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How To Get There:
• By Air: Amritsar has an international airport, the Raja Sansi International Airport, on its outskirts. There are regular flights to London and onwards; to a number of Central Asian republics, and to select destinations in Europe. It is well connected domestically, with a number of daily flights.
• By Rail: Amritsar is an important railhead in Punjab and has a fair number of trains either originating therefrom or transiting through. The bus service from the railway station to the Golden Temple is free.
• By Road: In Punjab, all roads lead to all major cities and Amritsar is no exception. Most Indian tourists prefer to see Amritsar by bus, travelling overnight from Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh or Ludhiana. Roads are well maintained. Amritsar is located on the historic Grand Trunk Road (G.T Road) also known as National Highway 1.
• For getting around, a Mass Transit System is on the cards. Autorickshaws are the favoured mode of travel. |
Where to Stay:
There is enough accommodation in Amritsar to suit every budget. There are a number of star category hotels catering to the needs of tourists coming planning to stay overnight. Best of class are Ista Amritsar, Ranjit’s Svaasa, Grand Legacy and a few more. Hotel Sita Continental, Tourist Guesthouse, Sharma Guest House are from the higher grade;
Hotel Sapphire, CJ International, Heritage Inn and Hotel City Heart are middling hotels. You can also stay at the Temple Lodge itself, where you will be fed all meals. Though it is gratis, a small donation of Rs. 50 ($1.00) is de rigeuer.
What to See:
The Golden Temple, a stunning complex, and always full of thousands of pilgrims from all over India. The complex is open almost 24 hours (from 6 AM until 2 AM) and is worth visiting twice: once during the day, once at night, when it's beautifully lit up; Darshani Deori: the main entrance; Amrit Sarovar: the giant pool of water; Harmandir Sahib, the temple; Akal Takht, where the Guru Granrh Sahib is kept and the Central Sikh Museum; Jallianwala Bagh, where the soulless Gen. Dyer had troops open fire on an innocent crowd of men, women
and chikdren in an enclosed space, killing 350 and wounding a further 1400. The bullet pockmarks are still there for all to see; Mata Temple, a labyrinthine Hindu temple; Baba Atal Rai Tower, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Ram Tirath, Maha Kali Mandir, Purshotam Das Mandir, Gopal Mandir, Ramtirth and the Longaa Wali Devi Madir- Katra Jaimal Singh.
Where to Eat:
The Golden Temple has a dining hall (langar) serving free basic meals to all; Crystal Restaurant, Bharavan the Dhaba, Pizza Hut, Bobby Dhaba and a host of other eateries.
Best Time to Visit:
October to March, though temperatures do drop to 2-3°C in winters.
Demographics:
Sikhs form a majority in Amritsar consisting about 74% of the population, Hindus being the largest minority at 26%. The average literacy rate is 75%. The main spoken language in Amritsar Maajhi, or Standard Punjabi. Other languages spoken in the city are Hindi and English.
Modernisation :
Amritsar is currently witnessing rapid urban growth. Amritsar has witnessed a spurt in high-end residential property and multiplex development, courtesy the government’s decision to set up a special economic zone there. Leading property developers from north India have lined up a series of townships comprising of villas, luxury apartments, service apartments and penthouses. About a dozen malls are also in various phases of completion. A new city Convention Centre has been planned, as are four 5-star hotels by the Radisson group, the Taj group of hotels, the Holiday Inn Group and the Marriott group.
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