Tourist Places To Visit In Amritsar

Amritsar is a serene city that occupies the north-western hemisphere of Punjab. Popular among the local inhabitants as "Ambarsar," this town was developed by one of the most revered Sikh saints, Guru Ram Das. Amritsar is inseparable from the history of the Sikh fraternity's development. Tourists who visit this city will surely be provided with a splendid display of the patriotism that prevails within the hearts of its local inhabitants. On their trip to Amritsar, tourists can visit the stunning Golden Temple, explore the cultural fervor at Sadda Pind, or get intrigued with the historical remnants at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum. The city is blessed with a stunning collection of holy shrines, sacred pools, and historical monuments. Let us look at how the different tourist places in Amritsar fare on account of tourism prospects.

Popular all over the globe as the Golden Temple, the Harmandar Sahib shrine is one of the most revered Sikh shrines in India. Maharaja Ranjit Singh provided the finishing touches to this architectural wonder during the 19th century. The Sikh community believes in fostering universal fraternalism, thereby allowing its devout pilgrims to enter in from all sides of the temple. The prime gateway of the shrine passes through a striking clock tower and also accommodates the Central Sikh Museum. Walking through this passage, tourists are greeted by a spectacular image of the Golden Temple, along with a mirror image of the shrine adorning the surrounding waters. This magnificent pool of nectar is popularly known as Amrit Sarovar around town.

Sarai Amanat Khan was constructed by Amanat Khan, a great Persian practitioner of calligraphy. Amanat Khan used this stunning caravanserai as his resting place during his time in Amritsar. It was one of the many such resting inns that adorned the Grand Trunk Road. The primary purpose behind building such caravanserais was to provide apt resting grounds for the traveling community, in contrast to the problematic voyage from Lahore to Agra. Another incredible fact here is that Amanat Khan was the mind behind the inscription of a few verses from the Quran on the Taj Mahal of Agra. The two primary gateways Dilli Darwaaza and Lahori Darwaza, bound the open-air courtyard that hosts an age-old mosque, an interim stable, and a well. The highlight here that can catch the eyes of tourists is the superb tilework of the walls of the caravanserai.

The former Ram Bagh Palace that housed the royal family was transformed into an art gallery in 1977. Named after its architect, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum showcases intriguing memoirs from the court proceedings at the palace during yesteryears. The museum hosts Sikh relics ranging from paintings, coins, and miniatures to the outfits worn by the Sikh soldiers and the weapons used by them during those times. Close to the museum lies a two-storied structure named the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama. This building is studded with artistic depictions of the life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, portraying some of his most memorable war wages. One such painting, "The Court of Lahore," gained international recognition when it was showcased at the Vienna exhibition in 1855.

The Durgiana Temple has historical roots that include Hindu mythological events from the 16th century. The shrine was consecrated to Goddess Durga and went by the name Lakshmi Narayan Temple among locals. Durgiana Temple nurtures striking architectural similarities to the Golden Temple, with the central structure of the temple rising from a tank. The remaining sections of the shrine are adorned by marble coating, while the main dome is covered with gold. The Hindu faithful who throng this shrine is blessed with the presence of detailed sculptures of the various personifications of Goddess Durga around the temple premises. Tourists who manage to visit the Durgiana Temple are provided with a sneak peek into the religious history of Hindu mythology.

Akal Takht forms a religious Sikh establishment of the highest order. Set up by Guru Hargobind Singh during the 16th century, this Sikh university holds its status as one of the five prime stately homes of authority, also known as Takhts, within the Sikh fraternity. The Akal Takht institution forms an abode for the highest Sikh spokesmen, the Jathedars. This institution serves justice for that Sikh faithful who come seeking help about their earthly and spiritual. The majestic Akal Takht building comprises five stories, and the gold-plated dome at its apex point forms an architectural masterpiece for visiting tourists today. The faithful have the pleasure of experiencing an ancient ritual where the Guru Granth Sahib is transferred from the Golden Temple premises to Akal Takht during the darkness of night.

A historic university that has stood tall for a staggering 124 years, Khalsa College spans a 300-acre expanse. This institution dispenses enlightening education for its students thanks to the enriching atmosphere around the campus and a liberal attitude. Following an Indo-Saracenic architectural approach, Khalsa College is a structural masterpiece. Several Bollywood filmmakers have used the college vicinity as a setup for some of their commendable movies. The institution preserves and promotes the incredible cultural diversity of the state of Punjab. Students who are nurtured by Khalsa College are usually bound to bring about social revolution thanks to the high-quality education dispersed at the college.

Located approximately 5 km away from the Wagah Border, Pul Kanjari bears witness to the times when Maharaja Ranjit Singh lived in Amritsar. The locals of Amritsar would be happy to let tourists know about the intriguing history behind the formation of this beautiful structure. A famous dancer named Moran lost the pair of sandals gifted to her by the king in the waters of the underlying canal. To prevent such mishaps in the future, Maharaja Ranjit Singh instructed his men to build a bridge over the canal. The bridge thus got its name Pul Kanjari from the term that was coined in those days for the local dancers, "Kanjari." A war-prone spot during India's fight with neighboring Pakistan, Pul Kanjari also commemorates the loss of brave warriors in its vicinity.

Spanning a 12-acre expanse, Sadda Pind is an ancient cultural village that has managed to preserve pre-independence Punjabi customs and traditions even at the turn of the 21st century. The town comprises an alfresco museum that showcases Punjabi lifestyle through a distinct array of artifacts and age-old structures. Sadda Pind is adorned by brick-and-stone homesteads such as those of the zamindar, sunhar, lohar, kissan, kumhar, sarpanch, tangewala, and nambardar. These houses highlight the daily routine of the rural Punjabi skilled workers, picturizing their traditional attire and their handicrafts. Tourists can visit performance halls like the village haveli and the baraat ghar to witness folk dances such as jhumar, bhangra, gidda, and kikli to get acquainted with the cultural flare of Punjabi artists.

The Town Hall in Amritsar hosts the intriguing Partition Museum, a symbol of the atrocities caused by the arduous partition of India and Pakistan. To date, this partition of the two countries remains the most significant mass relocation of its kind. Partition Museum lies along Amritsar's Heritage Street and forms an exciting breakaway destination for tourists who visit the Golden Temple. This museum nurtures an array of photographs, letters, newspaper extracts, and personal belongings that were donated by survivors of the outrage that took place during the mass migration. Tourists who visit the Partition Museum are sure to gain a thorough knowledge of one of the most compelling occurrences in Asian history.

The Panj Sarovar Walk provides tourists with a splendid opportunity to stroll through the dams of the five illustrious blessed pools of Amritsar. Visitors can gain intriguing insights into the advancement of Sikhism. These sacred pools are also known as sarovars, with Santokhsar Sarovar being the first and foremost pool to be formed by the Sikh fraternity. Another major sarovar that was built by Sri Hargobind, Bibeksar Sarovar, is also situated along this pathway. The smallest sarovar along this route is Ramsar Sarovarm, which marks the precise location of the initial phase during which the Sikh scriptures were prepared. Last but not the least, Kaulsar Sarovar finishes off this list, and is named after Bibi Kaulan, a Muslim lady.