Located in the northwestern part of India, Punjab is one of India's most prosperous states. The state attracts hundreds of visitors from around the world with its culture, food, spirituality, and history.
Punjab is home to many important sites to the Sikh community. The most famous one is the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The state is also home to many forts and palaces, such as Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala, Lodhi Fort in Ludhiana, and Jagatjit Palace in Kapurthala.
Highlights
- The Golden Temple in Amritsar is famous for being made of marble and gold.
- The Rock Garden of Chandigarh is home to more than 2,000 sculptures made from urban and industrial waste.
- Qila Mubarak in Bathinda is one of the oldest surviving forts in India.
- The Imam Nasir Masjid is an 800-year-old mosque built on the Grand Trunk Road of Jalandhar.
- The Mukteshwar Temple is a 350-year-old temple located on top of the Mukteshwar hill station near Pathankot.
1. Amritsar
Recommended visiting time: 2–3 days
Amritsar is a city located about 15 miles east of the border with Pakistan. It is Punjab's largest and most important city as it is the commercial, cultural, and transportation center as well as being the spiritual capital of Sikhism.
The Golden Temple there is the city's most famous attraction. Restored by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1830, the temple is made of marble and gold and attracts Sikhs seeking divine comfort and religious fulfillment from around the world. It is especially beautiful at night when its magnificent gold dome is illuminated.
Jallianwala Bagh near the Golden Temple was the site of the 1919 Amritsar massacre, where a large group of unarmed protesters was shot by British troops. Visitors can see the walls of the garden still bearing bullet marks and also a gallery filled with pictures of Indian freedom fighters.
- Perfect for: history lovers
- Insider tip: Visitors should remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the Golden Temple.
2. Chandigarh
Recommended visiting time: 2–3 days
The capital city of Punjab, Chandigarh is the best-planned city in India. It is situated on the Indo-Gangetic Plain and is about 165 miles north of New Delhi. With its well-developed infrastructure and relatively low population density, the culture there combines both traditional Punjab and modernity.
The main attraction in this city is the 25-acre Rock Garden of Chandigarh. In this massive open-air exhibition hall, visitors can see more than 2,000 odd sculptures made from urban and industrial waste. They were all created by the artist Nek Chand over a period of 20 years.
Nature lovers can visit Sukhna Lake. Located at the foot of the Shivalik Hills, this man-made lake entertains its visitors with views of its pristine blue waters. For couples wanting a romantic date, you can also rent a boat to paddle across the lake.
- Perfect for: couples on vacation
- Insider tip: Sukhna Lake is closed from May to July.
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Accommodations by Asia highlights have
Accommodations by Asia highlights have been terrific so far. The Khmer Residence in Siem Reap as well as Eastin Grand hotel in Bangkok. Both had excellent pools and breakfasts.Tours in Siem Reap were particularly well given with an amazing mix of culture, history and humor throughout (Mr Poly). Tours in Bangkok by Mr Banks were informative and well organized with samples of Thai fruit and treats throughout. More
Chris Williams, Nov 2023
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Seeing Bangkok with ease
In Bangkok, our tour guide, Ying, was wonderful. She navigated all the sights with ease, gave us interesting tidbits on Thai culture and history, helped us pick the right food at all the restaurants, and was just a pleasure to be around. We had a great time, and it was so nice to not have to worry about any of the details. More
Diane Elkins, Nov 2023
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Thailand- October 2023!
The team in Thailand was also great. Shout out to our tour guides (Monchai in Bangkok, Indy in Chang Mai and Sonia in Phuket) they were the best!! It was 6 of us and they make us all feel right at home! Kudos! More
Mori P, Nov 2023
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3. Patiala
Recommended visiting time: 1–2 days
Situated about 30 miles southwest of Chandigarh, Patiala is the fourth-largest city in Punjab. The city has an amazing resemblance to the 18th and 19th-century Punjab, particularly the Malwa region, with its structures blending a mixture of Mughal and Rajput architecture.
One of the city's best attractions is Moti Bagh Palace. This magnificent palace was originally built in the 1840s and was expanded in 1920. The structure is a Rajasthani architectural marvel with the presence of elevated, dome-shaped pavilions and overhanging enclosed balconies.
Another great example of the blend between Mughal and Rajasthani architectural styles is the Qila Mubarak complex. Travelers can visit various sections of the complex, such as the Ran Baas, or guesthouse, and the Darbar Hall, which holds a museum containing rare cannons, swords, shields, and maces.
- Perfect for: history lovers
- Insider tip: Patiala is famous for its slip-on leather footwear called jutti, which can be a perfect item for a souvenir.
4. Bathinda
Recommended visiting time: 1–2 days
Bathinda is one of the oldest cities in India. It is famous for being a historical and religious hub dating back to 7000 BC. This city is particularly significant for the Sikh community as the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, fought bravely against the Mughals.
Qila Mubarak in Bathinda is one of the oldest surviving forts in India, which is believed to have been constructed between 90 and 110 AD. Visitors can go by the gurdwara, which is a Sikh place of assembly, to honor Guru Gobind Singh.
For nature lovers or those looking for a nice picnic area, the Rose Garden in Bathinda is the perfect place for you. This 10-acre garden is filled with well-maintained lush greenery and a wide variety of rose species.
- Perfect for: history and nature lovers
- Insider tip: the Rose Garden is best enjoyed during the winter when the roses are in bloom.
5. Jalandhar
Recommended visiting time: 1 day
Jalandhar, also called Jullundur, is an ancient city located about 20 miles east of the Beas River. The city was part of the historic Indus Valley Civilization and has grown to be an important commercial and industrial hub, especially for sporting goods.
The Imam Nasir Masjid is an 800-year-old mosque built on one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads, the Grand Trunk Road in Jalandhar. The mosque reflects a Mughal style of architecture, with four minarets surrounding it and mural designs drawn on its walls.
Devi Talab Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas or pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism. There, travelers can see a pond where devotees take a dip as a sign of blessing and salvation and a shrine depicting Lord Shiva sitting on a tiger.
- Perfect for: history lovers
- Insider tip: Stay back during the evening to see the stunning lights coming from the Imam Nasir Masjid.
6. Ludhiana
Recommended visiting time: 1–2 days
Ludhiana is the largest city in Punjab, located on the banks of the Sutlej River. Called the Manchester of India, Ludhiana is named as the easiest city in India to do business in according to the World Bank. It is particularly famous for its legwear industry.
Lodhi Fort is the prime landmark of Ludhiana. Built around 500 years ago by the Muslim ruler, Sikander Lodhi, the place was a military fort that kept out many intruders. Although the fort has not been well-maintained, it still attracts travelers from around the world.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum showcases extensive records of India's history. The museum holds 12 galleries that tackle different subjects, such as India's ancient history, India's post-independence period, and the Kargil War.
- Perfect for: history lovers
- Insider tip: Visit Ludhiana in February to witness the Rural Olympics, a sports competition with games such as cart racing, rope pulling, and horse races.
7. Pathankot
Recommended visiting time: 1 day
Pathankot is a city in the Pathankot district. It shares an international border with Pakistan on its west side. The city is located at the meeting point of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and Kashmir and serves as a travel hub for these states.
The Mukteshwar Temple is a 350-year-old temple located on top of the Mukteshwar hill station near Pathankot. The temple is one of the 18 most important temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. There, travelers can see many idols of Hindu deities, such as Shiva, Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu, Parvati, Hanuman, and Nandi.
Ashapurni Mandir is one of the oldest temples in Pathankot. Built before the arrival of the British, this ancient temple is dedicated to Goddess Ashapurni, a manifestation of Goddess Shakti. Many people go there to seek blessings from the goddess as she is said to grant her followers' wishes.
- Perfect for: people interested in culture
- Insider tip: Trekking up to the Mukteshwar Temple will take about 2 hours.
8. Kapurthala
Recommended visiting time: 1–2 days
Kapurthala is a city located 12 miles west of Jalandhar and is also the least populated city in India, with a population of slightly over 100,000. Often referred to as the 'Paris of Punjab', Kapurthala is an agricultural and industrial market for producing chemicals, paints, and pharmaceutical products.
Jagatjit Palacewas built in 1908 and served as the residence of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, the maharaja of the state of Kapurthala. The palace features French and Indo-Saracenic styles of architecture and is now the residence of the Sainik School, which trains boys for the National Defense Academy.
The Moorish Mosque is considered to be one of the best mosques in Southeast Asia. Built by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, the architecture and design of the mosque were inspired by the Grand Mosque of Marrakesh in Morocco. It is carved out of marble and features glass panes on its gates, doors, and windows.
- Perfect for: architecture lovers
- Insider tip: Kapurthala is best visited during the winter months from November to February.
9. Mohali
Recommended visiting time: 1 day
Located to the west of Chandigarh, Mohali is a commercial hub and the administrative headquarters of the Mohali district. The city forms a tri-city with Chandigarh and Panchkula. While housing many historical places, Mohali has quickly become the IT hub of Punjab.
When visiting Mohali, you should visit the Fateh Burj. Situated in the historical village of Chappar Chiri, it is the tallest victory memorial in the entire country with a height of 100 meters. You can get an amazing aerial view of the surrounding city from the top of the tower.
Another place to visit in Mohali is Gurdwara Amb Sahib. The colossal white structure features pillared corridors with multiple archways at its entrance and a central dome, which reflects the Sikh type of architecture. The place is also famous for its mango trees, which bear fruit in all seasons.
- Perfect for: people interested in sightseeing
- Insider tip: Gurdwara Amb Sahib is open daily from 4:30am to 8pm.
10. Ropar
Recommended visiting time: 1–2 days
The ancient city of Ropar, also known as Rupnagar, is located about 20 miles northwest of Chandigarh. It is said to be named after Rup Sen, the son of Gujjar Raja Rokeshar who ruled during the 11th century.
For animal lovers, Ropar Wetland is the perfect place to go to. This ecological zone is a man-made wetland that is home to many kinds of endangered animals including nine species of mammals, 35 species of fish, and nine species of arthropods.
Travelers can also stop by the Archaeological Museum. Opened to the public in 1998, the museum displays archaeological remains from the first Harappan site excavated nearby. Some of the artifacts include steatite seals, copper and bronze implements, ring stone,jewelry beads, and gold coins dating back to the time of Chandragupta.
- Perfect for: people interested in sightseeing
- Insider tip: The Archaeological Museum is open daily, except on Fridays, from 10am to 5pm.
11. Sirhind
Recommended visiting time:
The city of Sirhind is located about 45 kilometers southwest of Chandigarh. Also known as Gurumaari, Sirhind is famous for its rich history and is a popular pilgrimage destination for the Sikh community.
One of the city's best attractions is Aam Khas Bagh. This Mughal garden was originally constructed by Emperor Akbar as a resting place or vacation inn. There are several Mughal era monuments around the garden that you can visit, such as the Sard Khana and the Sheesh Mahal.
After going around some of the attractions in Sirhind, make a stop at India's first Floating Restaurant on the Sirhind Canal. Guests are entertained with the view of flowing blue water underneath while they enjoy their meals due to the presence of glass panels on the restaurant's floor.
- Perfect for: people interested in sightseeing
- Insider tip: The Floating Restaurant is open daily from 9am to 11pm.
12. Anandpur
Recommended visiting time: 1–2 days
Anandpur Sahib, simply known as Anandpur, is located in the district of Rupnagar, 95 kilometers northwest of Chandigarh and close to the Pakistan border. It is one of the holiest places for Sikhism as the place where the Khalsa Panth, the worldwide community of Sikhs, was formed.
Anandpur houses many gurdwaras, which are Sikh places of assembly, that were built to commemorate various gurus. The most famous one is Gurdwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, which marks the birthplace of the Khalsa Panth and one of the five religious authorities (five Takhts) of Sikhism.
You can also visit Virasat-e-Khalsa, a museum of Sikhism, which was built to honor and celebrate the glorious Sikh history. Built in a fortress-style design, the museum holds relics and memoirs of previous Sikh warriors as well as scriptures written by Guru Gobind Singh.
- Perfect for: history lovers
- Insider tip: Visit Anandpur during Holi to celebrate a unique version of the festival. Instead of throwing colored powder, travelers are entertained with mock battles featuring sticks, knives, axes, and swords.
Explore Punjab with Us
The city of Punjab is filled with attractions ready for the world to discover. Contact us to start planning your trip there. Our experts can help you make the perfect trip where everything is tailor-made to suit your preferences.
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It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.)
moreFrom the time we landed in Beijing until we left, we were well taken care of. My wife and I had Lily Liu as our guide and she was amazing. From arranging visits to all the different sights, to teaching us the history, it was fantastic.
moreThe tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history
moreWe made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreOther highlights are too many to mention but here are a few Ken taking us to the Terracotta Warriors and our food tour in Xian was amazing,
moreOur day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China.
moreWe had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreWe traveled to China during the Chinese new year and we had Kris as our guide and he is simply knowledgeable,helpful and great.
moreWe visited Guilin for 2 days and stayed in the Guilin Waterfall hotel. Guilin was absolutely beautiful! Our guide, William, was very knowledgeable and kind! He taught us so much about Guilin and the surrounding area! We really enjoyed trying the specialty rice noodles of Guilin. Our highlight was the Li river cruise.
moreAmazing tour and the guide Mr. 贺霄 was very accommodating with our needs and request as we have bought our 2 years old with us. Well explained for all the place we visited. Any additional cost were informed well ahead and didn't felt any pressure if we opt not to go for additional detour. The trip was relaxing/ laid back/no rushing with zero shopping!
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