AMRITSAR FULL DAY TOUR

The Golden Temple is a symbol of religious sanctity among the Sikhs. Situated in the premises of the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple is a sacred Sikh shrine located in Amritsar, Punjab, India. The Golden Temple Amritsar is at the end of a long causeway, preceded by the Amrit Savovar (Pool of Nectar), said to be the holy water with healing and redemption powers. Its golden exterior glimmers in the sunlight, symbolizing the spiritual and cultural richness of Sikhism, and it serves as a place of worship, reflection, and community service for millions of devotees worldwide. Many devout Sikhs come and bathe and cleanse themselves in the tank which holds the Amrit (Nectar). The architecture of the Golden Temple has nuances of both Hindu as well as Muslim architecture.

Any patriot worth their salt will have tears in their eyes at the mention of the unfortunate event that took place at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919. Known as the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, the killing or fatally wounding over 2000 innocent men, women and children played a pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence from the rule of the British. Today, it stands as a memorial to those who lost their lives, reminding visitors of the sacrifices made during the fight for freedom.

The Gobindgarh Fort –the very symbol of Punjab, the iconic protector of Amritsar is situated right in the center of the Holy City along the Grand Trunk road spanning across 43 acres of land. This magnificent heritage site has a history of its own, spread across a period of over 300 years, right from the times of the Bhangi Misl-Maharaja Ranjit Singh-The East India Company-the Indian Army.

Anyone with a little knowledge about Indian freedom struggle will be familiar with the Radcliffe line. Many villages on the border of the two resultant countries had to be divided depending on what jurisdiction they fell under. One such village that was divided was Wagha, Attari. The Wagah road is the most important route, since it connects the two countries through a single road.This road has Border Security officials from both India and Pakistan and is known for beating the retreat, which is the ceremony that takes place daily involving closing the two borders and lowering the national flags of both parties. From the Indian side, this ceremony is free for everyone and many people, nationals and foreigners flock to see this ceremony. The ceremony commences with the patriotism in the air as the border closing time approaches, followed by soldiers marching towards their respective nations’ gates, saluting each other, lowering and folding the flag. The ceremony is concluded by the sound of trumpets and the gates slamming shut 6 PM every day.