Amritsar

Situated in the State of Punjab - Amritsar is a major commercial and cultural centre. The city is also the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion and is home to the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple. Other places to see around the city include the Jallian Wala Bagh - the site of the Amritsar Massacre in 1919 and the Wagha Border - the border closing ceremony where Indian and Pakistani soldiers do a march-off every evening.

Sightseeing in Amritsar -

Golden Temple- Hari Mandir: The mere complex of the Golden Temple is an absolute treat to one's eyes. The place is immensely beautiful and peaceful. Visiting this place in the early mornings (3am to 4am) or late at night (11:30pm to 12 am) would help one to explore the complex more freely as these are the timings when the complex is comparatively less crowded and quiet as well.

Amritsar Massacre: This place noted for its most notorious massacre under British rule. It is 400 meters north of the Golden Temple. The British General Dyer was the Lieutenant Governor of the province in 1919. He banned all meetings and demonstrations led by Indians against the economical set back by World War I. On 13 April 1919, pilgrims poured into Amritsar to celebrate the Baisakhi festival, a holiday in the Sikh calendar. In the afternoon thousands of people gathered at Jallian Wala Bagh to celebrate the Baisakhi. This ground surrounded by high walls on all sides has only a narrow alley for access. General Dyer personally led the troops to the sight and ordered his men to open fire without any warning. It resulted in the death of 379 and injured more than 1200. India was outraged by Dyer´s massacre. Gandhiji, called for a nation wide strike and started the Non-cooperation Movement, which became an important mile stone in the struggle for India´s Independence. Today this ground has been changed to a park and it has a pleasant garden. There is a narrow path between the houses which leads to the lawn of the park. At the entrance there is a memorial plaque which recounts the history. There is a well on the north side in which many people who tried to escape from the bullets were drowned, and remnants of walls have been preserved to show the bullet holes. At the east end of the garden there is a large memorial built in memory of those who died here.

Ram Bagh: This beautiful garden is named as a tribute to Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city. It is situated in the new part of town and has a museum in the summer palace built by the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) the Lion of Punjab. The museum contains weapons dating back to Mughal times and some portraits of the ruling houses of the Punjab and a replica of the diamond ´Kohinoor´. To commemorate the memory of his valour Ram Bagh has a lively statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh saddled on a horse. It is closed on Wednesdays.

Summer Place of Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Is situated in the middle of a beautiful garden called Ram bagh. This garden is laid out on the pattern of Shalimar Bagh at Lahore. Only its architecturally unique ´darshani deorhi´ has remained intact. A museum after the name of the Maharaja is set up here displaying oil paintings, miniatures, coins, abd weapons relating to the Sikh period.

Mosque at Fatehbad: Situated at a distance of 40 kms, the walls of this mosque are decorated with beautiful floral motifs.

Tarn Taran: 24 kilometres south, is Tarn-Taran-a town founded by Sri Guru Arjan Dev in 1590. The Gurdwara, constructed by the Guru stands on the side of a large tank. Fairs are held here on every ´Amavas´ dark night of the month, birth anniversaries of the Gurus, Baisakhi and Diwali.

Wagha Border: The international border between India and Pakistan. The pomp and pageantry of the Beating Retreat and the Change of Guard within handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces makes for a most charming spectacle.

Shopping in Amritsar- Shopping in Amritsar is a delightful experience for the avid shopper. The state of Punjab has a fairly rich tradition of handicrafts and handlooms. The state is noted for exquisite handicrafts likephulkari (traditional embroidery), lacquered woodwork, jewelry etc. These are the items, you should look for while shopping in Amritsar.Hand-woven carpets, blankets, woolen garments and of course Patiala salwar (the traditional Indian garments with a Punjabi twist in design) are hit with those who want to do some shopping in Amritsar.Jams, jellies and pickles of Punjab are quite famous and are available in Amritsar in galore.

There are several shopping joints in the city. The old city bazaars are better places for shopping traditional Indian wears in Amritsar. Trendy shopping malls with swish interiors are quite common in the city. If you want to shop top brands, do give them a shot. Alternatively, hang out at Cooper Road, Mochi Bazaar, Guru Bazaar, Shastri Market for some good shopping in Amritsar.

How to reach Amritsar-

By Air: Raja Sansi International Airport in Amritsar provides regular service to major cities like Mumbai and Chennai. 

By Train: Amritsar Railway Station is well linked to other rail heads in the state and also connected to most of the cities in India. It has a connecting railway line to Pakistan.

By Bus: State run public buses and private buses are available to move in and out from Amritsar. Grand Trunk Road connects Delhi to Amritsar. Luxury buses are available from Delhi.