Amritsar – the city is one of the major tourist destinations in India. City attracts Indians and foreigners alike. I have been fascinated with the city for as long as I remember & got an opportunity to visit it last year. It is the spiritual center for Sikhism.
How to reach Amritsar:
The city is well-connected by rail, road and airways to major cities in India. I had travelled by train from Delhi to Amritsar and took return journey by bus. You can also drive yourself from Delhi to Amritsar.
Places to visit in Amritsar:
Apart from finding your spiritual self, be assured that you will be eating lots of delicious food.
Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) –
- It is captivating place. The experience of visiting Golden Temple cannot be expressed in words. It is open for one & all to visit.
- Before entering the premises, you need to wash your feet in the pool of water at entrance. As a mark of respect, head is to be kept covered at all the times. The head scarves are also provided at the entry if you do not have one.
- Gurudwara is surrounded by a large lake which is filled with fishes. It is a treat for eyes to sit on the edge of lake and look at the calm water.
- The exquisite gold and marble work is an architectural marvel.
- I had stayed there for long hours on my two day journey to Amritsar. Watching Gurudwara as the sun sets & when the sun rises was the best part of the whole journey.
- And how can I forget the joy of enjoying food at the largest kitchen in the world. The food at Langar was delicious and the whole place is managed by the Sevaks.
- It also has three Holy Trees sacred to Sikhs and houses the Akal Takht.
Jalianwala Bagh –
- It is a memorial place for Jalianwala bagh tragedy. It was established to commemorate the massacre of unarmed civilians by British forces on April 13,1919.
- It serves as a gruesome reminder of the cruelties suffered by innocent people. British official Dyer went on a fire frenzy to shoot one and all as they had gathered to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi.
- The place makes you take a step back into history and ponder about India’s struggle for Independence.
Radha Swami Satsang Beas –
- Radha Soami is a Hindi expression meaning ‘Lord of the Soul’ in English. The main seat of the organisation ‘Dera Baba Jaimal Singh’ is located on the banks of the Beas River in Punjab.
- The visitors need to submit all electronic items including mobiles and camera at the entrance. So, could not click any photographs of the place.
- We had wanted to perform meditation under the guidance of a guru. But unfortunately could not do it.
- It is spread across large area and has distinctive residential & administrative blocks. The place is amazingly clean and green. Staying here is like a breath of fresh air. Here also the food at canteen was yummy!
Wagah Border –
- It is famous for the “beating retreat” border ceremony which the Indian & Pakistan forces jointly follow. We had visited Amritsar when border tensions were at highest peak and the ceremony was cancelled for days.
Famous food joints In AMRITSAR
- Kesar da Dhaba is famous for its parathas, dal and lassi combination.
- Kulcha Land known for it’s Kulchas.
That was all that I could explore in Amritsar on my short visit. Will surely add up more when I visit it again. Do let me know what other places/activities you liked on your visit to Amritsar.
