AMRITSAR

Planning to do North India this holiday season? Be sure to map Amritsar on your itinerary. The epicenter of Sikh faith, pivot of Punjab politics, gateway to the Middle-East, nursery of defense pool and an alert sentinel at the Indo-Pak border, city of Amritsar is all this and much more. The quintessential ‘Pool of Nectar’ (meaning of Amritsar) can not be experienced at the city’s prominent shrines alone, tradition and vibrancy pulsates through its cultural ethos. Be it theatres, galleries, landscape features, architectural treasures, monumental memorials, havelis , forts, magical melas, the myriad of lanes and alleys, bustling bazaars or Amritsar’s infamous to-die- for cuisine. This city of Punjab is indeed a dazzling showcase of composite culture and secular heritage.

Foodies Den

Known for warmth and hospitality, Amritsar is a vibrant city with a populace, termed Amritsaris , famous for having an insatiable appetite and a spicy palate for eating. Amritsar is extremely popular for its culinary delicacies like multi-layered prathas, bhatura channa, tandoori kulchas, puris, jam, marmalades, sharbat, rabri & lassi. Other delicacies include satpuras, samosas, fried fish,seekh kabab, mutton tikka, barbecued chicken and spicy pickles. Interestingly, Amritsar’s papad and vadian have become the subject of many a rhymes and jingles. The city is proud to offer a wide range of eateries both for traditional cuisine and modern foods.

The Golden temple
No visit to the city can be considered complete without seeing the most sacred pilgrim centre for Sikhs, The Golden temple or Harmandir sahib, as it also called. Famous for its golden dome, the two-storied shrine is built on a 67-ft square of marble and is surrounded by water on all sides. Verses from the Granth Sahib are inscribed on the doorway of the temple. The architecture of this magnificent and breath taking Gurudwara is a beautiful confluence of the Hindu and Muslim styles.

Wagah Border
Wagah, an army outpost on Indo-Pak border - between Amritsar and Lahore, is 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 this location a must see for all tourists visiting Amritsar

Jallian Wala Bagh

One of the major incidents of India's freedom struggle was the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy that took place on April13, 1919. The memorial at this site commemorates the 2000 Indians who died while participating in a peaceful public meeting as a result of the indiscriminate firing ordered by Gen Michael O’Dyer. A section of wall with bullet marks still visible is preserved along with the memorial well, in which some people jumped to escape.

How to reach Amritsar?

Located in the north western region, Amritsar lies about 15 miles (25 km) east of India’s border with Pakistan.

By Air

The Rajasansi airport, approximately 11 km. from town, is connected by domestic flights to Delhi, Srinagar and Chandigarh.

By Train

The city is connected by direct trains to major Indian cities like Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai, Nagpur, Calcutta and Puri.

By Road

Driving into Amritsar from neighboring states is both comfortable and safe. In addition, Regular bus services connect the city with most north Indian towns, including Chandigarh (235 Kms), Delhi (450 Kms), Shimla, Kulu, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, Dehradun and Rishikesh in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu. There is also a bus service to Lahore, 35 km away, which is the only overland connection between India and Pakistan.