Amritsar
- the holy city of Sikhs, has grown from a sacred village pond into a
spiritual temporal centre of Sikh culture. The city gets its name from the
pool-Amritsar (Pool of Nectar), which was constructed by the fourth
religious preceptor of the Sikh faith. It also lies on the Asain Highway. It
is also the city where Jaliyan-wala-bagh, the garden where scores of
innocent Indian men, women, children were massacred by the British. Events
of such magnitude catalysed the struggle for Indian independence.
Amritsar
is the soul of Punjab. Situated very near to the international border of
Pakistan. Amritsar has an Airport and it is connected by 2 pairs of Shatabdi
train to New Delhi. Other cities are connected by super fast or express
trains and luxury and deluxe buses go to Delhi and Chandigarh. The Khatris
and Aroras of Punjab had trading outlets from Chitagong (now in Bangla Desh)
right upto Iran in Persia. Amritsar town was built around the Golden Temple
and when these Khatris and Aroras converted to Sikhism Amritsar became the
East's biggest trading and eventually a manufacturing centre.
Today
it is India's important distribution centre of dry-fruits, tea (next only to
Calcutta), of condiments and is a leading exporter of goods to the Middle
East. Woollen tweeds, suitings, blankets, shawls in traditional weaves,
ivory (now plastic) inlay furniture, swords of all designs, oils, scents,
jutties (traditional embroidered shoes), cut-glass crockery, selective
musical instruments, carpets are manufactured here almost in every bazaar.
It is one of the leading publication centres, especially in
Punjabi language, in the whole world, is India's manufacturing centre of
Ayurvedic medicines and renowned for treatment of eye diseases. Amritsar is
the home of traditional Punjabi cuisine, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian
where each eating-house has a specialty, which can not be matched. Its
pickles, murabbas (Indian jams) and papads and warian (recipes can not be
translated into English) and sweetmeats are exported to far off places,
right into Punjabi Diaspora abroad.
Golden Temple 
The
Golden Temple is located in the holy city of the Sikhs, Amritsar, once the
dense forest home of Guru Nanak. Famous for its full golden dome, Golden
temple is one of the most sacred pilgrim spots for Sikhs.
The
Temple is built on a 67 ft square of marble and is a two storeyed structure.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the upper half of the building built with
approximately 400 kg of gold-leaf. The Golden Temple is surrounded by a
number of other famous temples like the Durgiana Temple.
