Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Amritsar (The Lake of the Holy Nectar) is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district in the state of Punjab. Amritsar is considered important and holy by hindus, as according to the greatest epic of hinduism, this was a place where Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, gave birth to twins Lava and Kusha.

Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple is one of the most ancient and fascinating cities of India. It is an important seat of Sikh history and culture. Being the gateway for travellers coming to India on the overland route from central Asia. It soon became the centre of various commercial activities. There are various historical and religious sites. The most famous of them all in the Golden Temple which was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas and completed by his successor Guru Arjan Dev.

The Harmandir Sahib (or Hari Mandir) in Amritsar, Punjab, is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. Previously (and still more commonly) known as the Golden Temple, it was officially renamed Harmandir Sahib in March 2005.

The cities name is derived from the name of the pool around the Golden Temple (aka Harmandir Sahib) and means "holy pool of nectar" It is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion, and they are rightfully very proud of the city and their very beautiful and unique Gurdwara (place of worship).

It is here that the Akal Takht (The throne of immortality, the never ending throne) the seat of Sikh political power was built by Guru Hargobind in 1609. Two flags representing temporal and spiritual authority and Sikh sovereignty were set up in front of the Akal Takht. Here Guru Hargobind wore two swords of Miri and Piri (temporal and transcendental authority).

The building of Akal Takht Sahib was twice demolished by Afghan armies and was very badly damaged by the Indian regime (in June 1984). The Indian government repaired it in September of 1984 and the Sikhs began to demolish it on January 26, 1986. The present structure has been constructed by five service-groups headed by Baba Thakar Singh of Bhindran-Mehta Jatha.

On April 13, 1634, the Mughal army attacked Guru Hargobind here. From 1635 to 1698, Amritsar remained in the control of the Mina family (descendants of Pirthi Chand). During this period, on November 23, 1664, Guru Tegh Bahadur visited the town. In April 1698, Bhai Mani Singh was appointed as the caretaker of the shrines of Amritsar.

The famous Sikh shrines at Amritsar include five Sarovars (sacred tanks): Amritsar (1586), Santokhsar (1587-88), Ramsar (1602-03), Kaulsar (1627), Bibeksar (1628); and, Gurdwaras: Baba Atal (1770). Guru Ram Das Sahib used to rest under a Tahli (shisham tree). The Tahli tree, believed to be the same still exists.

Amritsar is a big town with a population of about one million and is a major trade centre. The offices of the Sikhs'representative organizations i.e. Akali Dal, the S.G.P.C., the Sikh Students' Federation, the Chief Khalsa Diwan have also been set up at Amritsar. The famous Sikh journal Sant Sipahi is published from this city.

  The Golden Temple, Amritsar
  Amritsar Massacre "The incident in Jallian Wala Bagh was 'an extraordinary event, a monstrous event, an event which stands in singular and sinister isolation'...Winston Churchill

Visit the Pakistan border at Wagah to see the border closing ceremony. Indian and Pakistani soldiers do a march-off every evening, a popular and fun event. Taxis leave from the backside of the Golden Temple. It's a 45 minute ride, and you should leave Amritsar by around 3:30pm.

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