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Amritsar
 Amritsar, which literally means a pool of nectar, lies twenty kilometres east of the lndo-Pakistan border, is the Punjab state's second largest town. It was founded in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs. Here a tank was excavated and a temple was got built by the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev in its midst and a new city began to grow up round the sacred pool.
The name Amritsar meaning 'Pool of Nectar', is named after the sacred pool around which the Sikh's Golden Temple is built. Sikhs from all over the world come to pay their reverence to Guru Granth Sahib and take a dip in the Amrit Saras Kund (Pool of Immortality) for spiritual purification is the major landmark of the place. The present city dates back to the 15th century but there are evidence that this city is related to ramayan yug so city's sacred heritage must be measured in terms of millenniums and not in centuries.
Amritsar Punjab is the spiritual capital of the
Sikh faith. Amritsar city houses the holiest place for the Sikhs,
The Golden Temple. They try at least to trip the temple and bathe
in the large pool (sarovar) that atmosphere the temple when
possible. The Punjab region has seen many rebellions and most of them
had Amritsar Punjab as their essential point, Amritsar city is
relaxing for visitors when compared with other Indian cities. The people
are very friendly and it is great to sit for a few hours in the shade of
The Golden Temple and to rest.
Amritsar city, exactly Pool of Nectar, derives its name from Amrit
Sarovar, the sacred tank that surrounds the wonderful Golden Temple.
First time visitors to Amritsar City could be forgiven for the feeling
that Amritsar is like any other small town in north part of India. In
one sense, it is - with busy markets, random traffic, steadfast cattle,
crowds and jamming typical of small town India. But Amritsar city stands
head and shoulders above any other city of India, its status eminent and
sacred by the presence of the respected Golden Temple.
There is extra to Amritsar than that - along with other sights is
Jallianwala Bagh, site of the dreadful massacre of unarmed Indians
by British troops. A major tourist attraction these days is the Indo
Pakistan border crossing at Wagah Border, just a short distance from
Amritsar city, with its complex change-of-guards drill with a lot of
blustering and intimidatory viewing off by both sides. If you are
traveling north India, Amritsar is a city you should not miss. It's easy
to travel there from Delhi by road and by rail both.
Amritsar lied at a distance of about 280 miles from Delhi and is only 16 miles from
Wagha, the outpost of the Indo-Pakistan border.The city is an important regional market center for agricultural goods,
woollens, spices and dry fruits and also the center for India's border security.
Today it is India's important distribution centre of dry-fruits, tea (next only to Calcutta), of condiments and is a leading exporter of goods to the Middle East. Woollen tweeds, suitings, blankets, shawls in traditional weaves, ivory (now plastic) inlay furniture, swords of all designs, oils, scents, jutties (traditional embroidered shoes), cut-glass crockery, selective musical instruments, carpets are manufactured here almost in every bazaar.
Its pickles, murabbas (Indian jams) and papads and warian and sweetmeats are exported to far off places, right into Punjabi Diaspora abroad. With a population of about 4,00,000 and a number of educational institutions, business markets, industrial concerns, banks, hotels parks and restaurants, Amritsar still remains the most important, the largest and, perhaps, the most picturesque city in the Punjab. Amritsar is also characterised by the hard working and warm-hearted people.
Major Tourist Attractions in Amritsar
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The Golden Temple
 Sri Harimandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple is named after Hari(God) the temple of God. Sikhs from all over the world come here to pay their reverence to Guru Granth Sahib and take a dip in the Amrit Saras Kund for spiritual purification. The Golden Temple is the major landmark of the place. Founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, the Golden Temple is a two storey marble structure, with an imposing dome of pure gold.
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Jalianwala Bagh
Jalianwala Bagh reminds us of the
brutal killing of the innocent
people on April 13, 1919 by general Dyer, a British general. The mass
massacre took lives of over 2000 unarmed people, who gathered there for
meeting. This garden commemorates the martyrs, keeping the tragic
episode
in its historical context. Today, this site of brutal massacre, encloses
a memorial with an eternal flame, dedicated to the martyrs.
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Durgiana Temple
Located outside the Lohagarh gate of the old city, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is a centre of pilgrimage for devout Hindus. Other attractions of the city are Baba Atal Rai Tower, Ram Bagh garden, Fatehabad Mosque, Tarn Taran, Harike Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, Wagha Border.
How To Reach :-
By
Air: Amritsar is connected by Indian Airlines flights to Delhi and Srinagar. There is a weekly flight to Birmingham and Kabul. Rajasansi airport is not far from the city and taxis are available for the transfers.
By
Rail: Amritsar is connected with direct trains to delhi , Calcutta , Mumbai , Puri, and other places. The important ones include the Frontier Mail to Mumbai, Shatabdi Express to Delhi and Utkal Express to Puri. There are twice-weekly runs by Lahore Express, the train to Pakistan. Amritsar Railway station provides amenities including Retiring room and refreshment rooms. Taxis are available outside the station.
By
Road: There is vast network of bus services of Punjab, Himachal , Delhi . Haryana, PEPSU, Chandigarh, U.P , J& K , Rajasthan state roadways, apart from private operators. Important destinations include Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kullu, Manali and Jammu. Taxis are also available, but not everywhere. They stand outside the airport and railway station. There are autorickshaws and cycle rickshaws are also very common for local transfers.
Accommodation
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You won't face in any difficulty here. There are numerous respectable accommodations available here with world class facilities and services. Hotels are available in wide range, varying between luxury to budget and cater to every tourist's interest. There is accommodation for luxury seekers as well as for budget travelers.
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