Amritsar, the term meaning "the lake of the holy nectar”, is located on the border of India, at a distance of just 32 kilometers to the east of Lahore. The city was founded in 1577; when Guru Ramdas Ji, along with his successor Guru Arjan Dev, went on to create a temple around a small pool, with healing powers. Amritsar had been exceedingly rich in treasures and possession. Consequently, it became the target of several invasions and conquests. Still, it managed to grow profusely, especailly during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Amritsar has always occupied the center stage in the Majha Region and been aptly named as the Mukut Mani, the Jewel in the Crown. It is the focal point of Sikh faith, a pivot of Punjab politics, a gateway to the Middle East and an alert sentinel at the Indo-Pak border. It has the famous Golden Temple, visited by pilgrims from all over the world. The essential spirit of the city is found not only in its gurdwaras and temples, mosques and churches, takias and khankas, but also in its art and architecture, museums and memorials, havelis and forts, fairs and festivals and vibrant folk dances.
Owing to favorable physical conditions, the land of Amritsar allows growth of multiple crops. Wheat, maize, rice and bajra forms the main crops of the place. Cash crops like potato, sugarcane, groundnut, cotton and pulses are also grown in abundance. The go-getter hardworking people of Amritsar contribute significantly towards making the land of Amritsar a fertile one. With Jallianwala Bagh massacre in its past, the city stands as an apt example for valor and strength. It embodies the Punjabi spirit in its true form. Along with that, it has so many attractions to offer that one cannot afford to miss it while traveling to Punjab.
Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib
Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib is one of the important tourist spots of Amritsar. Built in 1778-1784, it encompasses the rich beauty of culture and tradition of Punjab. The tallest building in Amritsar, the gurdwara is octagonal in shape, with a height of about forty meters.
Amritsar Excursions
The legendary city of Amritsar is immersed in Punjabi and Sikh culture. It forms the convergent point of Sikhism and attracts pilgrims from all over the world. The city is located in an ideal position in Punjab. This makes it feasible to keep Amritsar as the base and plan short trips to various places of tourist interest that are situated nearby, also known as excursions.
How to Reach Amritsar
Amritsar is rapidly growing as one of the most visited tourist destination in India, mainly owing to the religious aspect. The place is both a pilgrimage center as well as a leisure spot. It has a well developed infrastructure, which makes the place easily accessible from every part of the world. In other words, it is conveniently connected to the outside world by road, rail, and air.
Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh is historical for the murky day of 13 April 1919, when the innocent Indians were brutally killed in a mass. The Jallianwala Bagh Martyr's Memorial is built in memory of the innocent lives sacrificed in the deadly massacre with no good cause.
Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh Garden attracts a lot of tourists every year, owing to the enormous natural beauty it encompasses. It used to be the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) in the past. Earlier, it was called the Company Garden. Later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh changed the name to Ram Bagh, to commemorate his unflinching devotion to Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city of Amritsar.
Shopping in Amritsar
Punjab is a land rich with the unique collection of handicrafts and handlooms. If you wish to go for a shopping spree in the state, no place other than Amritsar will be the best option for you. A number of shopping joints line the city, offering a variety of materials to shop for. The eloquently embroidered shawls (phulkari),
Shri Durgiana Temple
Shri Durgiana Temple is one of main pilgrim places in Amritsar. The temple, also called Shree Durgiana Tirath or Sitla Mandir, is situated outside the Lohgarh Gate in Amritsar. It is situated a few yards away from the Amritsar railway station and about 1.5 km from the Bus Stand.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib
Sri Akal Takht Sahib is a famous pilgrimage place for the Sikhs in Amritsar. It is the central altar for Sikh political assembly. Akal Takht literally means the Eternal Throne and the place forms a part of the Golden Temple complex. It is situated on the other end of the causeway, connected to the Harmandir Sahib and faces the Darshani Deohri.
Amritsar Tourist Attractions
Amritsar is famous as the pilgrimage center in Amritsar, with numerous holy places in and around. The city owes its name to the holy lake inside the Harmandar Sahib (Amrit meaning nectar, Sar meaning lake). Popularly, it is believed that the city was laid in 1574 and thus it is one of the most ancient and fascinating cities of India. Amritsar is mainly known for the Golden Temple
Amritsar Weather
The weather of Amritsar is very much like any other northwestern state of India. It experiences summer, winter and monsoon in significant proportions. Owing to its location, the city witnesses extreme climatic conditions during summer and winter.
