Amritsar

Religious

Punjab

10°C / Mist

History
Places to visit
How to reach

The city of Amritsar lies in the Majha region of the state of Punjab. Amritsar was historically known as Ramdaspur and then Ambarsar. This historically and culturally prominent city is widely known for Golden Temple which is the major landmark of the city that attracts tourists and devotees from across the globe.

Amritsar is one of the holiest cities for Sikhs and people visit here on the sacred day of Vaisakhi which is also the birth anniversary of Khalsa Panth of warriors by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Besides the Golden Temple, the city is also popular for the beating retreat ceremony that is held at Wagah-Attari Border.

Best Time to Visit Amritsar

The months between November to March are great to visit the city with your loved ones. During this time the overall temperature is quite pleasant and apt for sightseeing.

History of Amritsar

Historians claim that Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Sikh Guru established Amritsar. Initially, it was known as Ramdaspur as it was named after the fourth guru, but it later got changed to Amritsar. By the advent of the 19th century, the region came under British rule. The unforgettable and the most inhumane incident, the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 happened during British rule in the heart of the city itself. Even today the Jalianwala Bagh site is visited by history buffs and tourists who pay their homage to the innocent souls who lost their lives here.

Amritsar again witnessed another unfortunate incident that people remember by the name Operation Bluestar. In 1984, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered an attack on the Sikh militants who were hiding in the Golden Temple. To successfully carry out the operation the Indian army invaded the temple and during the process, a part of the temple’s structure got damaged which later caused controversy and unrest in the state. Today, the city has become a popular tourist destination in the country that is known for its historic and religious sites, delicious food, and vibrant festivals.

Major Attractions in and Around Amritsar

1. Golden Temple

The Golden Temple is also known as Harmandir as well as Swarna Mandir. The design of this mandir was designed by Guru Arjan Singh himself. Furthermore, what is really worth knowing is the fact that the foundation of this shrine was laid by a Muslim Saint namely Hazrat Mian Mir Ji.

2. Wagah-Attari Border Ceremony

This is basically a road border between India and Pakistan. Nowadays, it is a very famous tourist spot for people to witness a famous beating retreat ceremony between the soldiers of two countries. Almost 5000 people visit this place on a daily basis.

3. Jallianwala Bagh

Jallianwalan Bagh is one of the most visited places by tourists in Amritsar. This place was established in the year 1951 by the Government for the sole purpose of commemorating the massacre of peaceful celebrators which included unarmed men, women, and children, by the British forces. The evil plan was executed on the Punjabi New Year on the date of 13th April 1919.

4. Guru Ke Mahal

The Guru Ke Mahal houses the Granth Sahib and their gurus as well. This place was founded by Guru Ram Das in the year 1573 as a little cottage that went on to shelter the great gurus of the Sikhs as well.

5. Hall Bazaar

The Hall Bazaar is the right kind of place where one can hope to buy a great variety of things such as quality books, handicraft items, ready-made garments and so much more. Basically, this place is more or less a great option to visit with your loved ones and have some real fun.

6. Partition Museum

The Partition Museum is really worth traveling to owing to the fact that it is the first-ever museum in the entire world that focuses on the stories and trauma of the millions who had to suffer from the consequences of a ruthless partition. This place has been recently opened in the Town Hall of Amritsar.

How to Reach Amritsar

The Pakistan bordering city, Amritsar is the living evidence of our freedom struggles and Sikh religion. Being the home to the gliding Golden Temple, this dazzling city of Punjab invites millions of tourists every year. The holy Amrit Sarovar tank surrounding the Gurudwara Sahib is always full of pilgrims who take bathe in it to purify their souls. The Golden city of Punjab is 448 km away from Delhi, 1740 km from Mumbai, and 2611 km from Bangalore. The following are the ways to reach there.

By Air

At a distance of 11 km from the city center, you can find Shri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport (ATQ), Amritsar that connects it to other Indian cities along with International flights too. From Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu, Delhi, London, and other major cities, you can take a flight to reach here. From the airport, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transport to reach here.

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Amritsar

By Train

Coming to train as a mode of transportation, you can consider deboarding at Amritsar Railway Station. You can reach this station from Delhi and from several other railway stations from different cities as well.

From Delhi - Board ASR SHATABDI SPL from New Delhi Railway Station and deboard at Amritsar Junction
From Lucknow - Board JYG ASR SPECIAL from Lucknow Railway Station and deboard at Amritsar Junction
From Jaipur - Board ASR Festival Spl from Jaipur Junction and deboard at Amritsar Junction

By Road

Whether you want to travel by luxurious AC buses or you want to go by government-run buses, you can take buses to Amritsar from any north Indian city or town to make your journey easy and feasible. You can also consider traveling via your own vehicle or by private taxis as well.