AMRITSAR

General Information
Area (City) Literacy Crops Climate Airport : : : : More than 50% : Punjabi, Hindi, English Wheat, Rice, Cotton, Sugarcane Summer 30 to 46 - Monsoons: July to Raja Sansi, International Airport Languages : About five Thousand sq. km About 2.5 million (District); About 1 million Population:

September

Amritsar is the soul of Punjab - the holy city of Sikhs, has grown from a sacred village pond into a spiritual temporal center of Sikh culture. The city gets its name from the poolAmritsar-Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar), which was constructed by the fourth religious preceptor of the Sikh faith. Amritsar is the home of traditional Punjabi cuisine, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian where each eatinghouse has a specialty, which can not be matched. Its pickles, murabbas (Indian jams) and Papad and Wariaan (recipes can not be translated into English) and sweetmeats are exported to far off places, right into Punjabi Diaspora abroad. Located as it is on the Indo-Pak Border, Amritsar is the most vulnerable and hence was most targeted town during the

Indo-Pakistan war. So in both the Indo-Pak wars (i.e. in 1965 and 1972), Amritsar acted as shield for the rest of India, bearing all the burns. Fortunately it proved its mettle and not only escaped physical damage but also keep its industry and economy steadfast. The Amritsari's are sweet spoken and God fearing people. They are fond of good dress, good food and sophisticated living. Lot of fashion, fun and festivities are visible every day. The globally renown Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, which enshrines the Holy Book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, is located in Amritsar. Amritsar, literally 'a pool of nectar', was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who had initially constructed a pool here. The vital nucleus of Sikhism, Amritsar is also believed to be the site, where Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana. According to popular belief, Sita had spent part of her life here and gave birth to her sons Luv, Kush at place now called as Ram Tirath. The construction of the temple was completed in late sixteenth century. It was refurbished by the Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1803. The Golden Temple is a two storied marble structure, with an imposing dome of pure gold. The architecture of the Golden Temple, is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles. The golden dome is meant to represent an inverted lotus flower. The interior of the temple

is decorated with semi precious stones, frescoes and glass work.

History of Amritsar
History of Amritsar is really fascinating. The city has been famous for puissant Sikhs and has legends attached to it. According to the legend, when the fourth Guru of the Sikhs Guru Ram Das heard about the healing powers of the pool, he ordered his son Guru Arjan Dev to erect a temple at the site. In 1588, the foundations of a city were laid which later on became an emblem of Sikh culture and history. The city came to be known as Ramdaspur or Guru Ram Das di Nagri (city of Guru Ram Das). The Temple compound was completed in 1601. Historians say that Mughal emperor Akbar also donated the land close to the temple after paying off the local Jat farmers. After the completion of the Temple, Guru Granth Sahib (Also called Adi Granth), holy book of Sikhs was installed in the Temple. The Temple became popular as Harmandir (Temple of God). The traders including Khatris and Aroras were called by Guru Ji to settle in the vicinity of the Gurudwara. A new town grew up with the arrival of all these businessmen. Golden Temple was plundered many times but by God's grace the Temple got much more offerings from its devotees that helped in its reconstruction.

History of plunders
Ahmad Shah Durrani forayed the town in the late 18th century. Maharaja Ranjit Singh donated 100 kilos of gold for the temple and rebuilt the town. The Temple got its name from the golden plating on the outer walls. Amritsar was always threatened from both Muslim and Hindu rulers. Guru Hargobind bastioned the city and started accepting offerings in the form of weapons for the security of the Temple. After accession to the throne Salim (younger son of Akbar) asked Guru Arjan Dev to accept Islam. Guru refused and got killed by Salim who came to be known as Emperor Jahangir. In India's history of freedom struggle, Amritsar has a significant place. Due to the protests against Rowlatt Act, British General Dyer imposed a ban on holding meetings. In the Jallianwala Bagh, without any warning he open fired thousand of innocent men, women and children who gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa panth (order of the Khalsa). Post independence era also brought problems for

Ambarsarias (people inhabiting Amritsar). It was a fight between the Indian administration and Sikh militant groups.

Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale demanded a separate nationhood for Sikhs. In June 1984, a heavily armed Bhindranwale marched towards Golden Temple. The army thinking that they were inside resorted to firing on the Akal Takht. Bhindranwale got killed along with many of his followers. The Temple was again rehabilitated to its former glory.

ATTRACTIONS
1. The Golden Temple
The Golden Temple or 'Hari Mandir', situated in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred temple of the Sikhs. The site of the temple was sacred to the Sikhs since the time of the 4th guru, Ram Das. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world. holy tank of the temple. All Sikh people tries to make a visit to the temple and take bath in

2. Jallian Wala Bagh

This place noted for its most notorious massacre under British rule. It is 400 meters north of the Golden Temple. The British General Dyer was the Lieutenant Governor of the province in 1919. He banned all meetings and demonstrations led by Indians against the economical set back by World War I. On 13 April 1919, pilgrims poured into

Amritsar to celebrate the Baisakhi festival, a holiday in the Sikh calendar. In the afternoon thousands of people gathered at Jallian Wala Bagh to celebrate the Baisakhi. This ground surrounded by high walls on all sides has only a narrow alley for access. General Dyer personally led the troops to the sight and ordered his men to open fire without any warning. It resulted in the death of 379 and injured more than 1200. India was outraged by Dyer's massacre. Gandhiji, called for a nation wide strike and started the Noncooperation Movement, which became an important mile stone in the struggle for India's Independence. Today this ground has been changed to a park and it has a pleasant garden. There is a narrow path between the houses which leads to the lawn of the park. At the entrance there is a memorial plaque which recounts the history. There is a well on the north side in which many people who tried to escape from the bullets were drowned, and remnants of walls have been preserved to show the bullet holes. At the east end of the garden there is a large memorial built in memory of

those who died here.

3. Durgiana Temple
The temple is dedicated to goddess Durga and dates back to 16th century. This Hindu temple also draws its share of visitors. A large temple is dedicated to Hindu deities Laxmi (The Goddess of wealth) and Narayan. (The Preserver of Universe). All dignitaries visiting Golden Temple make it a point to visit Durgiana Temple also.

4. Mata Mandir
This Hindu temple situated at Rani ka Bagh , is similar to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple at Katra (Jammu). The temple draws a large number of devotees from far and near.

5. Fort Gobind Garh

In the south-west of the city, has been taken over by the Indian army and is now off limits. It was built in 1805-09 by Ranjit Singh, who was also responsible for constructing the city walls. 6. Ram Bagh This beautiful garden is named as a tribute to Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city of Amritsar. It is situated in the new part of town and has a museum in the summer palace built by the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) the Lion of Punjab. The museum contains weapons dating back to Mughal times and some portraits of the ruling houses of the Punjab and a replica of the diamond 'Kohinoor'. To commemorate the memory of his valour Ram Bagh has a lively statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh saddled on a horse. It's closed on Wednesdays.

7. Ram Thirth
The place gets special mention in the great Hindu epic 'Ramayana'. It is the place where Maharshi Valmiki gave shelter to Sita , wife of Rama when she was abandoned after the Lanka Victory. It was here that she gave birth to the twins LavKush. There is a temple here.

8. Taren Taran

It is an important Sikh tank about 25km south of Amritsar. There's a temple, which predates Amritsar, and a tower on the east side of the tank, which was also constructed by Ranjit Singh. It's said that any leper who can swim across the tank will be miraculously cured.

Places to visit around Amritsar

Amritsar is located in the heart of the state of Punjab in India. Some of the important cities in Punjab are located near Amritsar. Among the nearby cities, the most frequently visited cities are Jallandhar, Ambala, Ludhiana and Chandigarh. The cities mentioned here are commercial hubs. You can visit Wagah Border that is located very near to Amritsar. Many buses connect Amritsar to Wagah Border and hundreds of visitors visit the place to have panoramic views of the nearby landscape of Pakistan. Some people visit Wagah Border in nostalgic mood to remember the partition. Anandpur Sahib and Kirtpur Sahib are another famous Gurudwaras near Amritsar. While journeying to Himachal Pradesh or Punjab, most of the Sikhs take a stoppage to visit these holy shrines.

TRANSPORT
Air: Amritsar is connected by Indian Airlines flights to Delhi and Srinagar. There is a weekly flight to Birmingham and Kabul. Rajasansi airport is not far from the city and taxis are available for the transfers. Rail: Amritsar is connected with direct trains to delhi , Calcutta , Mumbai , Puri, and other places. The important ones include the Frontier Mail to Mumbai, Shatabdi Express to Delhi and Utkal Express to Puri. There are twice-weekly runs by Lahore Express, the train to Pakistan. Amritsar Railway station provides amenities including Retiring room and refreshment rooms. Taxis are available outside the station. Road: There is vast network of bus services of Punjab, Himachal , Delhi . Haryana, PEPSU, Chandigarh, U.P , J& K , Rajasthan state roadways, apart from private operators. Importanat destinations include Delhi, Shimla , Chandigarh , Dehradun , Rishikesh , Kullu, Manali and Jammu . Taxis are also available, but not everywhere. They stand outside the airport and railway station. There are autorickshaws and cycle rickshaws are also very common for local transfers.

SHIMLA

General Information
Location Altitude Best Time January. Scenic Beauty Narkanda. Activities : Skiing, Fishing, Golfing & Trekking : The Mall, Christ Church, Kufri, : : Himachal Pradesh. 2,159m. : April To August & December To

Shimla Resorts
Shimla (also spelt as 'Simla') derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla Devi', which is another manifestation of Goddess Kali. The capital of Himachal Pradesh came into light when the British discovered it in 1819. Till then, it was a part of the Nepalese kingdom. In 1864 Shimla was declared as the summer capital of India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a rail line was constructed between Kalka and Shimla. Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures

made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations. Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old buildings, among them are the stately Viceregal Lodge, charming iron lamp posts and Anglo-Saxon names. The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the centre of attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patiala's escapades, offers a view of distant snowclad peaks.

Shimla's Heritage Walks

Shimla is one of the few places in the world where an enormous amount of history and heritage has been distilled into such a small place in so short a time. The town came into being in the first quarter of the 19th century and some four decades later, became the "Summer Capital' of British India. Till the coming of India's independence in 1947, momentous events and memorable architecture packed the town. Today, the colonial order is gone, but its architectural bequest is now a part of the legacy for a free India. And the seven hills of Shimla hold a variety of architectural styles from all over the world- made all the more distinctive, for manstructural elements are local. In addition, the town has one of the longest stretches of purely pedestrian road and

shopping anywhere in the world - the Mall. Shimla also holds what may well be the Earth's only 'urban forest'.

Shimla's Seven Hill Attractions

The seven hills of Shimla are - Prospect Hill in Western Shimla, which has the temple of Kamna Devi; Summer Hill in Western Shimla, which has the campus of the Himachal Pradesh University; Observatory Hill in Western Shimla, which holds the estate of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study; Invererarm in Western Shimla, whose top has the State Museum; Bantony in central Shimla, which has the Grand Hotel; Jakhoo in central Shimla, which is crowned by the temple indicated to Lord Hanuman, and Elysium in northwestern Shimla, which holds Auckland House and Longwood and reaches out towards the Bharari spur.

Shimla's Malls
As the town of Shimla grew through the 19th century, its Mall steadily developed as the town's commercial street and the hub of its social life. The road, which some 5-km in length, starts in the west at the gates of he former Viceregal Lodge , the present day Indian Institute of Advanced Study and ends at Chhota Shimla or 'Small' Shimla, in the east. The route has bends, as one would expect any hill road to have, ut its nature essentially follows a wide sweeping curve

along the hills. The primary aspect is south facing and affords a view of the valley below the town and of the foothills that reach out to the plains from its habitation. In pockets, snatches of the northern aspect spring up for a dramatic view and hold woods of Pine and Himalayan Cedar the majestic Deodar. This picture of nature's bounty is framed by the distant snow ranges of the Greater Himalaya.

SHOPPING
A Colonial Supermarket With Indian Lifestyles A major determinant of the town character and social ethos, the mall has modified its colonial and rather snooty ambience to reflect the Indian market centric lifestyle. Yet, the original colonial architecture, somewhat crumbling, somewhat forlorn and yet, almost unforgivingly still its spine, the street remains the town's social hub and for many, also its economic core. There is hardly a person who lives in Shimla who regards his day as complete without a daily salute to its tarmac or an evening promenade. A Heritage Zone There is hardly a visitor who will not rush there on his very first day in town. Its stores may be expensive in comparison with the lower bazaar that runs parallel to the mall some metre below, but yet this street is perhaps one of the most visible reflections of the principle of democracy anywhere in the world. This, perhaps, is born out of the fact that this stretch remains one of the longest stretches of open public road anywhere in the world that is lined with stores and where motor vehicles are not allowed through its core. Only select cars, ambulances and fire engines may ply through the street.

ATTRACTIONS
1. Annandale Annandale, just 2-km below the Ridge in Shimla, offers a picturesque piece of ground, charmingly adapted for recreation in the days of the Raj. Today it affords a pleasant change from the perpetual slopes above. 2. Chadwick Falls Beyond the Summer Hill and 7-km west of the ridge from Shimla are the Chadwick Falls, which was once the site of a 67-m aquatic spectacle. 3. Chapslee Containing the comfortable elegance of an English country manor, Chapslee was originally built in 1835. 4. Christ Church And St Michael'S Cathedral The most prominent building on the Mall is the yellow Christ Church, reputed to be the second oldest church in northern India. The silhouette of this can be seen on the skyline for miles around. It was designed by Colonel JT Boileau in 1844,

but consecrated only after 1857. The clock was donated by Colonel Dumbleton in 1860, and the porch added in 1873. 5. Churdhar Sanctuary The sanctuary got its name from the Chur Peak, on the top of which sits a majestic status of Lord Shiva. One is sure to come across a large number of multi-coloured and agile Monals in the adjoining forests. 6. Gurkha Castles The Gurkha castles in Solan, Sirmour, Bilaspur and Shimla districts remind us of the life and time under the Gurkha regime. While most of the structures built by the Gurkhas have crumbled, the remaining few beckon tourists. 7. Hatkoti Some 105-km east of Shimla, in Jubbal Tehsil on the banks of the river Pabbar, lays the mysterious valley of stone temples Hatkoti. Close by stands a small village by the name of Parhaat. 8. Jakhu Temple No visit to the state capital Shimla is complete without visiting Jakhu Hill. This hill looms over Shimla town and is the geographical nucleus. The Hanuman temple at the top of Jakhu hill is the highest point in town.

9. Jeep Safari In Himachal Pradesh By jeep, car or on motorcycle, one can explore the variety Himachal has to offer. By jeep, the Trans Himalayan tracts can steadily unfold their natural and man-made wonders. 10. Karyali Lake In district Shimla,Karyali Lake lies on the northern face of the peak of Chhoti Shali. 11. Kotesvara Temple The Kotesvara (also spelt as Kotesvar) temple is a magnificient structure dedicated to Shiva who is represented there in the form of 'Shivalinga'. 12. Shirigul Temple One of the oldest and the most important temples of Shirigul are situated on the Chur Dhar Peak. 13. Tattapani On the right banks of the river Satluj, is Tattapani famous for its hot sulphur springs. The place also has religious

importance. These natural sulphur springs are invigorating and have curative values.

14. The Ridge The large open space in the heart of town presents excellent view of the mountain ranges. Shimla's landmarks - the NeoGothic structure of Christ Church and the new - Tudor Library building is worth seeing 15. Viceregal Lodge On the Observatory Hills is located Viceregal Lodge, which is also known as Rashtrapati Niwas. This magnificent building was the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin 16. War Memorial Just over 2-kms from Gandhi Chowk is Martyr's Memorial at Panjpulla (five bridges), which commemorates Ajit Singh, a supporter of Subhash Bose and the Indian national Army during World War II.

Places to visit around Shimla

1. Dagshai Another little cantonment at an altitude of 1,925m just 19km from Kasauli, it is accessible by a link road, which diverts

from Dhrampur. Dagshai is perched on a small hill and comprisse of a military public school and numerous military barracks

2. Daranghati Sanctuary Daranghati sanctuary located in the upper area of Shimla District, has undisturbed forest area with plenty of wildlife and was notified on 27th March 1974. The total covered area of this sanctuary is 16740 hectares. 3. Dharampur, Shimla Just 15-km from Kasauli on the National Highway No.22, Dharampur is situated. Amidst the healthy air of the fragrant pines, Dharampur has one of the best hospitals in India for the cure of tuberculosis. It is also connected by Kalka-Shimla railway line. 4. Fagu Situated on Hindustan-Tibet Road (22-km), at a height of 2,450m Fagu is gifted with some enchanting views. 5. Himalayan Aviary Close to the Viceregal lodge is the Himalayan Aviary or the Himalayan Bird Park. This park is a natural habitat of numerous species of birds found in Himachal such as

Himalayan Monal, Pheasants, Peafowls and National Bird of India, the Peacock.

TRANSPORT
By Air The Jubbarhatti airport is 23-km from Shimla and major domestic airlines cater their services from here to Shimla. One can catch direct flights from Delhi. By Road Roads connect the capital city of Himachal with other places in the state as well as other major towns and cities. There is regular bus service from Delhi and Chandigarh as well as ordinary; semi deluxe, deluxe and AC coaches for Shimla are available too. One can also cross over to Leh and Ladakh via Rohtang pass from here. By Rail Shimla has a narrow gauge railway line on which toy train runs from Kalka to Shimla. The train cruises its way through valleys and beautiful landscapes at a very slow pace making the journey very pleasant. From Kalka one can take trains to

other parts of the country. The Toy train from Shimla is of two types - one is the normal multi coach train and the other is the single car train, which has a glass roof giving an enthralling experience during the journey.