Amritsar Tour

Amritsar City was founded by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das. The most revered place of the Sikhs has in due course of time recreated itself as an industrially developed city. Several textile and machinery parts units, manufacturing firms apart from agriculture holds key to its economy. Today it holds its importance as one of the most important pilgrimage center of the Sikhs .The city stands in divine sanctity while the silhouettes, minarets,and domes can be seen adoring the city premises.

The Golden Temple is an important pilgrimage site of the Sikhs, the temple also known as Hari Mandir Sahib is a symbol of spiritual tradition of the Sikhs The temple has been a source of inspiration for the Sikhs from generations and is beautifully coated with Gold. It was the first prime holy shrine where Sikhs from all over come to pay their obeisance. The Jallianwala Bagh is well known in history for the massacre of thousands of peoples during the British rule in India. General Dyer opened fire on innocent people killing the masses without even sparing the children and the babies on the un fateful day of 13th April 1919. Ram Bag, the beautiful garden comprises of the summer palace of the erst while Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the city of Amritsar.

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 In Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time Amritsar had superceded Lahore as the pre-eminent city of the Orient.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.

Jallianwala 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.

Wagah Border :

A Colorful 'Brating the Retreat' ceremony in the INDO-PAK Border at visitors from both the sides of the Border. A visit to AMRITSAR is undoubtly incomplete without a visit to wagah.

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.