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The
Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das, founded Amritsar, meaning 'a pool
of nectar'. It has grown from a sacred village pond into a
spiritual temporal centre of Sikh culture. Amritsar is the
soul of Punjab and today it is India’s important distribution
centre of dry-fruits. It is one of the most ancient and fascinating
cities of India. It is also the city where Jallianwala Bagh,
the garden where scores of innocent Indian people were massacred
by the British. Amritsar is an institution by itself.
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| Attractions
in Amritsar |
| Golden
Temple |
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Located in the heart of the city is the Golden Temple, the
most visited tourist attraction of Amritsar. Characterised
by its four entrance doors (called deoris) in all four directions
and the tastefully decorated shrines, in terms of art and
architecture, the Golden Temple welcomes everyone regardless
of the religion or faith one follows. The stunning sanctum,
shimmering in the water of the holy tank, flanked by spotlessly
clean marble walkways and pavements makes it breathtakingly
beautiful.
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| Jalianwala
Bagh |
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A
historical monument that tells the sad story of mass killing
during the independence movement in India, Jalianwallah Bagh
is another must visit in Amritsar. Here lies the memorial
of the martyrs of the 1919 massacre by British General Dyer.
Presently the place also has a park. The Martyr's Gallery
is open from 9 am to 5 pm in summers and from 10 am to 4 pm
during winters.
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| Durgiana
Mandir |
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Amritsar
also houses a wonderful temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess
Durga. Easily accessible from the Golden Temple, the Durgiana
Mandir also offers puja to deities of Lakshmi and Narayana.
Supposedly built during the 16th century AD, the temple lies
in the middle of a medium sized lake giving it a wonderful
overall view. The temple, a massive structure, was built on
the style of the nearby Golden Temple. Worth a visit.
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| Baba
Atal Rai Tower |
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Located
at a distance of few kilometres from the main town, Baba Atal
Rai Tower is also a site worth visiting. It is believed that
Guru Har Gobind died at this spot. Named after the son of
Guru Har Gobind, this nine storied building is an important
landmark of the place. Climbing on to the top gives you a
panoramic view of the entire area. The first floor of the
tower houses some of the miniatures related to Guru Nanak's
life and his preaching. Makes a must visit.
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| Wagah
Border |
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One
of the many nearby places to visit from Amritsar is the Wagah
Border. Located on the Indo-Pakistan border, Wagah is 28 kilometres
from the Amritsar main town. A good number of visitors come
to this place to see the change of guards ceremony and the
flag hoisting and lowering activities which are done with
great skill and precision by the border security forces of
both the countries. A site you cannot afford to miss.
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| Attractions
From Amritsar |
| Tarn
Taran |
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Located
at a distance of 25 kilometres from Amritsar, Tarn Taran is
a famous excursion point. One of the important spots to see
here is the sacred tank which is believed to have curative
powers. It is believed that if a leper successfully swims
across the tank, he or she can be cured of the disease. Tarn
Taran also has a highly revered Gurudwara built by Guru Arjan
Dev in AD 1768. This Gurudwara is built in memory of Guru
Ram Das. It is amazing to see how the architecture of the
Golden Temple has influenced the other significant structures.
The Gurudwara of Tarn Taran is also made in the same architectural
style.
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| Gobindwal
Sahib |
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Located
at a distance of 30 kilometres from Amritsar, the Gobindwal
Sahib is another place to visit during your excursion from
Amritsar. Here you can also have a look at the final resting
place of Guru Angad Devji that stands nearby.
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| Amanat
Khan Serai |
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Amanat
Khan Serai is famous for its ornamental gateway and glazed
tile decorations. A must see, it is located at a distance
of 38 kilometres from Amritsar.
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| Baba
Bakala |
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Located
at a distance of 45 kilometres from Amritsar, Baba Bakala
is an important site to visit around Amritsar. The magnificent
Gurudwara here is dedicated to the ninth Guru of the Sikhs,
Guru Tegh Bahadur.
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| Dharamshala
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Located
at a distance of 200 kilometres from Amritsar in the state
of Himachal Pradesh is Dharamshala, a popular hill station.
It is also famous as the present home of Dalai Lama. This
wonderful and picturesque hill station is characterised by
magnificent deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and beautiful
hills. Situated at an altitude of 1250 metres to 1982 metres,
there are many spots to visit in and around the town. Mc Leodganj
(10 km), the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, Bhagsunath
(11 km), St. John's Church (8 km),the Kunal Pathri (3 km)
and the War Memorial (2 km from the town centre) are some
of the major places to visit in Dharamshala. Dharamshala also
provides access for a visit to some of the other nearby exotic
destinations.
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