Journey to India - Atithi Devo Bhav - PUNJAB

GOLDEN TEMPLE (NIGHT VIEW)

India is a country of snake charmers, superstition, poverty, unemployment amongst many more. There would be thousands of factors which would pull back the guests across the world to visit our country on the basis of above. But is it so. Is our inbound tourist thinking of it?

Probably, yes. They shall have so many questions regarding the current scenario of the country where every second day a rape is taking place in a metropolitan city, and every two months there is a terror threat issued by the respective embassies of the country. But despite all this, I would still like to say one thing, that India still holds that value system and that courage and valor to support the country and we Indians with open arms welcome everyone in this country.

Let me take you to the journey of our country with my thoughts and imaginations. This country is the land of various cultures and traditions, various languages and dialects, various religions and their sub religions and various gods of each region. Yet there is one undying factor which connects all and that is love and compassion for their own people and respect for their guests, irrespective of few bad apples in the whole lot.

So, in my first blog let me take you across to my own state of Punjab. Punjab has derived its name from five rivers in this region. This region is known for agricultural land and warm hearted people. Here the guests are welcomed with love and the love is in the form of food and the amount of ghee(clarified butter) in the food. Our guest first destination in Punjab is Amritsar. Amritsar means holy pond which is significant of pond in Golden Temple (Sri Harmandar Sahib). It is the spiritual center of Sikh Religion and guest across the world come here to experience the serene beauty of Golden Temple. Golden Temple has its ultimate view during night with its glowing lights. Also the fireworks in festivals are very well appreciated and liked by the guests in Golden Temple.

The other place of interest in Punjab are Jalandar, Ludhiana, Anandpur Sahib, Beas amongst others. Also Wagah Border (Indo-Pak Border) is also a major tourist attraction.

The local food eateries are also one thing which attracts tourists in Punjab. Here, they all want to try their hand on Lassi to Amritsari Kulcha and Tandoori Chicken. The handicrafts of Punjab has also major contribution to the tourism of Punjab which includes hand embroidered Phulkari, the ebony chess boards, Punjabi Jutti's amongst others. 

A Farmer at his work, with the paddy crop

Punjab is also one state which promotes wellness tourism and rural tourism where tourists across the world can come here and experience fresh air and open agricultural lands. They can also imbibe the local agricultural techniques from the farmers in Punjab to inculcate in their own set up and experiment. Here the guests in home stays are welcomed and treated as god since we are taught that guests always come in the form of god. The major wheat producing state has inculcated latest machinery and tools to extract maximum yield of their farming product. Also dairy farming is widely practiced in Punjab which is also a major industry of this state and can benefit the tourist in understanding it.

Therefore I hope I am able to present a short write up which shall go deep in the thoughts of our guests and they shall take our country beyond their imaginations and give us a chance to serve them and be their perfect hosts.