The city of Amritsar is a lovely mixture of tradition, culture, history, and food. Established in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Ram Das, the railway lines divide the town into two sections. The name of the town originates from the name of the pool surrounding the Golden Temple (also known as Harmandir Sahib) and means “holy nectar pool.” You will discover that Golden Temple in the Old City to the South is one of the most divine and peaceful destinations in India, along with several other ancient historical buildings. The city’s north side is all upmarket restaurants, tall towers, modern housing, and other indications of abundance and prosperity in the city. You should definitely explore Amritsar if you are keen on learning more about the cultures and history of Punjab.
Amritsar is considered extremely holy by Sikhs and they come from all over the world to pay their respects here, mainly because of the iconic Golden Temple is located here. It is considered a holy city and even if they stay away from the country, they make it a point to visit this holy place. Apart from the temple itself, the city is a riot of sounds, colors and smells and for a first- time visitor, it can also be a little overwhelming at first. The city of Amritsar itself was built around 1577 and is also the site of Jallianwala Bagh, the Partition Museum and the Gobindgarh Fort, among others.
The city of Amritsar is well-connected to nearly all major Indian cities by all three modes of transportation- air, road, and rail.
By air: Located approximately 11 km from the city center, Amritsar International Airport Sri Guru Ram Das Jee has over 160 national and global flights every day. Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, London, Doha, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur are connected via daily direct flights.
By road: Amritsar is well linked by the highway as it is situated on the National Highway 1. Daily bus services to and from Ambala, Patiala, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jammu, including both state and private operators, are available. You can take rickshaws, car rickshaws, taxis or buses for transportation within the town. Road trips to the city are a good option- best for those who are living in nearby states.
By rail: The railway station of Amritsar connects the town with nearly all major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Agra, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Chandigarh. It requires about 6 hours to travel by train from Delhi to Amritsar.
Wagah Border is the dividing line between India and Pakistan and is also sometimes referred to as the Berlin Wall of Asia. The Lowering of the Flags is held every evening since 1959 and the ceremonies are witnesses by large number of people on both sides of the border every day. The Retreat Ceremony commences about 30 mins before sunset and almost everyone carries the national flags of their respective countries. Considering the fact that relations between the nations are almost always hostile, it is quite an event to see this celebration taking place between both countries every single day. The ceremony is held by the Border Security Force jawans. Entry to see the event is absolutely free but it would be advisable to reach early afternoon to get the best spots to witness this event. The main attraction is the impromptu dance held by almost everyone to popular Bollywood songs.
The Hall Bazaar is located off Hall Road and happens to be the busiest shopping destinations in the city with a wide number of objects on sale. Almost everything under the sky is available here, quite literally! Books, jewelry, handicrafts, clothes, woolens, utensils, spices, flowers and fruits, household knickknacks, bags, shoes and other accessories- name it and you shall find it here. The hot favorites here are the high quality woolens available at affordable rates and they are quite a bargain. Then there are handwoven carpets and blankets. The market has a number of eateries and so catching a bite when you are shop- hopping is not a problem at all. Even if you are on a short trip and you do not have the time to go anywhere else, Hall Bazaar alone is enough to give you the true flavor of Amritsar.
You cannot visit Amritsar and not visit Golden Temple. Considered the most revered shrine by the entire Sikh community, Golden Temple is also an architectural wonder. The temple literally blazes when the sunshine falls on its golden façade. The temple stands on a rectangular platform in a section of the huge Gurudwara complex, surrounded by the holy waters of the Amrit Sarovar, from where the city gets its name. The Guru Granth Sahib, which is the Holy Book of the Sikhs, is placed on the temple every morning and every night it is returned again to the Akal Takth, the temporal seat of the brotherhood of the Khalsas. The Gurudwara Complex is known as the Harminder Sahib. The stunning gold outer façade with the marble work was installed with the help of Raja Ranjit Singh and Hukam Singh Chimni. The temple draws admires and even foreign nationals who make it a point to visit this temple when they are in India. The temple is open every day from 3 am to 10 pm. One of the most important things to remember here is that shoes must be opened outside and head should be mandatorily covered before entering the temple, whether male or female.
If visiting the Golden Temple alone leaves you awestruck, then wait till you visit the langar of the temple. The temple feeds about a million people every day, no matter race, caste, religion, creed or gender they may be. It is truly a symbol of universal harmony and love that the world is in much need today. With such a population fed every single day, the kitchen at the Golden Temple happens to be one of the largest in the world and it is completely vegetarian. Everything to the washing, prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning up is done by the volunteers who come here every day and do their bit. It is considered one of the most pious things that one can do in their lifetime and a single visit would tell you why. Food items are cooked with seasonal vegetables and fruits, with kheer and lassi, a dessert and drink respectively, made from milk remaining a constant almost throughout the year. It is guaranteed that you have never had such simple and such delicious meal anywhere else in the world.
The day of 13th April, 1919 happens to be a dark day in Indian history and people still bow their heads in grief and respect when they visit the memorial at Jallianwala Bagh. A peaceful gathering of Indians, what was supposed to be a non- violent show of protest against the British rule in India, turned bloody and horrific when General Dyer had opened firing on the innocents, killing hundreds of them in minutes. The bullet holes in the walls are still there, a somber reminder of the killings. The well where many Sikh jumped into to save their lives is still present. Rabindranatha Tagore had refused the Knighthood as a mark of protest against this heinous act. The memorial designed by American architect Benjamin Polk stands there and the memorial is open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.
Originally a summer palace of the first ruler of the Sikh empire, the palace has now been transformed into a museum. It is surrounded by a wonderfully landscaped garden, the Ram Bagh and the interiors house some of the personal belongings of the Maharajah. There are countless arms, old coins, original paintings, and manuscripts. The paintings mainly depict the court of the king and give an account of the way of life and the palace history. Entry to the museum is free and it is open for visitors from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Central Museum is dedicated mainly to Sikh history and the role they played in the independence of India. The Sikhs who attained martyrdom at the hands of the British and Operation Bluestar are commemorated here. The museum was established in 1958 and now there are galleries of portraits, sikh gurus and other prominent leaders. A large number of coins are kept here, along with ancient manuscripts. There is an excellent library inside the museum as well. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday.
Of the things to do in Amritsar in summer, visiting the Ram Tirath, which is a land full of folklore, is a good idea. This is because this region is associated with the period of Ramayana. It is located just about 11 km west of the main city. It is believed that Ram and Sita’s twin sons, Luv and Kush were born here and it was here the Sage Valmiki had written the Ramayana. An old hut here is dedicated to the sage and it is believed that was where he lived. It is also believed that the sacred site was dug by none other than Hanuman himself.
Considered as one of the five main seats of the Sikh religious authority, it also serves as the central alter for the Sikh political assembly. The meaning of this place literally translates to the Throne of the Immortal. The stone for this building was laid was Guru Hargovind Singh in 1606. The other Takhts that come after it are Keshgarh Sahib, Patna Sahib, Hazur Sahib, and Damdama Sahib. The original Takht, or throne, was a humble one, only 3.5 meters high. Guru Hargobindji used to sit here and dispense justice on the entire Sikh community and his word was final. At present it is a five storey structure and is exquisitely ornate.
Although quite small, no one could believe that this Dhaba is so special unless one has visited the eatery himself. The entry is through a narrow lane so you may have to ask for directions but at the end it is totally worth it. Food is cooked in desi ghee and a variety of dals, grams, parathas and of course, lassi, is available here. The fragrance of the food cooked in desi ghee and then doused with butter is heavenly to say the least.
Built by the army of of Gujjar Singh Bhangi, the fort was later reconstructed by Maharaja Ranjot Singh between 1805 and 1809. The fort has since then had some beautiful additions like the Darbar Hall, Hawa Mahal and Phansi Ghar. After the Independence, it was taken by the Indian Army to be used as a base and it is still so today. There are two massive gates and four bastions along with a rampart. The main entrance is called the Nalwa Gate and the second is the Keelar Gate.
At the confluence of the Sutlej and the Beas rivers, lay this wetland that is home to a number of species of birds. It is one of the most off beat things to do in Amritsar. Migratory birds come from the cold countries in the north like Siberia, Russia and Kazakhstan. November to March is the best time to visit as this is when the birds are to be seen the most. Siberian gills, Rudy, Spotted ducks and many other rate species of animals can be seen here. You can go for a jeep safari but you will have to hire the jeep from Amritsar. Be sure to leave the surroundings clean and not litter the place and most importantly, not disturb the birds in any way. There is no entry fee but one has to acquire a permit from DFO. Photography of the harike Barrage is also prohibited.
Amritsar is not just another city, it an experience itself and you are sure to fall in love with it.
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