the spell&shybinding architecture, complete with arches, walkways, bridges and even pools. Here, you learn everything from the origins of the Khalsa sect to the many gurus who have shaped its history. Anandpur Sahib is best accessed from Chandigarh (90kms).