Punjab is an Indian State situated in the North-West part of India. It is the 12th largest state by area and 16th largest state by population. It has Jammu and Kashmir to the North, Himachal Pradesh to the East, Haryana to the South and South-East, Rajasthan to the South-West and shares International Border with Pakistan to the West. It is comprised of 22 districts and Punjabi is the most spoken language in the state.
History of Punjab
The name of Punjab was found during the Indus Valley Civilization and the entrance of the Aryans in India. The State was captured by Alexandar the Great in 330 BC which was again recaptured by Chandragupta Maurya. It has been part of the Sultanate, Mughal, and British and so on. In the contemporary history, Punjab State was bifurcated into two during the Indo-Pakistan partition. After Independence, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana were carved out of the Punjab State.
Geography
Punjab is a sub-tropical region and receives average rainfall. It is very hot in Summer and cold in Winter. It has various ranges of flora and fauna. The Punjab State is known for fertile land and many rivers.
Economy
Punjab is majorly an Agriculture based state. It is the highest Wheat Producing State of India. It produces 10.26% of India’s cotton, 19.5% of India’s Wheat and 11% of India’s rice. The significance of Punjab can be understood from the fact that it produces 2% of World’s cotton, 2% of World’s Wheat and 1% of World’s rice. It also produces vegetables, Sugarcane, fruits and other crops. The Textile Industry is one of the biggest in Punjab along with the Manufacturing and Agro Industries. The tourism industry is also one of the biggest in Punjab.
Administration
The Administrative Capital of Punjab is Chandigarh. The major cities of Punjab are Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Patiala, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and others.
Culture
The State is known for vibrant culture and enriched cultural history. Most of the people in Punjab are Punjabi Sikhs. However, people from other communities also found in Punjab. Golden Temple of Amritsar is one of the most important religious places for the Sikhism. Punjabi Bhangra and folk songs are very famous through the country. Punjabi cuisine of Sarso da Sag is also equally famous. Punjab is known for the Sports Enthusiasm and many people from the state reached the highest level of the respective sports.