Amritsar is a holy city in the state of Punjab, India.
About
The name of the city derives from the name of the pool around the Golden Temple (aka Harmandir Sahib) and means "holy pool of nectar" (Amrit: elixir; Sar: (short for sarovar) lake). It is the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion, and they are rightfully very proud of the city and their very beautiful and unique Gurdwara (place of worship). The Golden Temple was initiated by Guru Ramdaas Ji, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed in 1601 by his successor Guru Arjan Dev Ji. It is now a major pilgrimage and tourism center.
How to Reach
Best time to visit Amritsar is during winter, especially between month of October and March.
Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport (IATA: ATQ) [1] is about 11 km and a 15–20 minutes drive from the city center. It's one of the modern airports in India and quite adequate if not exactly exciting. Most flights are to Delhi, an hour away, but there are an increasing number of international connections: British Midland International (bmi) flies to London via Almaty [2], Jet flies to London, Air India flies to Toronto via London and Air Slovakia flies to Bergamo, Barcelona and Birmingham via Bratislava. There are also surprising numbers of flights to Central Asia (e.g. Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan). Qatar Airways now flies to Doha.
Taxi drivers wait outside the arrivals gate for visitors. For a trip into town, even the prepaid taxi can be bargained down with the drivers to 300 from initially ridiculous prices of 550 rupees a person (as of March 2014) before you pay, but there is a significant dearth of official taxis or even auto-rickshaws, so prepare for a hard time. Also, be aware that if you are staying near the Golden Temple, there is a zone around it which prohibits automotive vehicles. Though not stringently applied, the streets do get very narrow, and you will probably end up making the last ten minutes of the trip on foot.
Amritsar (IR station code : ASR) is an important railway station and is well connected to major cities in India through daily trains. Trains can be booked online [3], at the train station or, most conveniently, at the small booking office in the Golden Temple Complex.
Here are some useful trains to get to Amritsar:
It's advisable to book your return train ticket as soon as you arrive in Amritsar, or before if you know the exact date, as trains are often heavily booked.
Also see Rail travel in India
Long-distance taxis are available from most places. It takes around 6–7 hours from New Delhi via NH-1.
Amritsar is well-connected by bus to most major cities and the northern areas within a days drive. Pathankot is about 2.5 hours away and about 100 km away, JALANDHAR is about 80 km from here, KAPURTHALA (royal city) is about 65 km from here and there are daily direct buses to New Delhi, Jammu, Katra, Chandigarh, Dharamsala (once daily, ~6 hours), etc.You can find Volvo buses from Chandigarh, Delhi and Katra to Amritsar.
If coming from Wagah at the Pakistani border, take a cycle-rickshaw (Rs 15, 3 km) to the Attari station, where you can catch a local bus to Amritsar (Rs 20, 25 km).
Taxis also use this route and charge around Rs 200 for the entire vehicle.
Get around
If you have your own car to get around Amritsar then simply confirm the directions with a local guide. In case you don't have your own car then there are several travel agencies which can offer you car of your choice.
Renting a car is less time consuming and affordable as well. Experience car drivers know all the shortcuts within city and get you to the best hotel or restaurant. Never pay entire money to car agent in advance and don't leave expensive luggage in your car whenever you are visiting any site.
See
The Golden Temple is the main attraction in the city, and the most important religious place to the Sikhs. It's a stunning complex, and always full of thousands of pilgrims from all over India, excited to be at a place that they usually only see on television. The excitement to be here is infectious, and many people will be more than happy to tell you all about their religion and customs, and show you around the temple itself, just wander around one of the most amazing places in 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.
As you arrive near the complex, you will more likely than not be accosted by hawkers trying to sell you bandannas to cover your head. It's not a bad souvenir for Rs.10, but there's also a big barrel of free ones to choose from at the entrance itself.
All Sikhs are encouraged in their lives to do volunteer services at any gurdwara or in the greater society, and everyone you see working here is fulfilling that duty. It's likely possible that you can join in if you feel so inclined - you could enquire by asking the people outside peeling vegetables, or those washing dishes.
Do
Learn
Buy
Eat
There are very few decent non-veg eateries near the temple complex.
Drink
Lassi is a popular and traditional yogurt-based drink which originates in the Punjab region. It is made by blending yogurt with water and Indian spices. Traditional lassi (also known as salted lassi, or, simply lassi) is a savory drink sometimes flavored with ground roasted cumin while sweet lassi on the other hand is blended with sugar or fruits instead of spices.
Sleep
Stay safe
Respect
Connect
There are quite a few good internet surfing facilities in Amritsar. Reliance WebWorld and Sify Internet kiosks are located at strategic locations.
Reproduced from Wikipedia
