» Anandpur Sahib

One of the holiest Sikh Shrines, Anandpur Sahib lies 75 km towards Dharamsala from Chandigarh. Apart from the famous gurudwara, this historical site also boasts of an imposing 17th century fortress. Nature has been generous here. Much of the year, vast green expanses will greet the visitor during the journey and also at the destination. Be they the kharif (summer) crops of maize and paddy or the rabi (winter) wheat emblazoned with mustard, there is a profusion of sylvan tranquillity all round. .

Punjab is sometimes called the granary of India. Its villages, large and small, are key to the robust Punjabi attitude to life that has evolved through cross-cultural influences down the ages. The region is also home to the origin of the Sikh faith whose founder Guru Nanak preached here till his death 460 years ago in 1539. With neighbouring Haryana, Punjab shares its capital at Chandigarh where excellent train, road and air services.

As one goes towards the interior, some of the elders will readily draw up a cot to sit and barter information over a drink of sugarcane juice. Interspersed with gentle Gurmukhi, the language of the Granth Sahib or holy scripture of the faith, the conversation will veer round to the quality of the crop, the prices of agricultural inputs and how modern technology has been double-edged in its possibilities for multicropping but at escalating cost!

» Places to Stay in Anandpur Sahib

Free accomodation at the gurudwara or standard hotels at Nangal and Ropar.

» How to Get there

Air : Nearest Airport at Chandigarh (75km away)

Rail : Nearest railhead at Nangal

Road : A good network of bus services connects Anandpur Sahib with many places.