Glamorous Wedding and Ethereal Beauty of Punjab

It is one of the most visited and best holy places in India. Also, known as the Sri Harmandir Sahib meaning “abode of God”, the building work of temple completed in 1601 A.D., and in the year 1604, Guru Arjan Dev (the fifth Guru of Sikh’s) placed a copy of the Adi Granth – that moment, it attained the status of Ath Sath Tirath (Shrine of 68 pilgrimages). From this day, the Sikh received their pilgrimage center. It has got unique Sikh architecture; the dome is gilded with 750 kg of pure gold, one of the best specimens of the world. The temple has four entrances commonly termed as, holy shrines which signify – every person walking through life is equally welcome.

The uniqueness of its premises is, you will not find any debris or dust on the ground, it’s that clean and maintained. Perhaps, it is not easy to manage sanitation when you have widely driven devotees visiting every hour. The floors are washed with milk and water, giving a pure white surface, interestingly water surrounding the main temple is holy water (Sarovar), and it is so clean you can directly drink, I have tried it. To worship God, friendly people patiently stand in a queue, pray with a smile listening to various chants, prayers, and hymns played in the background known as Gurbani/Kirtan.

That afternoon I further witnessed hundreds of people peacefully lining up at feeding spots known as ‘langar’, where the free meals served to the pilgrims. I had heard a million times, and my first experience of having langar amazed me and made me truly happy. The chef and volunteers cook all seven days a week with various delicious traditional recipes. The disciples sit in lines, eat in silence, and the volunteers serve until you say no. Simply, one rule you have to follow – don’t waste food.

There are a few things you shall avoid inside the Golden temple:

1. Every person must keep shoes at the shoe-store or cloakroom and take a token. You can collect your shoes from the store by exchanging the token. There is a safe provision for keeping your luggage too.

2. Men and women have to wash their feet walking through a small pool before entering the temple. The best part is water in winter is warm and cold during summers.

3. At the entrance, you will see headscarves, with respect men and women, have to cover their heads with handkerchief or scarf.

4. Cigarettes and other intoxicants are strictly prohibited.

5. Chewing gum, recording a video for social media bits is strictly prohibited.

6. Photography is allowed only at the periphery, but not inside the golden dome.

The walk towards the Golden temple will give you a feel of a European street. One of the pleasantest things about the heritage streets was lamppost, fountains, statues, and alluring shops, which was unequivocally a delight to watch. Besides this, the food stalls with the mouth-watering authentic culinary-masterpiece will wow you. The Golden temple is round the clock open for the visitors. I visited twice, the day I reached and the next day early morning.

At a few footsteps from the Golden gate, nearby, you can visit Jallianwala Bagh, also called Massacre of Amritsar – a historic garden in which British troops fired on a large crowd on April 13, 1919.

The stories heard from the authorities, goes like this, people used to gather in early times for public meetings. So, on that very day, a similar gathering was held to protest against the arrest of two nationalist leaders Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew. It was, the first time, British troops opened fire without a warning till their ammunition's got exhausted.

Even today, the country pays tribute to the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives fighting for justice and independence. The park still has preserved the memorials and portions of the wall with bullet marks.

The Attari-Wagah border is the only India-Pakistan border where tourists and foreigners could pass. The Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) conducts the retreat ceremony, that is, flag-lowering ceremony in coordination with border counterpart Pakistan-Rangers.

The Indian Soldiers wear the khaki and Pakistani rangers seen wearing a black uniform, the soldiers march and strut in their fast-paced with a posture of gentlemen, raising legs as high as possible. The environment is full of energy, strength, and reflects patriotism. All you can hear is the loud cheers, slogans, and patriotic songs. The border is also known as no man's land. It is the geographical boundary that divides India and Pakistan, famously known as Radcliffe Line.

“In this ceremony, The National Anthem of both nations played as a tribute. The parade begins with Woman Soldiers/Officers holding the respective countries' flag and march in the direction of borderline. Further, the Indian BSF Jawan's and Pakistan's Rangers, disciplinarily headgear with heavy foot-stomping and swinging their arms. The coordination with the counterpart and the march in various formations was phenomenal. The excitement rises sky-high, the moment the soldiers open the border-gates, it is the only moment when you don't feel divided. As the big-screens are displayed, you can enjoy both sides of the ceremony. As the parade approaches its final moments, sound similar to that of an instrument called trumpet is played, the flags of the nations are gradually lowered, and folded in a precise manner. The special ceremony ends with soldiers standing-off, shaking hands, and finally closing the gates”.

The Soldiers' Parade is something you should experience; that's where you get the real feel. The 45 mins Parade starts at 4:15 pm during winters and 5:15 pm during summers. There are no entry fees, but it is good to reach almost a half-hour before as you have to pass through security protocols.

Attari border is 37 km away from the main town. To commute, I would recommend board a bus near the Amritsar bus stand or book a two-way cab, which is quite affordable. Make sure you are not carrying any luggage or polythene bags with you, instead, a small backpack with water, camera, jacket, and some other necessary items.

The city of Amritsar has two distinct tales, where one carries the beautiful agricultural fields, Pinds (village), ancestral houses, and other hidden gems of the city. While the other holds a mid-century modern architecture showcasing the town the future smart-city.

When you desperately want to continue the journey but have no choice, and say goodbye, its massive emotions. The State of Punjab is a place where you could spend countless time exploring different regions like Chandigarh – the capital of Punjab & India's first smart city, Jalandhar, Patiala, Ludhiana, and the list goes on.

One thing is sure, I will be going again, and this time new places, new life stories, and beautiful memories that I can share and treasure for the lifetime.

Finally, where to stay in Amritsar, and how will you reach Punjab without much hassle?

For an affordable hotel or stay near the location, these are the excellent options:

– The Golden Temple provides the best hygienic and most comfortable accommodation near the temple premises. The dormitories are free to stay. The devotees can take the complete feel of the holy place. To book in advance, check for the availability of the rooms as it has a first-come-first-serve basis (https://www.goldentempleamritsar.org/best-travel-guides-india/amritsar/online-room-booking/accommodation-in-golden-temple-amritsar-online-booking.php).

– Another most preferred and best-discounted price hotels are the OYO Rooms (https://www.oyorooms.com). Currently, the third-largest hospitality chain in the world. In India, it covers more than 200 cities, having different standards, stylish, and deluxe rooms.

– For Luxurious hotels, the best chains for a 5-star hotel are of Taj Swarna and Hyaa Regency. You can check for discounts on their websites or other booking sites. The hotel has luxurious amenities, with several exotic cuisines prepared as per your choice.