Amritsar | Golden Temple | Wagah Border

amritsar

Thousands of tourists visit Amritsar every day as it is the most important religious place for Sikhs. The magnificent Golden Temple at Amritsar, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is made out of pure gold. This great Gurudwara at Amritsar is a place where visitors from any religion instantly find peace and serenity. The view of this temple casting its reflection in a beautiful water reservoir is world famous. The site of the Golden Temple is breathtaking by night, when the temple is well-lit. The pool around the Golden Temple, gives the city its name, Amritsar, in which Amrit means elixir and sar represents Sarovar, a Hindi word for lake. On any given day, the temple attracts more visitors than any other tourist places in India, including Taj Mahal.

This temple came into existence during the late 16th and early 17th century due to the contributions of two great Sikh Gurus, Guru Ram Das, the 4th Guru and Guru Arjan Dev, the 5th Guru. The holy literature for Sikhs, Guru Grantha Sahib is present inside the Gurudwara all the time.

Amritsar is also known for Jallianwala Bagh, a gathering point surrounded by walls with one narrow exit where 1526 innocent men, women and children were massacred by the British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer. This black incident, one of the high-points in India’s freedom struggle, has been noted down in history as Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. The place today hosts museums recounting the incidents on the black day and about the freedom fighters of India.

Wagah Border, situated near Amritsar, is another major attraction about the city. Also called the Berlin-Wall of Asia, this is the place where the borders of India and Pakistan meet. Every evening, the soldiers from both the countries undergo a retreat ceremony known as Lowering of Flags, during which both the sides perform zealous parades matching each-others skill and passion. Throngs of civilians flocking at the place in order to witness the ceremony perform dances on patriotic songs to demonstrate their love for the country.

Apart from the above famous attractions in terms of places, Amritsar is famous for its delisous lassi, a famous identity of the burly punjabis. Besides lassi, one can also enjoy various delicacies of chicken and fish while in Amritsar.

One of the major and most famous cities in India, Amritsar gives a true taste of Punjab with a tinge of history and a strong flavor of religious unity in India.

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Quick Reference

Amritsar is the most important religious place for Sikhs. The magnificent Golden Temple attracts thousands of tourists of any religion every day. Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is made out of pure gold. The temple casting its reflection in beautiful reservoir is a visual treat. The Golden Temple is breath taking at night when well lit. Amritsar is also known for Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Jallianwala Bagh hosts a museum of paintings about incidents on that took place on the Black Day and about the freedom fighters of India. Another major attraction of the city is Wagah Border, also known as the Berlin-Wall of Asia, where the borders of India and Pakistan meet. Every evening, people flock at the border to see the Retreat Ceremony.

Destination Grade:	A (What is this?)
Rating:	8/10
Population:	3695077
5 Star Hotels:	Ista Amritsar
Luxury Hotels:	Mohan International Hotel, Grand Legacy, M.K Hotel, Ranjit\'s svaasa,
Airport:	11 km is the Raja Sansi International Airport, Amritsar
Railway Station:	Amritsar
Nearest Major City(s):	Jalandhar and Ludhiana
How to reach:	Amritsar is well connected to all major cities of India by a network of railways, roadways and airways
Major Tourist Attraction:	Golden Temple, Jalianwala bagh, Wagha border
Speciality(Famous for):	Golden Temple
Food speciality:	Delicious Lassi, various delicacies of Chicken and Fish.

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The Golden Temple Visit - by Aditya Parmar Dated : 2011-11-19

When we talk about Amritsar, the Golden Temple strikes our mind. I first visited the Golden temple when I was ten and I still remember how happy I was counting the fish in the sarovar. It was during our tour to North India that I and my family visited Amritsar. We traveled from Delhi to Amritsar. It was a nine hour journey by train.

This year I again had an opportunity to visit Amritsar as I had to be there for some official work. I made it a point to visit the temple and seek blessings. I also offered service at the langar and donated money for the charity work that the temple does. I really felt very warm and relaxed as I walked bare feet around the temple. The view of the lake is soothing.

Dhaba food being my favorite, I also visited a famous dhaba with my colleague and we both kind of had a feast, with all the non vegetarian delicacies and the thirst quenching lassi. Amritsar is an awesome place. I bought handicrafts and embroidered dresses for my wife and daughter that literally delighted them. I also bought jootis and beautiful carpets. It was a brief but exciting trip.

Delicious Food of Amritsar - by Kavita Premnath Dated : 2011-11-17

I think apart from the Golden Temple (which is completely besotting), the Durgiana Mandir, the Wagah Border and the Jallianwala Bagh, the most appealing thing about Amritsar is the food. The Punjabis are known to have the food fetish and I must say the food is so delicious, mouth watering and insanely intoxicating. The spicy and hot meals that I had the dhabas in Amritsar totally satisfied my taste buds and made sure that I never forget the taste for my life.

Basically, the lassi, the parathas, sarso ka saar, the corn preparations and the sumptuous non vegetarian dishes make you mad. After I visited the famed Golden Temple and the Wagah border I first rushed to a nearby dhaba and ate my heart out. I was served hot parathas with lots of ghee, fresh lassi and spicy and hot chicken delicacy (read tandoori chicken). Even the thought of that meal makes me want to run back to Amritsar again. I just loved the Punjabi cuisine. It satisfies your stomach like nothing else.

Shopping is an activity that can keep your wife engaged while you gorge on Punjabi delicacies. Salwar suits with fulkari embroidery and Punjabi jootis (footwear) are very famous. I really advise people to visit this amazing place.

Spiritually Enhancing Experience - by Radhika Agarwal Dated : 2011-11-15

It is said that to seek blessings of God, you do not need any religion. I had a chance to visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar and I grabbed it with both hands. I am not a Sikh, but since I had heard a lot about this place I wanted to see it myself. When I stepped inside the temple premises, I was totally elated at the sight of the mighty temple surrounded by a lively lake. The temple is a perfectly proportional building and the beautiful lake compliments it structure. You need to keep your head covered with a scarf. You can buy one or grab one for free at the entrance. I was impressed by the administration of the place because you need to keep your shoes at an organized facility. It was really well maintained. You need to then wash your feet in the washing area. The water was hot even during January, winter time. Every little thing about the temple is inviting and simply perfect. As you walk towards the temple, you see devotees’ eyes full of faith and smiles on the faces of little children. And yes, the temple is totally covered in GOLD!!! I was so amazed at its beauty; even the insides of the temple are carved in gold. I donated a modest amount at the langar of the temple (langar is the kitchen of the temple which serves free food to the people). I was really happy about it. I will really look forward at another opportunity to visit the temple.

Apart from the temple, the Jallianwalla Bagh is also a place worth visiting. There is a museum there which gives information about the massacre in which over 1500 people were killed on the orders of British General Dyer. The Wagah border, where the borders of India and Pakistan meet can also be visited. The border retreat is a treat to watch as soldiers from both the countries perform it perfectly. Overall, my trip to Amritsar was delightful.

Amazing Place Amritsar - by Ajay Bakshi Dated : 2011-11-12

Amritsar is well known all around India for the famous Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara. It is regarded as the holiest place for the Sikhs. I got a golden opportunity to visit this Gurudwara while I and my wife were attending a marriage ceremony at Amritsar.

We went to seek blessings at the Gurudwara at around 11 in the morning. There was a long queue of devotees there. I was just too curious to see what was inside the temple. Many of my friends had told me that anybody who visits this place feels very pure and satisfied there. I wanted to know whether it is true. I must say, it is very true. When I and my wife saw the temple, made completely in gold, we were dumbstruck.

We saw the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ inside the temple; it was being read by the reader of the temple. The atmosphere was very calm and quiet and people do not rush past you, they slowly move ahead and seek blessings. We had food at the Langar, which was very tasty. We had a great time at the temple. Anybody going to Amritsar must visit the temple.

Golden Amritsar - by Abhay Jog Dated : 2011-11-11

Unlike most of you, I am local to Amritsar. I am writing this review so that you can know things about Amritsar. Most of the people do not know why Amritsar is called so. ‘Amrit’ means elixir while ‘Sar’ means Sarovar or a lake. The lake that surrounds the Golden Temple is called as the Sarovar and it is believed that it has holy water. Faithful people believe that this water washes off all the sins of a human and makes his soul pure.
When you go inside the temple premises, you must have your head covered. You will see a handwritten copy of the great and holy book ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ on the very first floor being read by a reader. The designs that can be seen on the walls of the temple are so beautiful that it is hard to imagine that they have been made by a human.
It is advisable that you come to Amritsar during the winters and the atmosphere is very pleasant. Since you need to explore the temple bare feet, the heat of the sun may not be tolerable and that is why winter is the best time to visit. If you come during the summers, visit the temple after 7 P.M to savor the view of the lake water reflecting the lights.
During festivals like Diwali, crackers are lit around the temple and they seem like a galaxy above the lake. There are many fish in the lake. The Golden Temple is a place where you can forget all your worries and be close to God. As you hear the kirtans, you feel blessed and pure. Please come to Amritsar to enjoy a visit to the Golden Temple.

Wonderful Amritsar - by Jack Milton Dated : 2011-11-09

We drove to Amritsar from Delhi in our car, me and my family. Amritsar is a religiously the most important place for the Sikhs. We visit Amritsar every year; it has been a part of our schedule since last 3 years. Usually we take a train from Delhi to Amritsar. It leaves by 7 A.M and reaches Amritsar at around 4 P.M. But as we drove from Delhi this year, it was a longer journey due to the traffic. We left from Delhi at 4 in the morning and reached Amritsar at 6 in the evening.
For those who are planning to go to Amritsar from Delhi by road must know that you need to park your cars at an authorized parking lot which is a kilometer away from the temple premises. You need to hire an auto to reach the temple from there. It is mandatory to keep your vehicles away from the temple for security reasons.
Every time I go to the Golden Temple, I am totally amazed by its beauty and its charm. If you shall go to the temple for the first time you will be dumbstruck by its beauty. The holy book of the Sikhs is placed inside the temple and it is read daily.
I also make it a point to do some service in the ‘langar’ where free food is served to anybody who comes to visit the temple. The food is extremely delicious and it feels really nice to serve the people. I also donate to the charity. Every visit to the temple calms my soul and is a good respite from the loud life of Delhi.

A Happy Visit to Amritsar - by Priyanka Talreja Dated : 2011-11-09

Some places you visit in your lifetime create a magical memory in your mind. Whenever you are reminded of that place, you smile and feel happy. One such place that I visited is Amritsar. Amritsar is considered as the holiest place for the Sikhs because the holy book ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is placed in the Golden Temple of Amritsar.
Whenever you go to Amritsar, you will find lots of people, from all castes visiting this temple to seek blessings. The entire temple has been gilded with gold and the work dates back to the 19th century. A large lake surrounds the temple and is known as Sarovar. It is believed that the lake contains holy water. You cannot go inside the temple without wearing something on your head. For the women it is necessary to put a scarf or dupatta on their heads, and for men, they must tie handkerchiefs on their heads such that their head is covered.
The reading of the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ begins at 4 in the morning and goes on all day. There is a long queue of visitors for the main temple. There is a section that provides food to anybody who comes to eat food inside the temple as part of charity and this is due to a mission so that no one should go hungry from the house of God. The food is extremely delicious and thousands of people are fed here every day.

Amritsar- One of it's kind Religious Place - by Sridhar Mohod Dated : 2011-05-02

When I took a look at the city of Amritsar I found it to be clean, hassle free, tout free and affluent. I was happy to see auto rickshaw drivers that could hear a no without flinching, and the place is really hygienic, not messy unlike other religious places.

Amritsar is most famous for the Golden Temple. The temple is a marvel I can say, its dome alone is gilded with solid gold, may be almost a ton of gold. Situated in the centre of the Pool of Nectar (water) it is surrounded by a marble walkway. I wouldn’t think much in comparing this beautiful structure with none other than the Taj Mahal in terms of beauty as well as maintenance and cleanliness.

To enter the complex of the temple we were asked to remove our shows, clean our feet in a small pool and cove our heads. As we went inside, we circled the Pool of Nectar with other pilgrims, we could hear the chants of the gurus from inside the temple.

The temple houses a free kitchen or Langar that serves upto 80,000 free vegetarian meals every day. Various devotees offer to volunteer this task for experiencing the pleasure of social service in this religious premise.

The border of Pakistan lies 30 km to the west of Amritsar, near to Attari, a town. Every day, late in the afternoon a border ceremony takes place here. This is an exaggerated ceremony, curious crowds of tourists go there to see the military personnel of both India and Pakistan in colonial costumes, doing the gymnastics kind of marches and waving their respective flags. Like all other curious fellas I and my friend went to see this border closing ceremony.

Amritsar is a wonderful place, must be visited once in your life, especially if you are an Indian.

Not Just a Religious Place - by Soham Sinha Dated : 2011-05-02

Amritsar is widely believed to be just the place where you go to visit the Golden Temple. But it isn't so. It is famous for the Golden Temple. Which is a great temple. Any time of day, whether in morning or noon or night, you feel calm and blessed here. It is wonderful to hear the Gurubani. The water of the lake at the temple is cool and takes away your tiredness. The temple remains closed for a few hours during night, otherwise it is open all the time so that it can accommodate a high number of visitors that come here everyday.

There are many hotels around the temple and in the area nearby. We reached here at 4 in the morning and were surprised when a cycle rickshaw driver came asking if we needed a hotel. He drove before us and we followed him in our car and he did show us to a hotel we described. Though the hotel was not very good, all we needed was a place to crash till morning. We changed this hotel the next day and moved to a better one for the next night. That one was quite good.

Apart from the temple, we also visited Jalianwala Bagh and the Wagah Border which are the most famous attractions here. But what I loved most about Amritsar is food. We tried all sort of places, from the cheap ones to the classy ones. And everywhere we were more than satisfied. Lassi and Chicken taste very nice in Amritsar and so do the sweets from the sweet shops. It is not a very big city but parking could be a problem inside the heart of the city.

Amritsar is for the ones who love food and want to visit the best temple in India the Golden Temple.

Amritsar and its Impeccable Aura - by Ambrish Khanna Dated : 2011-03-14

Amritsar is a place that no one can forget after a visit and you surely want to come back. The place is religiously important to the Sikhs and the Golden temple lying inside a pool of nectar (water) is one of the most beautiful temples in India.
I was staying at a good hotel at Amritsar, Punjabi people love eating and serving food so I did not have much problem regarding the food there. The food was very delicious and I really loved it. I ate at a hotel where they served really tasty mushroom curry.

I went to see the border ceremony, reached there after a short journey (an hour) in a shared taxi. It was fun to sit along with fellow tourists who were equally excited to see the border ceremony. As I reached the spot that is the Wagah border I could see a lot of crowd- kids, youngsters, tourists waiting eagerly to see the ceremony. It is a daily celebration among the Pakistan and Indian army, as the border opens and closes. People were cheering, the marshals raised their leg so high in the air that I imagined them being gymnastic professionals. There were so many Indian flags waving here and there. It was a great experience.

After the ceremony ended, I went back to Amritsar and later that day went to see the Golden Temple. It was an absolutely lovely sight, seeing the reflection of the temple glittering in gold in the water surrounding it. Three levels of the temple can be visited. You need to wash your feet before you enter the temple. You need to cover your head throughout the time you are in the temple premises. I took blessings and set off back to my hotel. It was a great feeling to go back home with lots of blessings.

I had an exhilarating experience in Amritsar, it enriched me spiritually.

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