Amritsar, literally a Pool of Nectar, derives its name from Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the splendid Golden Temple. Guru Ramdas, the fourth Guru of the Sikh faith, founded Amritsar in 1579. One of the most pristine cities with Guru-vaani humming from the Gurudwaras, Amritsar is renowned the world over for the Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara - the holiest Gurdwara.
Following are the best places to visit in our beloved city Amritsar.
Sri Harmandir Sahib also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, is spiritually the most significant shrine in Sikhism. The fourth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, who had initially constructed a pool here, and founded Amritsar, which houses the Golden Temple. Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji, the fifth Guru of Sikhs, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. All visitors, wealthy or poor, are welcome to a free meal at the temple kitchen. Visitors sit together on the floor as equals. Every Sikh gurdwara has a free kitchen, and Harmandir Sahib is one of the largest, serving 100,000 a day.
Jallianwala Bagh is a historic garden and memorial of national importance close to the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab, India, preserved in the memory of those wounded and killed in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that occurred on the site on the festival of Baisakhi, 13 April 1919. The 7-acre (28,000 m2) site houses a museum, gallery and several memorial structures. Jallianwala Bagh or the garden of the Jallah-man, with its well, implies that it was once green and flowering. Over the years it had become popular as a recreation ground and an area of rest for those visiting the nearby Golden temple.
Durgiana Mandir is a Hindu temple situated in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. This temple derives its name from the Goddess Durga, the chief Goddess who is worshipped here. Murtis of Lakshmi and Vishnu are also located and worshipped in the temple. Sri Durgiana temple is a very important temple for Hindus. In the courtyard of the temple is a tree where Lava and Kusha bound Hanuman after the captured challenge horse of the Ashvamedha yajna.
Wahga or Wagah is a village in Pakistan located on the historic Grand Trunk Road that passes between Amritsar and Lahore. The Radcliffe Line or the boundary line dividing India and Pakistan was drawn here, on the Indian side of the village, during the partition of India. This border crossing draws its name from the village where it is located and hence is called Wagah Border. Every evening, just before sunset, the soldiers from the Indian and Pakistan military meet at this border post to engage in a 30-minute display of military camaraderie and showmanship. This ceremony includes the closing of the international gates and lowering the flags of both countries. The flag ceremony has been conducted by the Indian Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers since 1959.
Gobindgarh Fort is a historic military fort located in the center of the city of Amritsar in the Indian state of Punjab. The Fort was until recently occupied by the army but was opened to the public from 10 February 2017. Today the fort is being developed as a museum and theme park as a repository of Punjab's history. The fort had five cannons which included the famous two Zamzama cannons.One of the main reasons to erect the fort was to save Harminder Sahib and the city from the invaders using the Grand Trunk road throughout the 18th century who often attacked the city for the purpose of looting.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum is a popular museum situated in the middle of a beautiful Ram Bagh Garden in Amritsar, Punjab. It is one of the best museums in Punjab and also one of the top tourist attractions in Amritsar Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum was originally the summer palace of first king of Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Later, it was converted in to museum in 1977 CE. It is a treasure house of the history, art and architecture of the Sikhs of the 18th and the 19th century AD. The museum offers insights into the life of the Sikh monarch Maharaja Ranjit Singh.