Amritsar, the most sacred city of the Sikhs, is an important tourist attraction of Punjab. The word Amritsar means the Pool of Nectar. The city of Amritsar is named after the sacred pool in the Golden Temple, one of the holiest Sikh shrines.hotels in punjab Amritsar is situated only about 29 km from Wagah, on the India-Pakistan border. The overland travelers have to go through Amritsar to Pakistan as it was the only land crossing open between India and Pakistan. It has an unmistakable frontier town atmosphere. The best season to visit Amritsar is from October to March. The foreign tourists require a permit, if they intend to stay in Punjab for longer period or are traveling through Amritsar to the border and want an overnight stay. Hindi, Punjabi and English are the main languages which are spoken here.

History of Amritsar

Amritsar was a traditional junction of trade routes and the Yarkandis, Turkomens, Kashmiris, Tibetans and Iranians that were found here indicate its connections with the Old Silk Road and the trade routes of Central Asia. The original site for the city of Amritsar was granted by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556 –1605) but the Sikh Guru, Ram Das insisted on paying its value to the local Jats who owned it, thereby eliminating the possibility of future disputes on ownership. Ram Das then invited local merchants to live and trade in the immediate vicinity and the town became Amritsar. In 1761, the Afghan Ahmad Shah Durrani sacked the town and destroyed the temple. The temple was rebuilt in 1764 and during the reign of Ranjit Singh was roofed over with gilded copper plates, thereby giving rise to the name 'The Golden Temple'.

Tourist Attraction in Amritsar
Golden Temple:
The original name of Golden Temple is Harmandir Sahib and the its construction was started by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das and completed by the fifth Guru, Arjan Dev.The Islamic style of architecture makes the interior of the temple beautiful. Baishakhi is celebrated in a grand way at the Amritsar Temple during the second week of April. You must not enter the temple premises with your shoes; there is pool where one needs to wash their feet before entering the temple. One of the most important rule here is to cover your head entering the temple premises. Sunrise and sunset at the Golden Temple is a beautiful view. This temple is a pilgrimage center for Sikhs but people from different religions also visit this place.

Jalianwala Bagh:
Famous for the massacre by General Dyer during British rule, Jalianwala Bagh today is visited by several tourists in Punjab. Located near the Golden Temple, it saw series of bullet shots and blood shed on the day of Baishakhi on 13 April, 1919 when under the supervision of General Dyer, hundreds of unarmed Indian men, women and children were shot without warning. Today Jalianwala Bagh has become a tourist center but you can still see the marks of bullet on the wall.

Durgiana Mandir:
Durgiana Mandir is a pilgrimage center for many Indians. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya laid the foundation of this stone temple in 1924 on Ganga Dashmi day. This temple is a place of worship of Durga, Laxmi and Narayan.

Baba Atal Rai Tower:
It is believed that Guru Hargovind breathed his last here and this has contributed to its importance. This building is nine storied and the high class architectural work makes it very beautiful. It is definitely a pilgrimage spot but tourists visit the tower for a casual hangout as well.

Wagah Border:
The retreat ceremony during sunset is the main reason for tourists to visit the Wagah Border. Bordering India and Pakistan, armed soldiers in a parade lower the flag and close the gate. The event takes place in the evening and you can see people from both the country shouting to boost up the energy and to cheer their nation.

Weekend Trips/Excursions:

Tarn Taran:
The fifth Sikh Guru Shri Guru Arjan Dev founded Tarn Taran. It is said that the sacred tank has a magical power of healing and so, it is visited by many tourists every year. The other places to visit in Amritsar during weekends are:

Gobindwal Sahib
Amanat Khan Serai
Baba Bakala
Dharamshala

Events and Festivals
The two main festivals of Amritsar are Baishakhi and Guru Nanak Jayanti. These two are celebrated in a grand way. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated during November and Baisakhi marks the beginning of a new year.