| Amritsar | | | | Shrines on the northern edge of the corridor are |
| Translated as "holy nectar", Amritsar is the home to | | | | venerated as the 68 holy shrines of the Hindus. |
| the Sikh Religion and now the tourist, travel and flight | | | | According to the teachings of Guru Arjan Dev, it was |
| gateway to Punjab, India. Amritsar is now well | | | | enough for the devout to visit these shrines and not |
| connected and the best way to arrive is either by train | | | | visit all the original Hindu shrines which are spread all |
| from Delhi or on the many cheap Amritsar Flights from | | | | over the country. Many of these shrines have now |
| Delhi, Birmingham or London. The airlines are Jet | | | | been converted into a martyr's gallery showing the |
| Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways | | | | gruesome history of the Sikhs. |
| and Air India. | | | | Around the Parikrama, or pathway, are four |
| At the heart of Amritsar City is the Sri Harmandir | | | | rectangular cubicles where Granthis (priests) sit and |
| Sahib, also know as the Golden Temple in Amritsar - | | | | recite the Granth Sahib. Pilgrims leave offerings at the |
| the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. Also known as the | | | | steps, and can also get the holy book recited in their |
| Sri Darbar Shaib, it is in the center of the old part of | | | | names for a donation. At the eastern end are two |
| Amritsar. The Golden Temple sits on a rectangular | | | | brick watchtowers called the Ramgarhia Minars, which |
| platform, surrounded by a pool of water called the | | | | were damaged during Operation Blue Star in 1984. The |
| Amrit Sarovar from which the City is named. Click | | | | Guru-ka-langar or community canteen is a Sikh |
| here for the Golden Temple History. | | | | institution, which was started by Guru Amar Das in the |
| The entrance to the Golden Temple complex is | | | | 16th century. The practice of eating together |
| through an ornate archway with intricate inlay work. | | | | encouraged shedding of inhibitions and the principle of |
| Verses from the Granth Sahib are inscribed on the | | | | equality. The community kitchen feeds up to 10,000 |
| doorway. The main north entrance is under a Victorian | | | | people in a day, free of charges. The food is normally |
| clock tower. Known as the Darshani Deori, the | | | | chapattis and lentils. |
| entrance is up a flight of steps and down again to the | | | | The Jubi tree, at the north western corner of the |
| temple and holy tank. The temple is a two story | | | | complex was planted some 450 year ago by the |
| marble structure reached by a causeway known as | | | | temple's first head priest. The old, gnarled tree is |
| Guru´s Bridge. The lower story is in white | | | | believed to have special powers and childless women |
| marble with the walls decorated with inlaid flower and | | | | tie strips of cloth on it to be blessed with sons. |
| animal motifs in the pietradura style of the Taj Mahal. | | | | Marriage deals are also fixed under the tree, though |
| The architecture of the golden temple is a blend of the | | | | this practice is disapproved by the temple authorities. |
| Hindu and Muslim styles. | | | | Two flag staffs joined in the middle with the emblem |
| The upper story is gold plated, crowned with a dome | | | | of Guru Hargobind symbolise the dual aspects of |
| (the Golden Dome) shaped like an inverted lotus. With | | | | Sikhism - religion and politics. Two swords of the |
| the first light of dawn, the reflection of the temple in the | | | | emblem are enclosed in a circle with the inscription Ek |
| tank gives an ethereal atmosphere to the complex. As | | | | Onkar (God is one). The Guru Ram Das and Guru |
| the sun shifts, the temple presents myriad views, each | | | | Nanak hostels on one side of the complex offer free |
| magnificent and captivating. The Golden Dome (said to | | | | accommodation up to three nights for visitors. |
| be glided with 100 kg of pure gold) is supposed to | | | | The Golden Temple is open to all. Pilgrims and visitors |
| represent an inverted lotus flower, pointing back to | | | | to the Golden Temple must remove their shoes and |
| earth to symbolize the Sikh´s concern with the | | | | cover their heads before entering the precincts. No |
| problems of this world. | | | | Smoking is allowed inside the whole temple area, |
| The temple building has four entrances instead of the | | | | photography is permitted only in/from the Prakarma , |
| usual single entry. This is symbolic of the openness of | | | | the marble pathway that surrounds the sacred pool. |
| Sikhism and indicates that followers of all faiths are | | | | An English speaking guide is available at the information |
| allowed inside. The walls within are decorated with | | | | office near clock Tower that marks the temples main |
| carved wooden panels and elaborate inlay work in | | | | entrance. The information office has a number of |
| silver and gold. The Adi Granth, compiled by Guru | | | | interesting free publications. |
| Arjan Dev, rests on a throne beneath a | | | | The old city, with the Golden Temple and surrounding |
| jewel-encrusted canopy. Priests conduct continuous | | | | bazaars along narrow alleys, is encircled by a ring road. |
| recitation of verses from the holy book in 3-hour shifts. | | | | Even today, the markets have an ambience of ancient |
| A complete reading of the text stakes 48 hours. The | | | | times, when traders bought and sold goods right |
| original copy of the Guru Granth Sahib is kept under | | | | across from central Asia up to the farthest corners of |
| pink shroud in the, Golden Temple during the day and | | | | India. Little light reaches down to the congested streets, |
| at around 10 p.m. each day is ceremoniously returned | | | | which are best negotiated on foot. There are rows |
| to the Akal Takht (Sikh Parliament) building. The | | | | upon rows of shops on each street selling specifics |
| morning processional ceremony takes place at 4 a.m. | | | | goods. Guru Bazaar specialises in gold jewellery shops, |
| in Summer and at 5 a.m. in Winter, when Sri Guru | | | | while the Bazaar Kesarian is for steel and brass |
| Granth Sahib is bought from Akal takhat Sahib in a | | | | utensils. The smells of Katra Kathian announce its |
| procession to the Sanctum Sanctorum, which is | | | | wares before you reach the shops selling papads, |
| washed with milk. | | | | warian (crispies made from pulses) murabbas (Indian |
| The Akal Takht, next to the Golden Temple, is the | | | | jams), pickles and ampapad (dried mango candies). |
| seat of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak | | | | The Mishri Bazaar is the place to buy dry fruits, while |
| Committee, the religious governing body of the Sikhs. | | | | Katra Mohan Singh offers a colourful kaleidoscope of |
| The building of the Akal Takht was begun by Guru | | | | bridal glass bangles. |
| Arjan Dev and completed in 1609 by Guru Hargobind. If | | | | Travel and Flights to Amritsar: |
| you miss the early morning or evening processions, the | | | | There are regularly cheap Amritsar Flights from |
| palanquin that bears the Adi Granth can be seen in the | | | | London on Jet Airways flights as well as flights to |
| treasury room on the first floor of the Akal Takht. The | | | | Amritsar from Birmingham on Air India. Amritsar Travel |
| palanquin is set with precious stones and has silver | | | | is now easy with direct flights as well as indirect flights |
| poles and a gold canopy. | | | | on Turkmenistan Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways. |