Jalandhar
Jalandhar is a city in Punjab, India.
Understand
Punjab's third largest city with a population of nearly one million has huge historic significance. Nearby flows the Beas River that marks the eastern-most border of Alexander the Great's conquests in 326 BCE. According to Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang or (Hsuan-tsang) who traveled to India between 627-643 CE, Adinapur (the current Jalalabad) was an important Buddhist center with lot of vihara (monasteries). At that time Adinapur was the capital of a powerful kingdom that encompassed a good part of southern Himachal Pardesh. But the city retains almost nothing of its past. Few archaeological relics are to the south, around Nakodar town. Jalandhar is now industrial center with leather goods and sport equipments being the big earners. This is a good place to share Punjabi people passion for foods
Get in
Travel options from Delhi include train and road travel. Jalandhar is well connected by trains, including a Shatabdi train from Delhi to Amritsar via Jalandhar which runs twice a day with air-conditioned chair car coaches. Jammu Mail, among others, runs in the night from Delhi to Jalandhar.
Apart from trains, Jalandhar is easy accessible by buses plying from all over the North India. There are many interstate buses connecting Jalandhar to the major towns of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan.
Jalandhar is well connected to all the major cities in Punjab by Public and Private buses. There are private buses connecting Jalandhar to the towns in other states but generally they don't have the legal permits and took much time as compared to state owned buses. However, these can be comfortable as compared to state buses depending upon the bus operator. There are air conditioned buses also which generally have valid permits.
There is no airport in Jalandhar but the nearest airport is in Amritsar at a distance of 100 km (90 mins). There are many airlines operating from Amritsar Airport connecting it to Europe, North America and Middle east. However the transport system connecting the airport to Jalandhar is poor, so it is advisable to book a taxi before you arrive.
Get around
- Rickshaw (pedicab)
- Auto-rickshaw
- Bus
- City cab (taxi)
See
- 1 Devi Talab Mandir, Nakodar Road. A replica of Amritsar Golden Temple.
- 2 Nikku Park. Nice park for strolling.
- 3 Sodal Mandir, Pathankot Road, Laxmi Pura.
- 4 Nakodar (24 km from Jalandhar). The town was founded by the Hindu Kamboh. The Kamboh settlements lay to the west of present town and the sites are still marked by extensive ruins and two old tombs, now called the Black and Red Domes, from the colour of the material. The large and handsome tombs dating at least from the times of Jahangir, the fourth Moghul Emperor (1569 – 1627). One of them is said to be the burial place of the adviser of Emperor Shah Jahan, but it is not known who is buried in the other tomb.
Do
- Bowling - Prithvi's Planet
- 1 Pushpa Gujral Science City. Almost all students in Punjab are taken on school trips to visit Science City.
- 2 Wonderland (8 km from bus stand). One the best place for enjoyment for one day outing for the entire family with thrilling rides, water games and many more.
Buy
Jalandhar is India's foremost producer of sports goods. Its traditional clothes (salwar suits, sarees etc.), Punjabi jutis (slippers) and jewels are also very famous. There are lot of local jewelers for non-branded jewelery at Phoolan Waala Chowk while branded jewelery are located at Model Town market
- 1 Bombay Jewellers, Model Town Road (Adj. Hotel Skylark), ☏ +91 181-2233811. 11AM-7PM. Gold and diamond jewellery.
- Jai Krishna Jewellers (Nakshatra Diamond Dealer), Prakash Nagar Road,.
- Sheikhan bazaar.
- 2 Tanishq & World of Titan, 410 L, Model Town Market (Parkash Nagar Road), ☏ +91 181 246 5392, toll-free: 18002660123, wksjn@titan.co.in. 10:30AM-8PM. Jewellery and watches. Sub brand of Tata Group.
- 3 Viva Collage Shopping Mall, National Highway 1, ☏ +91 85568 93369. Jalandhar's largest shopping mall, featuring a five-screen multiplex.
Eat
Jalandhar offers a variety of delicious authentic Punjabi food. Some of the "must-eat" dishes are:
- Aloo ka paratha, bread stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes.
- Channa Bhatura, chickpeas cooked in a spicy onion-tomato and served with fried Indian bread called bhatura.
- Falooda, a cold beverage made from mixing rose syrup, vermicelli, psyllium.
- Kulfi, frozen dairy dessert served as ice cream.
- Lassi, refreshing drink prepared by blending yogurt with water and adding sugar and other spices.
- Makki di roti, a flat, backed bread made from corn flour. It's accompanied with saag or sarson da saag (cooked mustard green leaves).
Traditional Punjabi cuisine
- Chana kulcha at Dina nath (opposite DAV college).
- The Great Kabab Factory (At Radisson Hotel). A wide selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian kababs and curries
- 1 Headquarters, New Jawahar Nagar. Mixed cuisine
- 2 Heat 7, H.0.569-570, New Jawahar Nagar Market (Near GTB Market), ☏ +91 181 223 3227, +91 97815 73700 (Mobile). Fast food restaurant. Indian, Punjabi, Chinese and other dishes
- 3 Lovely Sweets, Nakodar Road, Jyoti Chowk, ☏ +91 98764 77777. 9AM-9PM. Candy store
- 4 Manni Vaishno Dhaba, Connaught Circus, ☏ +91 98141 31219. 9AM-10PM.
- 5 New Manni Dhaba, Market Rd, ☏ +91 94172 35691. 6AM–11PM.
- 6 Pahwa Kulfi House, Model Town Market.
- Puris Chana and halwa katlamba (at Jaggu Chowk).
- 7 South Indian Dosa, Islam Ganj. Mixed cuisine
- 8 Volga Restaurant. 10AM-10PM. Mixed dosa and paneer dosa. The aloo tike is better from the street vendor just outside the restaurant.
Budget
- 9 Billa Kulfi corner (BKC), Attari bazar, ☏ +91 9988271144. This is one of the famous kulfi corners known for kulfi and faluda rabri and affordable prices. "Milk badam" and "kesar milk" are also delicious there. Other locations: Adarsh Chopati & Model town
- 10 Haveli, Grand Trunk Rd, Khajurla, ☏ +91 182 450 1011. Open 24 hours. One of the best places to eat typical Punjabi food. It hosts variety of snack stalls as well.
- 11 Rangla Punjab. Traditional Punjabi cuisine. The Punjabi village setting makes it one of the favorite places of everyone who visits this city. It models village houses, wells etc. It offers buffet in a typical Punjabi village home setting. The hospitality offered here reflects the open and loving hearts of Punjabi people. One can get tired of eating but the food will not stop coming. It also hosts a number of shops where you can buy the Punjabi jutis (slippers), clothes, bangles, etc. On weekends, cultural performances by singers and dancing groups is offered. Definitely a "must" visit place.
- 12 Vijay Dhaba, Central Town. Traditional Punjabi food. It's one of the famous dhabas known for fresh food (like home-cooked) and affordable prices. "Shahi Paneer" and "Kheer" is definitely a must try.
Mid-range
- 13 Prithvi's Planet, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, ☏ +91 181 501 2167, +91 181 501 0026. A family recreation (1 fast food, 1 restaurant, pool table and six lane bowling alley) Mixed cuisines
- 14 Sagar Ratna, ☏ +91 181 461 0023. 10AM-11PM. Very popular. South Indian food in a great ambiance but not many options
Splurge
Drink
- F Bar.
- 1 Glassy Junction, Model Town Main Rd, ☏ +91 98885 72320. 11AM-11PM.
- O2 Disco.
- 2 Terminal 37, Phase 2 Rd, SCO - 37, Puda Complex, ☏ +91 98721 00032. 11AM-11PM.
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Amar Guesthouse, Near Bhagat Singh Chowk, ☏ +91 181 245 5290.
- 2 Hotel Classic, Mahavir Marg (near Football Chowk), ☏ +91 181 200 2071.
- 3 Hotel Park Lane, 534, New Jawahar Nagar, ☏ +91 181 508 1116.
Mid-range
- 4 Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, GT Road (Near BSF Chowk), ☏ +91 181 503 0100. $72/ night.
- 5 Grand Lily Resorts, Grand Trunk Road, ☏ +91 181 506 6666. A traditional hotel surrounded by well kept gardens. It's equipped with a fitness centre, a spa and a swimming pool. The huge banquet hall is often used as a reception venue for larger wedding parties.
Splurge
- 6 Radisson Windsor, GT Road (BMC Chowk), ☏ +91 181 467 1234. The only five-star hotel in the city
Unclassified
- Citadine's.
- Maya.
- President.
- Sekhon Grand. Multi-cuisine restaur
Go next
- 1 Kapurthala — Once capital of a princely state in British India, the city is renowned for the beauty of its palaces, mosques and gardens
- 2 Mallian Kalan — A village surrounded by extensive ruins. Dakhni Sarai and Mughal Bridge are also worth of a visit