Amritsar in Punjab is an important destination for tourists and pilgrims alike. It is also an important destination in terms of politics, being the last big city before the border to our "friendly"neighbor,Pakistan,
One can club a visit to Amritsar with a trip to Shimla, Kullu, Manali or a trip to Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Or one can even make a trip on an extended weekend trip from Delhi.
The distance from Delhi to Amritsar is around 450 Kms and can be approached by train, air or by road. Pashatuks has done the trip both by road and by rail.
Apart from other trains,Indian railways run the premium Shatabdi Express from Delhi, one in the morning and the other in the evening. It takes around 6 hours and Pashatuks has found it to be the most convenient. Pashatuks has covered the same distance by road and has been distracted by extended stoppages at the beautiful mustard fields,sunflower fields and the plethora of eateries called Dhabas serving the tastiest of piping hot Indian stuffed Paranthas with huge dollops of home made local butter. Going by road is a good idea if one has more than an extended weekend to spare- loads of memories to last a lifetime can be captured,but for people with time constraints, the train is recommended.
Pashatuks starts every trip to Amritsar with a trip to the famed Golden temple. What you see in the left is the imposing entrance to the temple complex. Footwear is left at the entrance and feet washed in the flowing water. The complex is open 24 hours, try to get in the wee hours of the morning for the peace and tranquility that one seeks in any religious place.We are not overtly religious,but the sikhs practice the philosophy that in the eyes of God all are equal and do not discriminate on basis of caste, creed or colour.
It is heartening to see a corporate honcho sweeping the steps of the complex alongside the regular sweeper. For the uninitiated it is important that you remember that the head is covered at all times within the complex and skin show is frowned upon.
We take the prescribed route to the main shrine-despite the serpentine line, there is a strange calm among people, who are unusually serene and wait their turn for their time at the sanctum sanctorum. On the way out , we are served piping hot "parshad",comprising of rawa served in piping hot ghee, better known as suji halwa.We then make our way to the 24 hour community kitchen where one is served food. We are lovingly served our breakfast, which we eat sitting on the floor. There is facility for wheel chair for senior citizens and disabled.
One can even offer service to the temple voluntarily, which most visitors do.
The soul satiated we leave the premises believing in the goodness of human beings(albeit temporarily). Do not skip the museum at the entrance- there is a lot of Sikh history packed there.
We walk out and walk into the Jallianwala Bagh Complex, where the massacre of thousands of innocents in 1919 took place. General Dyer managed to evoke a lot of negativity in a lot of us who were born post independence.
The complex itself did not impress me as the tourism department has made the place too touristy and not let us soak in the feel of history. By barricading the martyrs well where people jumped to save themselves from the bullets,we felt shortchanged.
On the right the marked boxes are the places where the bullets hit. It was a somber thought indeed imagining the unarmed innocents trying to scale the walls as the rain of bullets hailed upon them.
When in Amritsar,one must not forget to taste the savories that the city is famed for- butter chicken made in a way that is so different from what gets to eat anywhere else,Amritsari fish tikkas, jalebis, malaidar lassi,kachoris and what have you.
If one is in a mood for shopping, the tailoring of the salwar kameej is to die for, the cuts, the stitching, the fabrics,the rates..oo lala. And they deliver in hours. Our next destination in this series on the same belt is the Wagah border and Tarn Taran.
One can club a visit to Amritsar with a trip to Shimla, Kullu, Manali or a trip to Dharamshala and Dalhousie. Or one can even make a trip on an extended weekend trip from Delhi.
The distance from Delhi to Amritsar is around 450 Kms and can be approached by train, air or by road. Pashatuks has done the trip both by road and by rail.
It is heartening to see a corporate honcho sweeping the steps of the complex alongside the regular sweeper. For the uninitiated it is important that you remember that the head is covered at all times within the complex and skin show is frowned upon.
One can even offer service to the temple voluntarily, which most visitors do.
The soul satiated we leave the premises believing in the goodness of human beings(albeit temporarily). Do not skip the museum at the entrance- there is a lot of Sikh history packed there.
The complex itself did not impress me as the tourism department has made the place too touristy and not let us soak in the feel of history. By barricading the martyrs well where people jumped to save themselves from the bullets,we felt shortchanged.
When in Amritsar,one must not forget to taste the savories that the city is famed for- butter chicken made in a way that is so different from what gets to eat anywhere else,Amritsari fish tikkas, jalebis, malaidar lassi,kachoris and what have you.
If one is in a mood for shopping, the tailoring of the salwar kameej is to die for, the cuts, the stitching, the fabrics,the rates..oo lala. And they deliver in hours. Our next destination in this series on the same belt is the Wagah border and Tarn Taran.
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| The Durgiana temple- a Hindu temple with distinct gurdwara architecture |
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| The temple pond had the biggest fish.But they couldnt be touched! |
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