Index
- Introduction
- About Amritsar
- Places to visit in Amritsar
Introduction
There are a lot of tourist places in India with Kerala and Goa in South, Sikkim in North East, Gujarat, and Rajasthan in the West. Mussoorie, Kasol, Kashmir are the typical destinations during holidays. In this article, we will talk about the atypical destination, in the fertile land of Punjab, Amritsar.
About Amritsar
Amritsar is a city located 217 km from the Capital city of Punjab, Chandigarh. The town is 455 km from the Capital of India, Delhi. Amritsar was known as Ramdaspur in ancient India. The city is located in the Majha region of Punjab. The city is pretty close to Pakistan as Wagah Border is just 28 km from the center of the city.
Amritsar is one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY, a scheme of government of India to conserve ancient cities. Amritsar has beautiful forts, Gurudwaras, and lovely markets. The ‘mehman navaazi’ and sweetness of the city’s residents are mesmerizing. You can discover yourself spiritually in Amritsar.
Amritsar is well connected to other parts of India. The city has an airport (Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Terminal), a railway station and a bus station. The railway station is even connected to Pakistan; the Samjhauta Express starts from Delhi reaches Lahore via Amritsar. To connect all the main attractions of the city, AC buses were launched for tourists, which connect The Golden Temple with several other significant places.
The weather in Amritsar is pleasant, the summers are hot, and the winters are freezing. During winters, the weather sometimes reaches single digits.
Places to visit in Amritsar
1. The Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib, known as The Golden Temple, means “abode of God.” It is an important pilgrimage site for Sikhs all over the world. The Golden Temple is located 2 km from the center of the city Amritsar. It is open from 4 am to 11 pm. The Temple has no entry fees, and it will take you at least 2 to 3 hours to cherish the site.
The Temple was destroyed in many wars, such as in 1757 and 1762, after a battle with Ahmad Shah Abdali. It was rebuilt numerous times by Sikhs. In 1809 Maharaja Ranjit Singh rebuilt the Temple in Marble and copper. In 1830 the sanctum was overlaid with gold foil; thus, it is called The Golden Temple.
The Temple has a daily footfall of around 100,000 worshippers, and the Temple has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Wagah Border
Wagah Border or Wagah Attari Border is a village located in the Lahore province of Pakistan. The village is famous for its long-standing Border tradition with India. The ceremony was started in 1986 as a peace agreement between the two countries. The border is 24 km from Lahore and 28 km from the center of Amritsar. It lies on the Grand Trunk Road between Lahore and Amritsar.
The ceremony takes place at the border gates every day 2 hours before sunset. The Indian Border Security Force and The Pakistan Rangers conduct the service. Along with the flag ceremony, a silly walk ceremony, which is a march, is also performed. Some middle eastern countries have also adopted similar traditions with their neighboring states.
3. Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh is a garden located in Amritsar that is known for the historical tragedy Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The place has an immense historical significance. On 13 April 1919, General Dyer, a British official open fired in the Baisakhi Mela, held in Jallianwala Bagh. The garden had five narrow main entries, which general Dyer ordered to close. The people inside the Mela was shot randomly until the ammunition of the army was exhausted. A garden is now a historical place of a tragedy during the fight of India against British Raj.
4. Guru Ke Mahal
Guru ke Mahal was a small cottage built in 1573 by Guru Ram Das to shelter great Sikh Gurus. The Mahal went on and sheltered great Gurus of Sikh. It is located 5 km from the center of Amritsar, Punjab. The small cottage has become a magnificent palace and a beautiful tourist attraction.
5. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum is a palace turned into a museum located in Amritsar. The building has archives of the royal heritage. It houses arms and armors, paintings of the royal family.
The lovely Rambagh Garden surrounds the museum, and it is famous for its statue of the king with his horse.
6. The Partition Museum
The Partition Museum is the only museum in the world about the tragedies of war. The Arts And Cultural Heritage Trust developed the museum. The building has a collection of articles donated by the families affected by the war. The partition destroyed families, and a museum dedicated to this cause is necessary so that such incidents do not happen again.
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