Jalandhar was formerly known by the name Prasthala in the Mahabharatha and was renamed to Jullundur during British rule. The city along with the Pakistan acquired Multan are the 2 oldest cities in Punjab. The region surrounding the city is known as Jalandhar Doab which marked the eastern territory of the kingdom of Alexander the Great. Today Jalandhar is a prime commercial center with several industries. Jalandhar is situated on the Grand Trunk Road and before the arrival of Sikhism Hinduism was the main religion followed here. Jalandhar served as the capital of Punjab before the establishment of Chandigarh after Indian independence in 1947.
Tulsi Mandir is devoted to the wife of the demon Jalandhara, Vrinda. The nearby tank is an ancient pilgrim spot said to possess been used for bathing by Jalandhara. Near the temple complex one can also find a cave temple dedicated to the goddess Annapurna and plenty of smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.
How can one’s visit to any city in Punjab be complete, without experiencing the normal culinary delights? Well, the answer to that question is the Rangla Punjab Haveli a traditional Punjabi restaurant. The restaurant is legendary for the hospitality of the staff and is about in typical Punjabi village style interiors. The best time to go to the village is during the weekends where you’ll experience the food accompanied with the charming ethnic music and dance performances.
A Shakti Peeth which represents the spot, Devi Sati’s right breast fell at. Devi Talab Mandir is named after the 200 year old pond located within the temple complex. The best time to go to the temple is during the annual music festival which has been famous for being the most important competition for north Indian serious music for the last 125 years. The festival is held during the winter months of December.
Inaugurated on the 23rd of March, 1981, the Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Museum was established to mark the 50 years of the freedom fighter’s martyrdom. The precise location of the museum is at Khatkar Kalian which is that the ancestral village of Bhagat Singh. It contains various antiquities that belonged to the liberty fighter and items which were connected to his role within the Indian struggle for Independence.
Embracing a more modern past, Jalandhar also houses a topic park called the Wonderland amusement park. The Wonderland Park is spread in an area of 11 acres, and has many water-rides and mechanical rides including bumper cars, flying jets, horror house, flying dragon, side splash, boating, kiddies boating, play house, wave pool and a ritual dancing floor.
The science themed informative amusement center is named after Pushpa Gujral, the mother of former Indian Prime minister I.K. Gujral. It is located at the Jalandhar- Kapurthala Road and contains over 20 different science exhibits, a lake for boating and an enormous Dinosaur model.
Being an ancient city with a various culture, Jalandhar may be a must visit to experience the authentic roots of Punjab, the varied temples and eateries located in Jalandhar make it an unforgettable Indian tourist destination.