Tourist Places To Visit In Jalandhar

Jalandhar is famous all over the country for its magnificent historical monuments. The most intriguing fact about these structures is that they comprise holy shrines belonging to a host of different religions. Tourists who are enthusiastic about getting acquainted with the local culture of Punjab and the rest of India must make it a point to visit one of the shrines dedicated to Sikhism, Hinduism, or Christianity. Apart from these religious marvels, visitors can also venture into vibrant street markets, historical memorials of freedom fighters, cultural centers such as Talhan village, or impeccable cricket stadiums like Gandi Stadium. Let us read on to find out the various tourist places to visit when in Jalandhar.

Sadar Bazar forms one of the busiest street markets in the whole of Jalandhar, spread across the cantonment region of Punjab. This commercial hub is continually brimming with import business that connects to many parts of India. Some of the exciting products shipped include jewelry, clothes, other apparel. Sunglasses, shoes, watches, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are prime import items of the region. Tourists are free to hop, shop, and drop by at either the small street stalls or the glass-cased showrooms. Book galleries out here offer intriguing copies such as Michelle Obama's autobiography – 'Becoming' and many books on the Elizabethan Era. When hungry, tourists can feast on savory street food around the corner.

Situated on Sodal Road within touching distance of Devi Talab Mandir, Sodal Mandir lures in tourists on account of its fascinating historical roots. It is believed that many years ago, a young boy was disheartened when his mother scolded for accompanying her to the bathing zone. Upon experiencing discontent, the kid changed appearance taking the form of a serpent and left his mother's side. According to the locals, this boy was the rebirth of a holy Baba Sodal and possessed supernatural capabilities. This incident urged the people to form a worship place and seek guidance from Baba Sodal at this very venue. The day that this event occurred is marked as the Poornima of September. Another festival celebrated with great vigor is Anant Chaturdashi.

Situated along the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway, Jang-e-Azadi Memorial is a state-of-the-art museum developed just around the turn of the twenty-first century. The museum spans a whopping 25-acre canvas and hosts artifacts that provide a sneak peek into the cultural heritage of Punjab. Most of the remnants that prevail across the Jang-e-Azadi Memorial are dedicated towards fearless freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to get India and Punjab free of British tyranny. The magnificent architecture of the memorial mainly comprises circular-shaped structures that tend to catch the eye of every visiting tourist. Tourists can also gain a more in-depth knowledge of India's freedom struggle by sitting through the spectacular laser show assisted by water curtain projection techniques.

Imam Nasir Masjid came into existence around 800 years ago and is situated atop the Grand Trunk Road of Jalandhar. Intriguingly, Saint FaridJi, who is revered by the Islamic faithful, spent around 40 days here on his visit. The structural beauty of the Imam Nasir Masjid is a product of magnificent Mughal architecture. Devotees are wooed by impressive drawings and mural patterns spread across the masjid's walls when they pay a visit to this beautiful shrine. Fascinating lights radiate all around the vicinity during significant Islamic festivals, and the four minarets of Imam Nasir Masjid shine through with remarkable grandeur. Tourists can catch a breathtaking view of these magnificent structures from the market area below while on their way to the holy masjid.

Devi Talab Mandir is a sacred Hindu shrine located approximately 1 km away from the central area of Jalandhar. Ancient folklore proclaims that this temple is around 200 years old. Dedicated to the revered Goddess Durga, Devi Talab Mandir is considered a significant piece of the 51 Shakti Peethas found around India. Upon entering the temple vicinity, tourists can view the shrine placed under a golden dome nestled amidst the waters of a tranquil lake. Figurines of Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, and Goddess Durga venerate this main temple. Apart from these significant idols, the four corners of the lake are also adorned by other striking statues of Maa Gayatri, Gauri-Shankar, and Shri Krishna. Devotees can also calm down their anxiety by catching a glimpse of fish thriving inside these beautiful lake waters.

Situated across Mall Road in the Cantonment Region of Jalandhar, St. Mary's Cathedral is a delightful Roman Catholic church. This shrine falls under Delhi's Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Rev. Fr. John McDonnell, who belonged to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, helped first construct St. Mary's Cathedral in 1847. However, the church structure faced the brunt of vicious riots in 1857, with the premised being wholly damaged. Later, under the reign of Pope John Paul II, St. Mary's Cathedral came to life once again. Bishop Rev. Dr. Symbhorian Keeprathlaid significantly inaugurated the church during the Diwali festival of 1989. The cathedral is surrounded by aromatic flowers and comprises a "Rosary Villa" filled with remarkable figurines of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary.

Talhan Village is a picturesque hamlet that occupies a part of Jalandhar in the state of Punjab. Spanning a 369-acre expanse, this village boasts of a population of approximately 3,000 people. A majority of the people that inhabit the town of Talhan practice Sikhism or Hinduism. Talhan Village has gained popularity across the whole of India for the beautiful collection of gurudwaras spread across its terrain. One such example of a gurudwara that attracts hundreds of devotees is Talhan Shaheeb Gurudwara. It is believed that this holy shrine provides the faithful with bright blessings if they are looking to go abroad and pursue a career for themselves. Tourists could also indulge in the festivities of Shaheedi Jor Mela, an event conducted annually to commemorate the work of Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh.

Gandhi Stadium is famous among the local inhabitants of Jalandhar by several names, some of them being B. S. Bedi Stadium and Burlton Park. Since its inception in 1955, this beautiful stadium has hosted three One Day International and one Test Cricket matches. Punjab, as well as North Zone local cricket clubs, used this cricket ground as their home turf for a significant period. Capable of accommodating approximately 16,000 spectators, Gandhi Stadium offered locally as well traveling athletes with perfect space for training too, however, due to it being under renovation, the stadium authorities have stopped organizing cricket matches. Once the state-of-the-art new facilities come into existence at Gandhi Stadium, it will once again be able to host major sporting events.

Pushpa Gujral Science City is a delightful science center that derives its name from one of the former prime ministers of India, I.K. Gujral. The main aim of this knowledge hub was to share intriguing scientific facts with budding students. Pushpa Gujral Science City is slowly but steadily turning into a knowledge hub that imparts interactive science lessons to youngsters from all over the state of Punjab. The prime highlights of this science hub include the kid's science park, a dinosaur model, and GSLV missiles. Tourists are always amazed by the presence of a gigantic globe model around Pushpa Gujral Science City that comprises 26 lakh tiles. Apart from this, visitors can also take a trip into the wonders of the science museum or take up pedal boating at the artificial lake here.