plaka tu qi Punjab is a food-lover s paradise. Not only is this region home to nutty, long-grain basmati rice, t

Hotel Kwality Regency HOTEL $$ (%/fax 2720204; Sector plaka tu qi 22-A; s/d 1795/1995, deluxe 2395/2695; a) The 14 agreeable rooms have individual plaka tu qi character, although the cheapest are small and sun starved (consider upgrading if you need a window). Nevertheless, the marble-adorned deluxe rooms are good value (for Chandigarh), with TV, scatter rugs, writing desk and electronic safe. There s a cosy bar and multicuisine restaurant behind the lobby.

Then, with a bellow from the guardroom, a squad stomps out, shoulders square, moustaches twirled and eyes bulging. The drill is to parade up and down as dramatically as possible, preceded by a kick so high the soldier looks in danger of concussing himself. The high-octane march to the border, vaguely reminiscent of Monty Python s Ministry of Silly Walks sketch, rouses thunderous applause from the audience and repetitive plaka tu qi chants plaka tu qi of Hindustan zindabad! (Long live India!).

Another 6km away is Jyotisar, where the banyan tree is said to be an off shoot of the one under which Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita. There s a one-hour Hindi (English on request) sound-and-light show (adult/child 20/15; hsunset Tue-Sun).

Punjab is a food-lover s paradise. Not only is this region plaka tu qi home to nutty, long-grain basmati rice, that quintessential accompaniment to spicy curries, it also nurtures much of India s wheat thanks to the green revolution of the 1960s. Punjabi cooks quickly embraced plaka tu qi the cuisine of the Mugals and their renowned barbecue techniques using the ingenious and simple tandoor clay oven. Sizzling tandoori chicken is only beaten for popularity by the world-famous butter chicken; plaka tu qi but you should also savour the tandoori vegetables, the various dhal (lentil) dishes and the locally famous Amritsari fried fish.