More about Punjab

Punjab is the land of chivalry and cheer. It is also a state that offers the finger-licking food. The mustard fields of Punjab are well-known, and so is the spirit of service of its natives. Here are a few more interesting facts about this north Indian state.

The land of five rivers

Punjab means the land of five rivers. The word has been derived from the Persian words panj (five) and aab (water). The five rivers namely Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej ran through pre-Independence Punjab, and are now divided between India and Pakistan. The presence of five rivers is the reason why Punjab’s soil is conducive for wheat cultivation, and hence it is also called the Wheat Bowl of India.

Home to the first planned city

Chandigarh is India’s first planned city after Independence. Its layout was designed for the people of west Punjab who had migrated after Independence. The city has a good green cover and well-maintained streets. It is also home to the famous Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden and Chandi Devi Mandir. Chandigarh’s proximity to the Shivaliks (lower Himalayas) makes it a good base destination to reach Shimla, Solan and other hill stations.

Most visited tourist site

According to the World Book of Records, the United Kingdom, the Golden Temple in Amritsar is the most visited tourist place in the world. The Golden Temple or Shri Harmandir Sahib is believed to be the most important pilgrimage site in Sikhism. The temple welcomes people from all walks of life; it also runs a free and massive community kitchen called langar where thousands of people are fed daily.

Trigarta

In the olden days, Punjab was known as Trigarta. It was a kingdom as mentioned in the ancient scripture Mahabharata. Mahabharata talks about two different Trigarta kingdoms–one towards the west near the Sivi Kingdom and the second north to the Kuru Kingdom. Trigarta is the territory surrounding Satluj, Beas, and Ravi rivers. It is believed that the Trigarta kings were allies of the antagonist Duryodhana. They had attacked the Virata kingdom when the Pandavas were living there in anonymity.