The word
Amritsar means the holy pool of nectar. 1573 Work began
on digging the holy pool. 1601 Harmandir Sahib completed.
1604 Guru Granth Sahib installed. Alongside people representing
52 professions settled. In Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time
Amritsar had superceded Lahore as the pre-eminent city of
the Orient.
Amritsar is
one of the most ancient and fascinating cities of India.
It is an important seat of Sikh history and culture. Being
the gateway for travellers coming to India on the overland
route from central Asia it soon became the centre of various
commercial activities.
Amritsar has
various historical and religious sites. The most famous
of them all in the Golden Temple which was founded by the
fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas and completed by his successor
Guru Arjan Dev. Another revered shrine is the Durgiana Temple
which is dedicated to goddess Durga.
Amritsar being
an important trade centre is very well connected. There
is a daily Indian Airlines flight to Delhi and Srinagar.
Direct rail links to Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Calcutta
are also there. There are frequent buses plying to Dehra
Dun, Shimla, Kulu, Dalhousie and Dharamsala.
Golden Temple : During Maharaja Ranjit Singh's reign the lower half of the
temple was decorated with marble while the entire upper
half was inlaid with copper covered over by gold plate :
hence its new name, the Golden Temple. Free kitchen and
recitation of the divine word never cease here. Its four
gates invite everyone from all directions.
Akal Takhat
: Sixth Guru Sri Har Gobind had got it constructed as
a seal of temperal authority symbolising the unity of spiritual
and temporal life in 1609.
Tower of
Baba Atal Rai : Built in the memory of Baba Atal Rai,
son of Sri Har Gobind Ji, this octagonal nine-storeyed structure
about 50 meters high has several beautiful frescos on its
walls, relating to the life of Guru nanak Dev Ji.
 Jallianwal
Bagh : Martyrs' Memorial built in the shape of eternal
flame of liberty is situated on the outskirts of Golden
Temple. Here, about 1500 to 2000 persons who were attending
a peaceful meeting during the freedom movement fell under
the bullets of the British General Dyer, on April 13, 1919.
The British Queen Elizabeth II and her husband laid a wreath
at the Memorial on 14 Oct.' 1997.
Durgiana
Temple : Situated outside the Lohgarh Gate it is built
after the design of the Golden Temple and attracts sages
and scholars in Hindu scriptures from all over India.
Summer place
of Maharaja Ranjit Singh : Is situated in the middle
of a beautiful garden called Ram bagh in Amritsar City. This garden is laid out on the pattern
of Shalimar Bagh at Lahore.
Only its architecturally
unique 'darshani deorhi' has remained intact. A museum after
the name of the Maharaja is set up here displaying oil paintings,
miniatures, coins, weapons relating to the Sikh period.
Khalsa College
& Guru Nanak Dev University : Khalsa College, Amritsar
was founded in 1892 and built on grand scale in typical
Sikh architecture, its distinguished alumni; sportsmen,
servicemen, administrators, professionals, fill up India's
compilations of Who's Who. On a part of its land a new University
called Guru Nanak Dev University was established at Amritsar.
Soon it has become distinguished for starting modern curricula
and has etched its name on the sports map of India.
 There
are a number of cotton, woollen and art silk textile factories
besides other industries dealing with electric goods, sewing
machines, auto parts, carpets in Amritsar. The milk processing
plant at Verka about 6 kms. from Amritsar is the second
biggest project of its kind in the country. Amritsar is
India's leading exporter of goods to the Middle-East, leading
distribution centre of dry fruits, tea and condiments. Amritsar
is a shopper's paradise and a gourmet's delight. It is world's
leading centre of Punjabi publications.
Goindwal
: A few kilometers away from Tarn Taran is the town
of Goindwal, where Guru Amar Das established a new centre
for preaching Sikhism. A 'Baoli', well paved with 84 steps
was constructed here. The devout believe that by reciting
Japji Sahib, the divine 'Word' revealed to Guru Nanak Dev
Ji at each step after taking a bath in the Baoli provides
'Moksh', liberation from 84,000 cycles of life of this world.
Khadur Sahib
: Khadur Sahib is 32 kms. south-east of Amritsar city
and close to Goindwal. During the life of the second Sikh
Saint, Guru Angad Dev, it was the centre of Sikhism.
Ram Tirath
: 16 Kilometres west of Amritsar on Choganwan road is
Ram Tirath, commemorating Maharishi Balmik Ji's heritage.Also
the birth place of Luv & Kush ,the two sons of Lord
Rama.
A big fair now
recognised nationally and lasting for four days is held
here since times immemorial on every Kartika Puran-mashi
(full moon night in November).
 Harike
Wetland : The lake formed at the point of confluence
of rivers Beas and Sutlej at Harika ford, situated mid way
between Amritsar and Ferozepur was declared a national wildlife
sanctuary in 1982. It is a welcome winter home to about
350 odd species of birds from far flung lands of China,
Siberia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
 Baba
Bakala : Situated about 45 kilometers east of Amritsar
on the Batala road. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadurji, revealed himself
to Makhan Shah Labana, a Sikh devotee here. It has a magnificent
Gurudwara where people gather in thousands on every amavas
(moonless night) and an annual fair is held on Raksha Bandhan
day (night of full moon in August) when about one lakh people
visit the place.
Dera Baba
Jaimal Singh : About 54 kilometres east of Amritsar
is Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, the Radhaswami, self-sufficient
colony near Beas. It is presided over by a living Master. |
