Punjab
Land of Five Rivers
Overview
Quick facts at a glance
An agrarian northwestern state known as India's breadbasket, with a strong Sikh cultural heritage centred on Amritsar.
History
How Punjab came to be
Historically a crossroads of Vedic, Persian and Central Asian influences; became the seat of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh before Partition split it in 1947.
Earlier / Historical Names
- East Punjab (1947–56)
Did You Know?
Surprising highlights
Punjab produces a large share of India's wheat despite its small land area.
The Golden Temple's community kitchen serves free meals to over 100,000 people daily.
State Symbols
Emblems of identity
Culture & Festivals
Living traditions
Folk Dances
- Bhangra
- Giddha
Traditional Dress
Kurta-pajama and turban for men; salwar-kameez for women
Festival Carousel
Cuisine
Flavours of Punjab
Rich, buttery Punjabi cuisine built around tandoor cooking and dairy.
Popular Dishes
Popular Sweets
Tourism & Attractions
Places to explore
Top Attractions
Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Harike Wildlife Sanctuary
Geography & Nature
The lay of the land
Major Rivers
- Sutlej
- Beas
- Ravi
Mountain Ranges
- Shivalik foothills
Major Lakes
- Harike Wetland
On the Map of India
Location & land neighbours
Neighbouring States & UTs
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Jammu and Kashmir
Economy & Agriculture
How Punjab works
Agriculture anchors the economy, supported by agro-based industry and manufacturing hubs like Ludhiana.
Key Industries
- Agro-processing
- Textiles
- Sports goods (Jalandhar)
Major Crops
- Wheat
- Rice
- Cotton
Largest Producer Of
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Getting around Punjab
Airports
- Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar
Education & Research
Centres of learning
Major Universities
- Punjabi University, Patiala
- Panjab University, Chandigarh
Research Institutes
- Punjab Agricultural University
Heritage & GI Tags
Craft & legacy
GI-Tagged Treasures
Monuments
Handicrafts
Prominent Personalities
Icons of Punjab
Interactive Timeline
Tap any milestone to expand
Frequently Asked
Good to know
Sources & Verification
Authoritative references used to verify facts on this page
Sources
- Know India — National Portal of India — Government
- Survey of India — Government
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways — Government
- Indian Railways (Ministry of Railways) — Government
- Airports Authority of India — Government
- University Grants Commission — Government
Last verified: 02 July 2026 · Facts without a listed source are marked “Verification Pending” and are being audited progressively via the CMS.
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