Amritsar

Amritsar a city situated in the north-western part of India is the spiritual centre for the Sikh religion. It is a city that boasts of having a very rich historic past, a religious centre and a patriotic centre as its just 32 km away from the Pakistan border. Amritsar is known for its rich culture, beautiful handicrafts and scrumptious cuisine. The summers in Amritsar are really hot ranging from 40 -48 degrees Celsius and the winters are really cold ranging from 2 – 12 degrees Celsius.

 The main attraction of Amritsar is Harmandir Sahib popularly known as the Golden Temple. It’s a beautiful complex and is always full of thousands of visitors. There is livewire energy about the place. There are people always so excited to help you and explain the culture of the place whether it is to cover ones head with a cloth, or to just step in the lake and pour some holy water on the head or walk towards the massive hall and have some lungar; meal provided by the temple free of cost. People from all walks of life; rich or poor sit in that great hall together on the same ground and eat the same food; bread and lentils. You truly feels humbled and blessed over there. One must visit the temple during the day and during the night to see the magnificent lighting in the temple. The temple is open almost 24 hrs a day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other attraction reminds us of the tragic incident that took place on April 13 1919 when the British Indian Army soldiers opened fire on an unarmed gathering of men, women and children killing 1579 people in ten minutes. Jallianwala Bagh is   a monument that is a living proof of that horrifying day. There are bullet marks on wall that are present till date and a well where many people jumped to save themselves from the bullets.

 

 

The last but not the least visit that one must pay is to the Wagah Border. Wagah is the only road border crossing between Pakistan and India, and lies on the Grand Trunk Road. There is a flag ceremony that takes place at the border. The whole ceremony fills you with the feeling of patriotism and brings goose bumps to your body. During the ceremony the gate to the border opens and one can see the Pakistan soldiers doing the mirror image actions of our own Indian soldiers; marching towards the gate, hoisting the Indian flag and then bringing it down as the sun sets and folding it crisply and carrying it diligently and putting it aside safely in the head quarters. The Pakistan soldiers to the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One can truly enjoy the delicacies of Amritsar, the chhola bhatura and Amritsari naan with kebabs or shop around for beautiful phulkari suits and amritsari juttis.