Places to visit in Punjab

AMRITSAR

Ram Das, the 4th Sikh Guru, founded this holy city of the Sikhs in 1577. It is both the centre of the Sikh religion and the major city of the State. It has grown from a sacred village pond into a spiritual temporal centre of Sikh culture. The city gets its name from the sacred pool Amrit (nectar) Sar (pool) in which the Golden temple was raised. The present city dates back to the 15th century but its association with the epic Ramayana, shows that its sacred heritage must be measured, not in centuries but millenniums. Amritsar is the most important seat of Sikh history and culture, trade and also, the gateway for travellers coming to India, on the overland route through Pakistan.

The Khatris and Aroras of Punjab had trading outlets from Chittagong (now in Bangladesh) right upto Iran in Persia and when these Khatris and Aroras converted to Sikhism Amritsar became the East's biggest trading and eventually a manufacturing centre. Today it is India's important distribution centre of dry-fruits, tea (next only to Calcutta), condiments and is a leading exporter of goods to the Middle East.

Places to Visit in Amritsar

The Golden Temple

Was founded by Guru Ram Das in 1579 with a part of the land granted by Emperor Akbar, the foundation stone laid by a Muslim Sufi Saint, Mian Mir, the construction was completed in 1601. The architecture of the temple is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles. The Holy Scripture of the Sikhs, the Granth Sahib, is installed in the inner sanctum of the temple. The scripture is unique as it contains the divine message as received by saints, bhagats (devotees) and pirs of all the faiths of India. The temple was destroyed in 1761 by the Muslim invader Ahmad Shah Durani and was rebuilt in 1802 by the Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) in marble and gold (its dome took 400kg of gold leaf to be covered). Ever since, it has been known as the Golden Temple. The Sikhs usually refer to it as the Hari Mandir (the temple of God) or Darbar Sahib (the Court of the Lord). When visiting the temple please be sure to have your head covered and feet bear.

The temple complex has a number of shrines of historical importance, notably the Akal Takhat (throne of the Timeless God). It is here that the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee or the Sikh Parliament traditionally meets. Baba Atal Tower, located in the southeast of the enclosure is a 9-storey tower (30m high) built in 1784.

Jallianwala Bagh

Located near the Golden Temple, is a poignant memorial of the Freedom Movement. This garden was the site of a brutal massacre of over 2000 innocent unarmed people, on the orders of British General Dyer on April 13, 1919. This appalling massacre was one of the major events in India's struggle for freedom. The bullet scarred walls of the well-kept garden, today, enclose a memorial with an eternal flame, dedicated to the martyrs and has become a place of pilgrimage.

Durgiana Temple

Also called the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, located outside the Lohagarh gate of the old city, this temple dedicated to Goddess Durga dates back to the 16th century and is a centre of pilgrimage for devout Hindus. In its present form the temple echoes of not the traditional Hindu temple architecture, but that of the Golden Temple. It rises in a similar manner from the midst of a tank and has canopies and a central dome. Its foundation stone was laid by one of the greatest reformers and political leaders of resurgent India, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. It is a well-known repository of Hindu scriptures.

Ram Bagh

This is a park in a palace built by the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh. It has a museum that contains weapons dating back to Mughal times and some portraits of the ruling houses of the Punjab.

Mata Temple

It is a Hindu temple that commemorates a bespectacled 20th century female saint Lal Devi. Women wishing to have children pray here. it's notable for a Disneysque series of grottos and shrines featuring Hindu deities.

Places around Amritsar

Ram Tirath: Located 11km west of Amritsar on Chogawan road, dates back to the period of Ramayana. It was the site of Sage Valmiki's hermitage and the place where Sita, the consort of Lord Rama and taken refuge and given birth to her twin sons. The place has an ancient tank and many temples. A 4- day fair, since times immemorial is held here starting on the full moon night in November.

Taren Taran: It is an important Sikh tank located about 25km south of Amritsar. It is known for the Darbar Sahib Sri Guru Arjun Devji Gurudwara built in the memory of the 5th Sikh Guru Arjun Devji. The guru used to run a leper's home here. The Gurudwara has a gold plated dome and a large holy pool said to have healing powers. It's said that any leper who can swim across the tank will be miraculously cured. There is also a temple here, which predates Amritsar and a tower on the eastern side of the tank, which was constructed by Ranjit Singh.

Gobindwal Sahib or Darbar Sahib Baoli Sahib: Located 30kms away was the centre of Sikh religion during the time of the 3rd Sikh Guru Amar Dasji. The deep baoli (step-well) in the Gurudwara has 84 steps. The faithful believe that if you recite Jap Ji Sahib, the divine composition of the first Prophet of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Devji at each step after a bath in the well, you live out the cycle of 84,000 lives (representing the species created by God) and attain moksha (liberation of soul).

Baba Bakala Gurudwara: Located 45kms from Amritsar is the site where the 9th Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur had revealed himself to Makhan Shah Lubana, a Sikh devotee. A fair is held here during the festival of Rakhsha Bandhan in the month of August.

Khadur Sahib: Located 52kms from Amritsar, commemorates the seat of Sikh religion during the time of the 2nd Sikh Guru Angad Devji.

Wagha Border: The pageant of the beating of the retreat and the change of guard within handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces here makes the most charming of the spectacles as a daily evening drill. Ascertain the timings before you leave to see this spectacle since these are changed seasonally.

Sultanpur Lodi: Located 60 km from Amritsar, is the place where Guru Nanak Devji spent 12 years in the service of Nawab Daulat Khan Lodi. It was from here in 1500 AD that he had begun his first holy travel towards the east and the south to preach the Word of God. Gurudwara Ber Sahib is built at the place where Guru Nanak Devji got enlightenment and created the Sukhmani Sahib.

ANANDPUR SAHIB

Situated on the left bank of the river Sutlej at a distance of about 41kms.from Ropar on the Chandigarh-Nangal Road, Anandpur Sahib, the abode of peace stands out in picturesque relief against the Naina Devi mountain range. In 1665 the 9th Sikh Guru Teg Bahadurji had bought the site of Anandpur Sahib from the Rani of Bilaspur. The valley of river Sutlej, from Ropar through Kiratpur Sahib to Anandpur Sahib is full of Gurudwaras and was the seat of Sikhism for almost 80 years.

The Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib is the most important Gurudwara of the region because on the day of Baisakhi in 1699 the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singhji had baptised the first five Sikhs called 'Panj Piare' (beloved ones). The Sikhs were consummated as the Khalsa -saint soldiers, at this spot. 12 weapons of the 10th Sikh Guru are preserved here among which is the famed Hazrat Ali's sword. The festival of Hola Mohalla celebrated here is renowned worldwide for the splendour of martial display exhibited by the Nihangs.

Some other notable Gurudwaras in and around Anandpur Sahib are:

Gurudwara Thara Sahib: Marks the spot where in 1675 a delegation of 15 Kashmiri Brahmins led by Pandit Kirpa Ram had come to beseech the 9th Sikh Guru Teg Bahadurji to save them from the tyranny of the Mughals who were forcibly converting them to Islam. It was also here that the Sikh Guru decided to embrace martyrdom to awaken the dead soul of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib: This is the place where the head of Guru Teg Bahadur who embraced martyrdom in Delhi in 1675 was cremated.

Gurudwara Damadama Sahib: This is the site where on 17th December 1975 Gobind Singhji was proclaimed as the 10th Sikh Guru

Gurudwara Parivar Vichora: It is located in district Ropar on the bank of river Sirsa. It commemorates the event that took place here when the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singhji halted for the morning religious congregation after vacating the fortress of Anandpur Sahib. The Mughal army attacked the Guru on the bank of this river and many devoted Sikhs laid down their lives while fighting the enemy. In the chaos that ensued two younger sons of the Guru along with their grandmother, got separated.