Amritsar is a beautiful and the most significant city to the Sikhs. It is home to the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs, the Golden Temple, and also a major historic place. Visit the city to explore and experience it for real and pick from the best Amritsar hotels.
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| Golden Temple |
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| Jallianwala Bagh |
Amritsar, a beautiful and culture rich city in Punjab, is most notable for two major attributes – it is the abode of the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden temple, and it is the historic city of Jallianwala Bagh massacre which is one of the most tragic events in Indian history. Formerly known as Ramdaspur and sometimes Ambarsar, the city is one of the oldest cities in the state and the country. Set in the northern part of the parent state, it is also the headquarters of Amritsar district. At present, it is a rapidly changing modern city that is quickly emerging as a chief revenue city of the state.
Government of India has declared the city heritage city. Religion is the prime aspect that beckons travelers across India and world to visit the city. It derives the name “Amritsar” from the holy lake called Amrit Sarovar. The lake owns huge reverence and is considered highly auspicious. The lake surrounds the Golden Temple and it is a customary routine to take a dip in the lake before visiting the Golden Temple. The city was founded by the fourth Sikh Guru Ram Das in 1574, who was handed a piece of land at the cost of Rs 700 by the owners of the village of Tung. Note that Tung was the original village that was set in the region and the present city is the transformation of the old village.
Since the city is home to the Golden temple which is the centre of the entire Sikh universe and also houses the highest seat of Khalsa authority, there are large hordes of tourists visiting the city throughout the year. It is one of the most visited tourist places in India with significant rise in the tourists count every year. The good thing is that the city is equipped sufficiently with hotels to take care of the lodging needs of the visitors. The hotels in Amritsar near railway station particularly are quite popular amongst the tourists as they are known for offering above satisfactory stay and evidently have the advantage of close proximity to the railway station.
The city is well connected to rest of India. Its close proximity to cities like Chandigarh, Delhi, and Agra makes it easily accessible; it also brings large counts of tourists to the city. There is an international airport on the outskirts of the city. It is called Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport and has more than 160 flights serving it on weekly basis. The city’s railway station is a major railhead in northern and central railway network. Plus, the city is marked by multiple bus stands.
There are a couple of good options to start the exploration of the city. These are amongst the most popular places of interest here: Golden Temple, Central Sikh Museum, Akal Takht, Amrit Sarovar, Harmandir Sahib, Ghanta Ghar, Wagah Border, Mata Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Durgiana Temple, Faridkot Fort, Govind Garh Fort, and Pul Kanjari.
The good thing is there are various tour companies that one may choose to contact. Plus, there are a couple of Amritsar hotels that also offer lucrative tour packages to their guests. Besides, if one is more adventurous, going solo is the best thing to do.