In every walk with nature our, receives more than he seeks.

Punjab is the state in northern India. Punjab, a state bordering Pakistan ,is the heart of Indian's Sikh community. Deriving it's name from five full-bodied river- Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab which flow through it's vast plains.It is  one of the smaller prosperous states of the nation and home to a lively , hospitable and dynamic people.It is a land of ethnic and religious movements that include Sikhism, Buddhism and Sufism. It is primarily and  agricultural state infinitely contributed towards the food security of the Indian republic. Punjabs main festivals -Teej, basant , baisakhi .Indeed Bhangra the traditional dance of Punjab revolves around.

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From the tourism point of view there are many attractions in Punjab like , well known, Golden temple, Wagah border, Jallianwala bagh, Virasat-e-khalsa, Sukhna lake and many more.

This is the mordern era where people love changes , like to see new and innovative things. So for nfor visiting new places they started visiting near by villages and named it as     Rural tourism.  Tourism is not only visiting to a famous or popular places , tourism is an activity of exploration. Exploring of new places,things ,person or any history which is not onown to many of the people and can also become the  attractions for many tourists.

Punjab has the large number of villages which is a great scope for rural tourism.According to census 2011, there are total 12581 inhabited villages in Punjab. Listing them is a bit difficult task to have visit. So, I with my fellow friends want with our interest for visiting villages. We chose to visit villages near to the India and Pakistan border. We decide to visit few villages of Amritsar near Wagah border. 

We started our remarkable and memorable journey to the marvellous hospitality from the village RANIKHE

RANIKHE

Entry gate of RANIKHE village 

RANIKHE is a small village on the way to Wagah border near to Attari village. The first look of the village signed that we will not get any related infor

mation from this village. But as we started talking and exploring, it changed our mind setting. While roaming in village we noticed few things like Semi secondary Schools are available, no proper electricity facility , problem of water supply , no medicine and emergency services.

At the centre of the village , there is a Gurdwara built by Mnjoy Guljar Singh RANIKHE,Cabinet minister of Punjab belongs to Akalidal. He did nothing for his own village.

Talking to village people with my friends 

Group photo with Yudhveer's family after discussion

We got the chance to meet Yudveer paji's family who becomes us with immense love and afrection. They welcomed us to there house and offered us tea and biscuits like. That was the time when we all forget our purpose of coming and started enjoying there services as we have came to our relative house. We had a very interactive time with the whole family

Getting special treatment from them 

Me with my friend in turban 

Most of my group member were South Indian and I was the only North Indian (Punjabi) girl alone with them. So, they wanted to know and enjoy the religion and tradition of that place. So, they asked for turban but they offered for all of us. They all left there work and got busy in tieing turbans to us and they even tied for me also . They said girls are equal to boys and given such a respect to all of us.

Colour ful punjab with colourful turbans 

People of this village are well known​ with the new technologies. As they use Cow's dung for the generation of energy in gas power plant. People are much aware about smartphones , computers ,laptops etc.

While coming we met with Yudhveer's Grandfather and his present age is 105 years which symbolises the physical health of village people.

So after that we  went to near by village named ATTARI VILLAGE.

ATTARI VILLAGE 

Attari village is loctaed in  Tehsil of Amritsar district in Punjab, India. It is suitated 26km away from district headquarter Amritsar.Attari has the population of 8,921 people's.There are about 1,670 houses in Attari village.

Attari railway station is also named as Attari Sham Singh Railway station is located in Amritsar district  and serves Attari and the Wagah border with Pakistan. The major train is Samjhauta Express from Delhi-Attari-Lahore.

Samjhuta  Express at Attari station 

Attractions of Attari village   

Wagah border which is about 2km from Attari village.

Attrai monument -Memorial of S.Sardar Sham Singh Attari.

Sardar Sham Singh Attari 

Sardar Sham Singh Atariwala (1790-1846)  was a renowed general of the Sikh empire.He was born in 1790's in the house of well known Sikh farmers in the town of Attrai. Ranjit Singh become the Maharaja of the Punjab he got himself at his disposal. Maharaja Ranjit Singh knowing his qualities and fighting abilities made him a Jathedar of 5000 horsemen.

Our next and the last visit was to the village PULKANJARI.

PULKANJARI 

PULKANJARI is a historical village situated 35km away from Amritsar on Amritsar-lahore road, near the villages of Daoka and Dhanoa Kalan on the Wagah border. It is one of the heritage sites built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, where he used to rest while travelling with his troops.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

History of pulkanjari

The legends has it that the village was named after a pul that was built by the king for the dancer Moran who was of Kanjari caste. It is said that one day while crossing the canal one of her shoes fell into the water which vexed her a great deal and a bridge was constructed on her insistence.

On the right side of the memorial is a Shiv Temple made of Nanakshahi Bricks. Inside on he roof of the temple and sides beautiful fresco work can be seen, which has faded with the passage of time.

Roof and sides of the Shiv Temple

It was an unforgettable experience or even an unexplained one but somehow I managed to share my experience but there is lot more to express which I felt during this village visit .The people of villages are so kind, humble ,lovable, generous. If I got a chance to visit to villages, I will surely visit these villages again. We are the people living in cities and urban areas are missing the life of village,fun, hospitality, struggle, friendly Ness .There hospitality is far more better than any of the 5 star hotel. I think there are lot to see and explore the Indian villages apart for the major attractions .