Amritsar is synonymous with the breathtaking Golden Temple. The spiritual nerve centre of the Sikh faith built around the holy pool amrit sarovar from which Amristar draws its name. Breathtaking mesmerizing...lasting impressions these words fail to do justice to the view that greets you when you step into this spiritual nerve centre, the aura of which radiates and surrounds you to the very core of your being. You cannot, but, be drawn into the magic that this temple weaves like the suns rays reflecting off it. It is a haven of peace amidst an essentially congested city. But nonetheless, it leaves you spellbound; it leaves you with a sense of awe; it leaves you with a feeling of supreme contentment. It brings you a step closer to God. Punjab’s second largest town was a traditional junction for trade routes. And this is very evident when you see different people from varied cultures and their footprints in the composite of culture and heritage which reflects in almost every aspect of Amritsar. Long back, Amritsar was the paramount city of the Orient, surpassing even Lahore in cultural greatness and prosperity. The city has been, over centuries been witness to several violent revolutions. Scars remain, but it has outgrown them and has now evolved into a gateway to Punjab and northern India. It is also the entry point for travelers coming into India by land from Central Asia. A fast developing hub for commercial activities, Amritsar continues to maintain its charm and hospitality, thanks to the friendly and hearty Sardarjis. You cannot, but help falling in love with Punjab and Amritsar, with its all encompassing love for life and vibrancy and color seems to draw you into its magic and even before you realize, you are half in love with the place and the people

History

The origin of the city of Amritsar lies shrouded in mystery. According to recorded history, the greatest of the Mughal emperors, Akbar granted the land which is now Amritsar to Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs. Some also say that it was purchased by Guru Ram Das. What we do know for sure is that Guru Ram Das himself supervised the founding of the city which was established by 1577.

Life here was centered on the Amrit Sarovar'a lake which was built in the middle of the city and the Golden Temple. Trade flourished and soon the land itself came to be called Amritsar.

The Golden Temple was ransacked by the invading Afghans in 1761 and rebuilt in 1803. Raja Ranjit Singh ruled the sovereign Sikh commonwealth until the 1849 annexation of Amritsar by the British.

Amritsar saw two very violent political clashes, but there the similarity ends! The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre on 13 April 1919 saw British troops fire mercilessly at a crowd of peaceful Indian protesters. The massacre left thousands, including women and children dead and wounded. This caused nation-wide resentment, and sounded the death knell for the British Empire in India. The memorial to the martyrs is a place of pilgrimage for Indians. Another black day in the city’s history was Operation Blue Star (6 June 1984) when soldiers of the Indian Army marched into the sacred temple and killed hundreds of Sikh separatists huddled inside.