In 1947, Partition split the province of Punjab up, giving a portion to India and a portion to the newly created Pakistan. It was a traumatic, violent episode in the region’s history, but today, India’s Punjab is a joyful, inviting place. History and religion hold hands everywhere you go, from the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamasala, to the Raj-remnant Shimla and mystical Rishikesh. Punjab state itself is the homeland for India’s wonderfully welcoming Sikh community. It’s dotted with gleaming temples, with the 16th century Golden Temple in Amritsar its mind-blowing centrepiece. In its inner sanctum, priests and musicians chant from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, while elsewhere in Punjab, frequent festivals bounce to a soundtrack of Bhangra beats. Butter chicken is a famous foodie speciality, as are syrupy gulab jamuns. It’s a heady mix. In fact, forget just sightseeing – a visit to Punjab is about immersing the senses and opening the mind to magical, memorable experiences.

Discover more in our Punjab travel guide.

The larger Punjab geographical and cultural region is known as ‘The Land of Five Rivers’, and much of lies within Pakistan. In India, the Punjab region includes the states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and, yes, Punjab. It’s an established destination for travelers, with most organised tours roaming from the hot, fertile plains of Punjab into the cool and lofty Himalayan foothills. Tours often begin in Delhi, with long distances on trains or bumpy roads unavoidable on a typical fortnight’s itinerary. Amritsar to Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, for example, is best done by sleeper train, while sensational scenery makes up for six hours on the ‘toy train’ from Kalka to Shimla.