Amritsar is one of the largest cities of Punjab and also the holiest, being home to the Golden Temple. Besides being home to several temples and Sikh places of worship, Amritsar is also famous for its cuisine, fabrics and handicrafts. Visiting Amritsar is a great way of understanding the culture and heritage of the people of Punjab, because Amritsar is also regarded as the cultural capital of Punjab. There are several destinations that provide various sightseeing and exploration opportunities.
Of course, the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is the most famous of all the religious sites in Amritsar. Famous for its Golden Dome, it attracts an enormous number of religious devotees every day. The “Guru ka Langar”, inside the Golden Temple, offers free food to thousands of people on a regular basis. There are a number of other temples surrounding the Golden Temple, an example being the Durgiana Temple. It shares a striking similarity with the Golden Temple. Another famous religious site is the Hanuman Mandir, dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The temple is believed to exist at the very spot where Lord Rama performed the Ashwamedha Ceremony.
Visitors to Amritsar also come to witness the “Beating the Retreat” ceremony in the evening at the Wagah Border. Wagah, an army outpost on the Indo-Pak border, witnesses an exciting drill conducted by soldiers from both India and Pakistan amidst great fanfare and nationalist fervor. However, no other place evokes as much emotion as Jallianwala Bagh, the place which witnessed one of the most brutal episodes in Indian history. The Martyr’s Galley at the site retells this story, while a section of the wall inside the Jallianwala Bagh still bears holes of bullet marks.
Another historical attraction is the Khoo Kalyanwala. In 1857, around 400 soldiers rebelled against the British government. Out of these, almost 200 were brutally shot and the rest died of asphyxiation when they were cooped up in a little room.
Visiting the tourist attractions in Amristar gives a visitor tremendous insight into the heritage and history of the city. Visit Amritsar and know what why it’s regarded as the cultural city of Punjab.
