Whenever you hear the name Amritsar, what comes to your mind? Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh or Indo-Pak grand ceremony at Wagah Border? It's not only about these places, but there are also a lot of places you can visit. Amritsar is one of the most charming cities in India, and I can say with confidence that you will fall in love with Amritsar. Fondly called as Ambarsar, founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh Guru Ram Das, Amritsar has derived its name from Amrit Sarovar, amidst which stands the sacred shrine of Sikhism- the enchanting Golden Temple
I reached Amritsar around 1:30 pm and landed in my hotel room to take a nap because of the long journey. In the evening, I roamed about the city to know about its culture and rich history.
GobindGarh Fort
As per recommendations by local I went to Gobindgarh Fort and Museum. I did not visit the entire fort which I wanted to do it but due to some restoration work and as they cancel the light and laser show but I just visited and Toshakhana (Coin museum), where they have store replica of famous Kohinoor Diamond. Maharaja Ranjit Singh once worn this famous diamond in his armband in his legacy. After visiting fort I went to Kesar Da Dhaba which is one of the oldest Dhaba in Amritsar established in 1916. It was started by Lala Kesar Mal and his wife Parvati in Sheikhupura, near Lahore, where the Punjabi Hindu couple sold dal and roti. It was after the partition in 1947 that they shifted base to Amritsar. I went there as per local people recommendation and I can say it was worth visiting and I was told not to go buy their manu and just ask Panditji to serve your best dish and sit back and enjoy the meal. I served a big plate with portions of the iconic Dal Makhani, Malai Kofta Curry, Punjabi Chole, Cucumber Raita, Salad and Lacha Parath a. The Dal Makhani was delicious. It was not spicy but it was made of handful ingredients.
Golden Temple (Capturing Morning moments)
Next morning, I decided to visit the Golden Temple first, then the Town Hall and other places. I would visit again while I return so I can experience night time there. I spent almost 1 hour or so and came to know about Kar Sevak there. He told me some stories and history of the Golden Temple. It's also known as Harmandir Sahib. It's a Sanskrit word which means someone who offers services for free to a religious cause. Kar Seva was the free work done by Sikhs in 1983 to restore Golden temple after it was damaged in fights between insurgents and the army (Source: Wiki). All the time I was present there, I couldn't stop looking at the shrine. It was a divine experience.
Partition Museum
This was one of the recommendations given by the local people while exploring the city. You can understand the struggles of the partition, during our independence in 1947 or even later. The atrocities Indians and Pakistanis faced is vividly mentioned here. Photography is not allowed inside the museum.
Wagah Attari Border Ceremony
This was on my bucket list for a long time. I was told that I needed to reach as early as possible so I could get a proper seat. Border Security Force (BSF) performs lowering of the flags ceremony with Pakistani Rangers.
This is jointly followed since 1959 every evening before sunset. As the sun sets, the iron gates at the border are opened, and the two flags are lowered simultaneously. The flags are folded and the ceremony ends with a retreat that involves a firm handshake between soldiers from either side, followed by the closing of the gates.
A parade is conducted by the Jawans. It is sure to leave you mesmerized. You can see the dominance of our soldiers, especially when they lower the flag and close the gate. After the ceremony, I clicked a few photos with Indian Soldiers and of a few other things. After that, I headed back to Golden Temple to experience the night. It looks gorgeous at night.
Golden Temple (Night)
At night, I reached the Golden Temple to experience the night view. When I got there and saw the shrine, it was just as beautiful as in the day. The vibes and the reflection of the temple in water are so peaceful that it will take you to a different world. Although it was a chilly night walking on that cold marble barefooted, I felt the warmth inside my heart. The vibes of this place and the continuous singing of Gurbani Kirtan are so soothing that would take your soul to a distant place, far from the chaos of your daily life.
Jallianwala Bagh
There is no Indian who does not get saddened by the tragic incident that took place at Jallianwala Bagh a hundred years ago. On 13th April 1919, a small gathering of people met at this garden to peacefully protest against the arrest of two prominent freedom fighters. They were mercilessly shot at by the British Indian Army. When I entered this place, I felt like I entered the old British times. We all read about the huge massacre that marked a black spot in Indian History. More than 1000 were martyred in that attack by General Reginald Dyer. We can still see bullet marks on the walls, the sight of well where hundreds of women jumped with their children to escape from the bullets of British troops. I spent more than 2 hours in the park contemplating on Indian freedom struggles.
After leaving the park I visited Bharawan Da Dhaba, which was established in 1912 and is famous for its Amritsari Kulcha, Dal Makhani, Makki Di Roti & Sarson Da Saag. I had mouth-watering Amritsari Kulcha, which was awesome.
My return train was in the evening so I spent some time in the local market and brought Phulkari embroidered clothes and Punjabi juttis for my mother and sisters. After all this shopping, I reached Amritsar Junction and caught the train to New Delhi. It was an amazing experience and opened new doors in solo travelling for me. When I started my journey from Pune, I was not sure about my experience. After this amazing trip, I intend to plan my new adventure soon...
