Things to Do in Punjab

Sikhism's holiest gurdwara, gold-clad and floating on a still tank of nectar.

The birthplace of the Khalsa, one of the five supreme seats of Sikh authority.

Solemn memorial to the two youngest Sahibzade, bricked alive by the Mughals in 1704.

Amritsar's silver-doored Hindu answer to the Golden Temple, floating on its own sacred tank.

Nine-storey octagonal tower dedicated to Baba Atal Rai, taller than the Golden Temple itself.

Founded by Guru Arjan Dev around the largest sacred tank in Sikhism.

Where the Chali Mukte — the Forty Liberated Ones — died fighting for Guru Gobind Singh.

Ancient ashram of the sage Valmiki, where Luv and Kush were born.

One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, built around a tank that has drawn pilgrims for 200 years.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh's royal 1936 temple to Kali, still Patiala's most active shrine.

Where the 75-year-old warrior-saint fell, head in one hand and khanda in the other.

Moshe Safdie's shining museum of Sikh history, the most visited in India.

The world's first museum dedicated to the human story of the 1947 partition.

Maharaja Narinder Singh's 1847 pleasure palace, home to the world's largest medal collection.

The walled garden where General Dyer's troops opened fire on unarmed Baisakhi crowds in 1919.

The 18th-century fort-palace of the Patiala maharajas, with the Darbar Hall of Ranjit Singh.

1900-year-old mud-brick fort where Razia Sultana was imprisoned in 1240.

The theatrical lowering of the flags between India and Pakistan, every evening at sundown.

A 40-acre secret garden of sculptures made from industrial waste — one man's 18-year obsession.

A 12-acre living Punjabi village where you can churn butter, ride a camel and eat a full sarson-da-saag lunch.

The city's man-made rainwater lake at the foot of the Shivaliks — Chandigarh's morning ritual.

A 1916 institution where the dal makhani has been simmering for more than a century.

Kulchas, chole bhature, phirni and lassi at the stalls that made Amritsar's reputation.

Amritsar's oldest shopping street for phulkari, papad, warian and juttis.