Punjab, the jewel of Northern India, has a diverse history and rich cultural heritage. This region has been invaded by various empires and races, the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, Afghans, and Mongols. Around the time of the 15th Century, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh religion, which gained prominence in the region. Maharaja Ranjit Singh transformed Punjab into a secular and powerful state. The early 19th Century saw the rise of British rule, which led to the emergence of heroic Punjabi freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh. In 1947, with the end of british rule, the state of Punjab was split between Pakistan and India.
Punjab is the land of the more than 4000 years old Indus Valley Civilization. Archaeological excavations, throughout the state, have revealed evidences of the magnificent cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. These cities lived along the banks of the mighty Indus and its tributaries. The Mahabharata, which narrates life between the 7th and 5th century BC, contains rich descriptions of the land and people of Punjab at that time. The Vedic and Epic period of the Punjab was socially and culturally very prolific. During this glorious period, the people accelerated in the fields of philosophy and culture.
It is believed that some parts of the Ramayana were written around the Shri Ram Tirath Ashram, near Amritsar; and it was in these forests that Lav and Kush, sons of Lord Rama, grew up. Kaikyee belonged to this region. The authors of Vishnu Purana and the Shiv Purana belonged to the central Punjab. Great historical discoveries have been unearthed at Ropar, Kiratpur, Dholbaha, Rohira and Ghuram. These relics throw light on the culture and changing architectural styles of Punjab, since the Harappan age. At Sanghol, in Fatehgarh Sahib district near Ludhiana, sites associated with great Mauryan Dynasty, have yielded remarkable relics that record the presence of Buddhism in the region.
