Yesterday, we travelled to one of the northern most states of India, Uttarakhand and visited the most revered places of pilgrimage, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Today, we are going to the most north western state of the country, Punjab , renowned as the land of hospitality, and going to visit the heritage city, Amritsar.
Amritsar, historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as Ambarsar, is a city in north-western India, in the Indian state of Punjab. The city is situated 217 km (135 mi) northwest of state capital Chandigarh and 455 km (283 miles) northwest of New Delhi, the national capital. It is near Pakistan, with the Wagah Border (please see pictures) being only 28 km (17.4 mi) away.
Amritsar is well renowned for its:
Amritsar is home to the Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as “the Golden Temple,” (please see pictures) one of Sikhism’s most spiritually significant and most-visited gurudwaras.
For more information on The Golden Temple, Please visit the Wiki Page: Golden Temple.
As mentioned in the great epic Ramayana, Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha, sons of Lord Rama at Ramtirth ashram. Large number of people visit Ramtirth Temple at annual fair and nearby cities to Amritsar, Lahore and Kasurwere said to be founded by Lava and Kusha, respectively. During Ashvamedha Yagna by Lord Rama, Lava and Kush captured the ritual horse and tied Lord Hanuman to a tree near to today’s Durgiana Temple. (please see pictures).
For more information on Durgiana Temple, Please visit the Wiki Page: Durgiana Temple.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, (please see pictures) involving the killings of thousands of Indian civilians on the orders of a senior British military officer, Reginald Edward Harry Dyer, took place on 13 April 1919 in the heart of Amritsar, the holiest city of the Sikhs, on a day sacred to them as the birth anniversary of the Khalsa (Vaisakhi day).
For more information on the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre, Please visit the Wiki Page: Jalianwala Bagh Massacre.
Attari-Wagah Border Retreating Ceremony
Attari, also spelled Atari, is a village of Amritsar District in the Punjab state of India, 3 km from the Indo-Pakistani border at Wagah. It is situated 25 km west of the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, and is the last Indian station on the rail route connecting Lahore, Pakistan with the Indian capital Delhi. Wagah or Wahga is a village and union council (UC 181) located in the Wahga Zone of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Wagah is situated 600 metres (2,000 ft) west of the border and lies on the historic Grand Trunk Road between Lahore and Amritsar in India. The border is located 24 kilometres (15 mi) from Lahore and 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Amritsar. It is also 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the bordering village of Attari.
The lowering of the flags ceremony at the Attari–Wagah border is a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force, BSF) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) have jointly followed since 1959. The drill is characterized by elaborate and rapid dancelike manoeuvres and raising legs as high as possible, which have been described as “colourful”. It is alternatively a symbol of the two countries’ rivalry, as well as brotherhood and cooperation between the two nations.
For more information on Attari-Wagah border retreating ceremony, Please visit the Wiki Page: Attari-Wagah border retreating ceremony.
Spirituality is the only way to solace 