Amritsar Tourism

Amritsar is one of Punjab´s principal cities, dating back in history over 400 years. Amritsar is known more for the world famous Golden Temple, the seat of Sikh religion. Amritsar is situated on the north-western border of India, the city is also gateway for the travelers on the overland route through Pakistan. The Wagah border, which is the check-post is about 29 kms away. Amritsar literally means "the pool of nectar", the name 'Amritsar' derived from a pool constructed at the sacred site in the 16th century, gifted by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to Guru Ramdas, the fourth preceptor of the Sikh faith.

Under instructions from Guru Amar Das Sahib, Amritsar city was founded by Guru Ram Das Sahib in 1574, on the land bought by him for an amount of rupees 700 from the owners of the village Tung. (Earlier Guru Ram Das Sahib had begun building Santokhsar Sarovar, near erstwhile village of Sultanwind in 1564 {according to one source in 1570}. It could not be completed before 1588). In 1574, Guru Ram Das Sahib built his residence and moved to this place. At that time, Amritsar was known as Guru-Da-Chakk. (Later, it came to be known as Chakk Ram Das). Guru Ram Das Sahib began excavation of the Amritsar Sarovar (tank) in 1577. It was ready by 1581. This tank was renovated by Guru Arjun Sahib in 1586. Since then this city is known as Amritsar (after the name of the Sarovar).

SIGHT SEEING

Golden Temple:

The holiest shrine of the Sikh religion is in the centre of the old part of town. The temple itself is surrounded by the lake which gave the town its name. A causeway connects the temple in the middle of the pool and a loudspeaker broadcasts a continuous reading of the Granth Sahib, in Punjabi. The high priest who reads from the Sikh's holy book sits on the east side of the temple.

The Old City:

A 15 minute walk from the Golden Temple, through the narrow alleys of the old city, brings you to the Hindu temple known as Durgiani. This small temple, dedicated to the goddess Durga, dates back to the 16th century. A larger temple, built like the Golden Temple in the centre of a lake, is dedicated to the Hindu deities Laxmi and Narayan. There are a number of mosques in the old city including the mosque of Muhammad Jan with three white domes and slender minarets. To the south-west of the city stands the Fort of Govindgarh which was built in 1805-09 by Ranjit Singh who was also responsible for the city walls.

Jalianwala Bagh:

This park is just five minutes walk from the Golden Temple and commemorates the death of 2000 Indians at this site who were shot indiscriminately by the British in 1919. This was one of the major events in India's struggles for independence. Bullet marks and the well into which some people jumped to escape can still be seen.

Ram Bagh:

This beautiful garden is in the new part of town and also has a museum in the small palace built there by the Sikh Maharajah Ranjit Singh. The museum contains weapons dating back to the Moghul times and some portraits of the ruling houses of the Punjab. It's closed on Wednesdays.

Govindgarh Fort: The Govindgarh Fort, built by Ranjit Singh in 1809, is a little south-west of the city centre.

Tarn Taran: Tarn Taran is an important Sikh tank, about 25 km south of Amritsar. There's a temple and tower on the east side of the tank which was also constructed by Ranjit Singh. The temple pre-dates Amritsar. It's said that any leper who can swim across the tank will by miraculously cured.

Amrisar (Punjab) India

Climate

The winter season (Nov to March) where temperatures ranges from 18 °C to about -3 °C, the hot season (April to June) where temperatures can reach 46 °C , monsoon season (July to September) and post-monsoon (Sep to Nov).

Geographic coordinates

31.6331° N 74.8656° E

Altitude

218 m