Amritsar—the pool of nectar

Amritsar in Punjab, Northern India, is the holy city hallowed by the presence of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and the shimmering pool of pond which bestows this temple a unique identity. Although, there is already a nine storied gurudwara of Baba Atal that is further accentuated by the burnished minarets. Followed by the trail of history, the young enthusiasts would find it interesting to know that the golden temple carries the blend of all cultures which can be witnessed through the carvings engraved on the wall. To ascent more deep into the spiritual and cultural heritage of the region, it’s vital to stroll in the history and every jaunt detail which could definitely compel you to make a visit.

Dating back to the era, the most sacred of Sikh Shrines, Golden Temple stands at a spot believed to have been visited by the Guru Nanak, the first spiritual master of Sikhs, in 1502. The name Harmandar sahib means the temple of god and it was derived from ‘Gurbani’ by the third sikh Guru Amardas. Later following his instructions his son in law and the fourth Guru Ramdas commenced settling in Amritsar. With the 500 acres of land donated by Emperor Akbar, the construction of the temple commenced and its foundation stone was laid by the sufi Saint Mian Mir of Lahore. In the year 1604, Guru Arjun Dev completed Guru Granth Sahib which till date is known and worshiped as the last guru of Sikhs. With the sudden death of Emperor Akbar, Jahangir felt threatened by the spiraling popularity of the gurus. He took Guru Arjun Dev to Lahore, where he slashed his head with the sword. Soon after this incident, the son of Arjun Dev, Hargobind Singh acquired the seat and it was during this period only when Sikhism got its military character. Akal Takht was another place in the sanctum where all the policies and strategies to counter the Afghan attacks were discussed. Since 17th century, the sikhs of the region faced seamless outrage and invasions by Afghan rulers but in the year 1802, Maharaja Ranjit singh took back the control and gave his whole hearted contribution to refurbish Harmandir Sahib. He was one who titled it by the name "Golden Temple".

The architecture of the Golden Temple is based on the principles of Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. While at the same time sikhism by keeping its individuality embrace the religious aspects of both the cultures. The Harmandir has four entrances, emphasizing on the fact that gates of god are always opened for every human being. The roof of the temple is embellished with the golden dome and the marble work reminiscent to the Shades of Taj Mahal. Clambering the upper passages of the stairs, there is another floor which was used by the spiritual masters for doing meditation. Also known as "Sheesh Mahal", this floor is bounded by the mirrored walls engraved with the verses of Guru Granth Sahib. On the second floor are the rare paintings of the sikh gurus which can take you back in times immemorial when history gets enlivened. Besides visiting the golden temple, the travelers can also make a visit to other destinations like Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border, the shopping havens Hall Bazaar and Katra Jaimal Singh road respectively. For covering the regions with in the precincts of the town, the travelers can board a rickshaw which charges 5 to 15 rupees. While at the same time, there is also a provision of shared autos which can take you to any corner of the city with in the minimal price range. The travelers who want to explore the beautiful past of city can make a visit to Central Sikh Museum whose timings are between 7:00AM to 7:00 PM in summer and 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM in winter. The beauty of temple is accentuated by the Sarovar where the pilgrims take a holy dip and get themselves relinquished from all the travails. At 5:00 AM in summers and 4:00 AM in winters the holy book Guru Granth Sahib is brought from the Akal Takht. The important days are marked by the ‘Akhand Path’ which is being read for 48 hours from beginning to end. Tobacco, narcotics or other intoxicants are not allowed inside the sanctum. Photography is allowed only from the parikrama before that you have to follow the stringent rules set by the authorities.

The other holy sanctums include Gurudwara Baba Atal Rai, Gurudwara Mai Kaulan, Guru ke Mahal and Gurudwara Ramsar Sahib which can be visited by the pilgrims who aspire to fulfill their wishes. The leisure travelers as well as pilgrims can plan their entire stay at Hotels in Amritsar. There is good range of budget as well as luxury hotels in Amritsar which can surely be booked in advance. These hotels in Amritsar include M K International Hotel, Suncity Towers Hotel and Hotel CJ International. The Hotels in India carrying the plethora of world class qualities come up with the best deals which can be availed by the travelers by any time of the season. There are direct flights from Amritsar’s Raja Sansi Airport which shares a good connectivity with Delhi. The Railway routes are quiet feasible and are well connected to Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkota. The road journey from Delhi takes around 4 hours. The visitors can board a bus from Red fort Delhi whose services can be availed according to the budget. If you are reaching this destination during the day don’t forget to savor the tastes of the relishing cuisines as they are made in the grinded spices and blend of various vegetables all together combined to provide you with flavors delectable and more conjuring in every sense. The Choley-Kulchey, Dal Makhani and shahi Paneer form the real Punjabi platter which can be enjoyed at the dhabas and restaurants that too at reasonable price tags.

Fittingly, Amritsar is the place which is assured to take the travelers to the days when people in India lived the simpler lives. Similar impressions of life can still be traced in this holy town where the mornings of a common man starts with the verses of Guru Granth Sahib. Without any hassles, or hurry, a visit to this sanctum is an excellent chance when you can laze around and explore sanctity in the similar way as apprised by many spiritual gurus in the earlier centuries.