After a 27 hour train journey from Bandra, Mumbai to Ludiana in the Punjab, Ramesh picked us up from the station and took us to his lovely home in Nurnahal where we met his wife Neelam and his daughter Neha. They made us feel so welcome and we shared a fantastic traditional pujabi meal.

The following morning we set off for trip to Amritsar. We stopped at a mission, a walled, guarded village in which 20,000 people live.It has shops, a bank, a market, hospital, place of worship, everything needed.It was so peaceful and clean with very few cars.

Next we set off for the Golden Temple, the sikhs holiest shrine, the dome is said to have 750kg of pure gold which represents the lotus flower (pure life). It is surrounded by water where pilgrims take a holy bath. It is a very beautiful monument, so different to the surrounding city streets. Just 5 mins away is the Jallianwala Bagh, a garden where general Dyer ordered British troops to open fire on 20,000 peaceful protesters. It was very moving and we felt quite embarrassed.

Next up, the craziest thing we have witnessed (so far anyway!) the border between India (Attari) and Pakistan (Wagah) Thousands of people from both countries (although most on Indian side) gather to watch the military meet at the boderline performing a salute. As they do this everyone sings, claps and dances. This is performed everyday! Something you have to see and experience yourself to believe it!

The next morning (thurs 19) we drove 6 hours there and back to Chandigarh, the state capital of both the Punjab and Haryana. It is the cleanest and greenest city in India and was designed in the 1950's by Le Corbusier, a French architect.  It is split in 1sqkm sections each containing houses, shops, restaurants, school etc, like a small village. Only places worth a visit is section 17 which is mainly shops and Nek Chands Fantasy Rock Garden in section 4. It is a huge maze with walkways, alleys,tunnels and waterfalls made from the cities waste - broken bangles, crockery, electric plugs, pebbles and large bags of concrete. 

We left Friday morning for Delhi. Thank you very much to Ramesh, Neelan and Neha for making us feel so welcome and being the perfect hosts and tour. guide!