In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Samana
ਸਮਾਣਾ
Skip Samana unless you have family or business in the area: a half-day stop for the wildlife sanctuary, then back to Patiala or Ludhiana.
Samana is a small market town in Patiala District, 30 km southwest of Patiala. It has one notable sight — Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary — and a handful of local restaurants and hotels. Most travellers use it as a brief stop en route between Patiala and the Himachal border, not as a destination.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- ਸਮਾਣਾ
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- May–Jun (extreme heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,000–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a stall | ₹10–20 |
| Thali meal at a dhaba | ₹150–300 |
| Pizza at Pizza Philia | ₹200–500 |
| Auto-rickshaw within town | ₹50–100 |
| Taxi to Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary (10 km (6.2 mi))Taxi to Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary (6.2 mi (10 km)) | ₹300–500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXC · Chandigarh Airport
- About 90 km (56 mi), 2 h by taxi or bus via PatialaAbout 56 mi (90 km), 2 h by taxi or bus via Patiala
- LUH · Ludhiana Airport
- About 75 km (47 mi), 1.5 h by taxiAbout 47 mi (75 km), 1.5 h by taxi
Typical fares
- Bus Patiala → Samana
- about ₹50, 35–40 min (check)
- Taxi Patiala → Samana
- ₹600–800, 35–40 min
- Taxi Samana → Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary
- ₹300–500, 15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Samana is walkable in the centre. For the sanctuary (10 km (6.2 mi) north) you need a taxi or auto-rickshaw. Buses run to Patiala, Ludhiana and Chandigarh from the bus stand.Samana is walkable in the centre. For the sanctuary (6.2 mi (10 km) north) you need a taxi or auto-rickshaw. Buses run to Patiala, Ludhiana and Chandigarh from the bus stand.
See and do
Known for
- Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pizza Philia Samana
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Patiala | Bus or taxi, 35–40 min | About 1 h |
| Ludhiana | Bus or taxi, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Chandigarh | Bus via Patiala, about 2.5 h | About 3 h |
| Shimla | Bus or taxi via the state border, about 4 h | About 4.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (SH10 / Patiala Road)
- Hotel Adarsh Palace and a few guesthouses; basic, mostly for business travellers.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲSat Sri Akal |
| Thank you | ਧੰਨਵਾਦDhanvad |
| How much? | ਕਿੰਨਾ ਹੈ?Kinna hai? |
| Where is the bus stand? | ਬੱਸ ਸਟੈਂਡ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ?Bus stand kithe hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs may accept international cards: carry enough cash from Patiala or Ludhiana.
- Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary has limited facilities: bring water and snacks.
- Restaurants close early (by 22:00).
Samana is a safe small town. The main risks are summer heat (above 40°C (104°F) in May–June) and limited medical facilities: head to Patiala for serious issues.Samana is a safe small town. The main risks are summer heat (above 104°F (40°C) in May–June) and limited medical facilities: head to Patiala for serious issues.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Samana yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pizza Philia Samana
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Samana (Punjab), revision 5285154 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5285154
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Samanaਸਮਾਣਾ
ਇਸ ਪਤੇ 'ਤੇ ਲੈ ਜਾਓ
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance112
Punjabi in Gurmukhi script; Hindi also understood.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/samana-punjab). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.