Before you go
Border: the Kartarpur corridor at Dera Baba Nanak has been suspended since 7 May 2025 (ThePrint/PTI, 31 July 2026). Attari retreat runs 5:00-5:30 PM from 16 October 2026 (UNI); gates stay shut, no handshake since May 2025.
Holy cities: Amritsar's walled city, Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo (declared 24 November 2025): liquor, meat and tobacco restricted in notified areas. Book SGPC sarais only at sgpcsarai.com; fake sites have taken payments (The Tribune).
Top places to visit in Punjab
One place from each district that our guide covers in depth.
Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
The central Sikh shrine, in the Amrit Sarovar; Guru Ka Langar serves free meals to about 20,000 people a day, up to 100,000 on special days; remove shoes and cover your head (Amritsar district portal).
Barnala (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Barnala district, formed 19 November 2006 (Wikipedia).
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo
Guru Gobind Singh stayed nine months and nine days here and re-dictated the Adi Granth; ten gurdwaras and three tanks; Baisakhi fair (Bathinda district portal).
Faridkot (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Faridkot district, formed 7 August 1972 (Wikipedia).
Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib
Marks the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh at Sirhind; complex includes Bhora Sahib, Burj Mata Gujri and Shahid Ganj (Incredible India).
Asafwala Shaheedon Ki Samadhi
War memorial and museum to soldiers killed in the 1971 war, kept by a local committee with civil and army support (Incredible India).
National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainiwala
Where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were cremated on 23 March 1931; memorial set up in 1968; Bhagat Singh's mother Vidyavati was also cremated here (Incredible India).
Dera Baba Nanak
Town tied to Guru Nanak's later life, facing Kartarpur Sahib across the border (Incredible India). The Kartarpur corridor has been suspended since 7 May 2025 (ThePrint, 31 July 2026).
Hoshiarpur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Hoshiarpur district, formed British-era district; parts went to SBS Nagar in 1995 (Wikipedia).
Devi Talab Mandir
Durga temple of about 200 years with a sacred tank and a Kali shrine; Incredible India counts it among the 51 Shakti Peethas (Incredible India).
Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi
Marks the ber tree where Guru Nanak attained enlightenment, by Sikh tradition (Incredible India).
Museum of Rural Life, PAU
Two-storey museum of 18th- and 19th-century rural Punjab objects on 4,000 sq yards, started by M.S. Randhawa; Incredible India calls it the only one of its kind (claim).
Shahi Maqbre and Haider Shaikh's dargah
Marble and enamelled tombs of the Nawabs, including Sher Mohammad Khan; the dargah of Haider Shaikh draws devotees of all faiths (Malerkotla district portal).
Mansa (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Mansa district, formed 13 April 1992 (Wikipedia).
Moga (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Moga district, formed 24 November 1995 (Wikipedia).
Mukteshwar Temple (Mukesaran)
Shiva cave temples above the Ravi linked by tradition with the Pandavas; open 24 hours; aarti 5:30 AM and 7 PM; langar 10 AM-6 PM (Pathankot district portal).
Sheesh Mahal, Patiala
Mirror-work palace with a museum said to hold about 3,200 orders, medals and decorations collected by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (Incredible India).
Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib
Where Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa on Baisakhi, 13 April 1699; displays twelve of his weapons; a serai of about 200 rooms (Rupnagar district portal).
Fateh Burj, Chappar Chiri
Tower of about 100 m built in 2011 for Banda Singh Bahadur's victory at Chappar Chiri in 1710; Incredible India calls it India's tallest victory tower (claim).
Banasar Bagh
Garden with a marble baradari in a tank and a marble gate, once the Jind rulers' summer retreat (Sangrur district portal).
Nawanshahr (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, formed 7 November 1995 (Wikipedia).
Sri Darbar Sahib, Muktsar
Principal shrine, first set up by Sikh families who settled here about 1743; the main celebration is Maghi in mid-January (Sri Muktsar Sahib district portal).
Sri Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran
Built by Guru Arjan Dev; its sarovar measures about 289 m (north), 283 m (south), 230 m (east) and 233 m (west); pilgrims gather on each amavasya (Tarn Taran district portal).
Districts of Punjab 23
23 (Malerkotla newest, 2021; Anandpur Sahib district proposed, not created) — 23 districts; Malerkotla newest (2021). Anandpur Sahib district announced in 2025 but not created as of 26 Oct 2026. Guides live for all 23.
Amritsar
The Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, the Partition Museum and the Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony.Highlights: Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Jallianwala Bagh, Partition MuseumBarnala
Malwa town once made his capital by Baba Ala Singh, founder of the Patiala line.Bathinda
Qila Mubarak fort, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo, and Maisar Khana.Highlights: Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Qila Mubarak, BathindaFaridkot
Former princely capital named after the Sufi saint Baba Farid.Fatehgarh Sahib
Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Rauza Sharif, Aam Khas Bagh and the Sanghol museum.Highlights: Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh SahibFazilka
Border town of "Bangla": the Asafwala 1971 war memorial and the Sadqi retreat ceremony.Highlights: Asafwala Shaheedon Ki Samadhi, Sadqi border retreat ceremonyFirozpur
Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial and border retreat, Saragarhi Gurdwara and the Anglo-Sikh war memorial.Highlights: National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainiwala, Saragarhi Gurdwara MemorialGurdaspur
Dera Baba Nanak, Batala's Kandh Sahib, Achaleshwar Dham, Qadian and the Chhota Ghallughara memorial.Highlights: Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdwara Sri Kandh Sahib, BatalaHoshiarpur
Shivalik foothill district: Dholbaha's ancient temple town, the archaeological museum, inlay craft and Takhni-Rehmapur sanctuary.Jalandhar
Devi Talab Mandir, the Harballabh music festival, the Jang-e-Azadi memorial and Nakodar's Mughal tombs.Highlights: Devi Talab Mandir, Jang-e-Azadi MemorialKapurthala
Sultanpur Lodhi's Ber Sahib, the Moorish Mosque, Jagatjit Palace and the Kanjli Ramsar wetland.Highlights: Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi, Moorish MosqueLudhiana
Industrial city on the Sutlej: the PAU Museum of Rural Life, the Ranjit Singh War Museum, gurdwaras at Alamgir and Machhiwara, and the new Halwara airport.Highlights: Museum of Rural Life, PAUMalerkotla
Former Nawabi state: Haider Shaikh's dargah, the Nawabs' tombs, Sheesh Mahal, Mubarak Manzil and the Kuka memorial.Highlights: Shahi Maqbre and Haider Shaikh's dargahMansa
Cotton-belt district of southern Malwa.Moga
Market town of the Malwa plains; Geeta Bhawan and village gurdwaras.Pathankot
Gateway to the hills: Mukteshwar caves, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Kathlour sanctuary, Atal Setu and the Dhar nature camp.Highlights: Mukteshwar Temple (Mukesaran), Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam), Kathlour Kushlian Wildlife SanctuaryPatiala
Royal Patiala: Sheesh Mahal, Baradari Gardens, Qila Mubarak, Bahadurgarh Fort and Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib.Highlights: Sheesh Mahal, Patiala, Baradari Gardens, Gurdwara Dukhnivaran SahibRupnagar
Anandpur Sahib (Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Virasat-e-Khalsa), Chamkaur Sahib, the Ropar Harappan museum and Nangal.Highlights: Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Virasat-e-KhalsaSAS Nagar
Mohali: Fateh Burj at Chappar Chiri, Chhatbir Zoo, Gurdwara Amb Sahib and the PCA stadium.Highlights: Fateh Burj, Chappar Chiri, Chhatbir Zoo (M.C. Zoological Park)Sangrur
Former Jind capital: Banasar Bagh, the Diwankhana museum, Mastuana Sahib and Udham Singh's house at Sunam.Highlights: Banasar BaghShaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar
Doaba district renamed for Bhagat Singh in 2008: Kirpal Sagar, Suraj Kund at Rahon and village gurdwaras.Sri Muktsar Sahib
Site of the battle of the Chali Mukte: Darbar Sahib, Tibbi Sahib and the Maghi mela.Highlights: Sri Darbar Sahib, MuktsarTarn Taran
Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran, Khadur Sahib, Goindwal Sahib and the Harike wetland.Highlights: Sri Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Gurdwara Khadur Sahib, Gurdwara Goindwal Sahib
Festivals and dates to plan around
- Attari retreat, winter timing — Attari-Wagah: 5:00-5:30 PM from 16 Oct 2026 (UNI)
- Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas — Golden Temple, Amritsar: 8 Nov 2026 (holiday list) (holiday list; to confirm)
- Shahidi Divas, Kartar Singh Sarabha — Statewide: 16 Nov 2026 (holiday list) (holiday list; to confirm)
- Guru Nanak Gurpurab — Statewide; Sultanpur Lodhi, Dera Baba Nanak: 24 Nov 2026 (holiday list) (holiday list; to confirm)
- Ram Tirath fair — Ram Tirath, Amritsar: Four days from the November full moon (district portal)
- Bhai Mani Singh fair — Longowal, Sangrur: From 27 Maghar, Nov-Dec (district portal)
- Guru Tegh Bahadur martyrdom day — Anandpur Sahib and statewide: 14 Dec 2026 (holiday list) (holiday list; to confirm)
- Parivar Vichhora fair — Rupnagar: Three days in December (district portal)
- Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan — Jalandhar: Late December; 2026 dates not yet found (150th edition began 26 Dec 2025)
- Shaheedi Sabha — Fatehgarh Sahib: 28 Dec 2026 (holiday list) (holiday list; to confirm)
- Maghi Mela — Sri Muktsar Sahib: Mid-January 2027 (district portal)
- Jodh Mela — Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur: 29-31 Jan 2027 (district portal, annual dates)
- Hola Mohalla — Anandpur Sahib: March 2027; dates to confirm