Amritsar, which
literally means a pool of nectar, lies twenty kilometres east of the
lndo-Pakistan border, is the Punjab state's second largest town. It was founded
in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs. Here a tank was excavated and
a temple was got built by the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev in its midst and a new
city began to grow up round the sacred pool. The name Amritsar meaning 'Pool of
Nectar', is named after the sacred pool around which the Sikh's Golden Temple
is built. Sikhs from all over the world come to pay their reverence to Guru
Granth Sahib and take a dip in the Amrit Saras Kund (Pool of Immortality) for
spiritual purification is the major landmark of the place. The present city dates
back to the 15th century but there are evidence that this city is related to
ramayan yug so city's sacred heritage must be measured in terms of millenniums
and not in centuries.
|
|
Amritsar lied at a
distance of about 280 miles from Delhi and is only 16 miles from Wagha, the
outpost of the Indo-Pakistan border.The city is an important regional market
center for agricultural goods, woollens, spices and dry fruits and also the
center for India's border security. Today it is India's important distribution
centre of dry-fruits, tea (next only to Calcutta), of condiments and is a
leading exporter of goods to the Middle East.
Woollen tweeds, suitings,
blankets, shawls in traditional weaves, ivory (now plastic) inlay furniture,
swords of all designs, oils, scents, jutties (traditional embroidered shoes),
cut-glass crockery, selective musical instruments,
carpets are manufactured
here almost in every bazaar. Its pickles, murabbas (Indian jams) and papads and
warian and sweetmeats are exported to far off places, right into Punjabi
Diaspora abroad. With a population of about 4,00,000 and a number of
educational institutions, business markets, industrial concerns, banks, hotels
parks and restaurants, Amritsar still remains the most important, the largest
and, perhaps, the most picturesque city in the Punjab. Amritsar is also
characterised by the hard working and warm-hearted people.
Climate
Amritsar has an extreme climate with very hot summers and very cold winters. Monsoon hits the city around the first week of July and brings average rainfall. The best time to visit Amritsar is between October and March.The best clothing for summer is cotton and for winter is woollen. Temperature usually ranges between 30 to 46 °C in summers and between 0 to 17 °C in winters.
Amritsar has an extreme climate with very hot summers and very cold winters. Monsoon hits the city around the first week of July and brings average rainfall. The best time to visit Amritsar is between October and March.The best clothing for summer is cotton and for winter is woollen. Temperature usually ranges between 30 to 46 °C in summers and between 0 to 17 °C in winters.
|
Distance
From
|
|
|
New Delhi
|
450 Kms
|
|
Chandigarh
|
235 Kms
|
|
Jammu
|
216 kms
|
|
Ferozepur
|
160 kms
|
|
Wagah
|
29 kms
|
How To Reach :-
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. Important 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.
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. Important 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.
|
Amritsar
at a Glance
|
|
|
Area
|
5,075sq.km
|
|
Altitude
|
234 m
|
|
Population
|
25,03,165
|
|
Literacy
|
About Fifty percent
|
|
Languages
|
Hindi, Punjabi and English
|
|
Basic
Information
|
|
|
Climate
|
|
|
Summer
|
30 to 46 °C
|
|
Winter
|
0 to 17 °C
|
|
Monsoons
|
July to September
|
|
Best Season
|
September to March
|
|
Rain Fall
|
59.2 cms.
|
|
Other Information
|
|
|
STD Code
|
0183
|
|
District
|
Amritsar
|
|
State
|
Punjab
|
|
Tehsils
|
Ajnala, Amritsar (2) Baba Bakala,
Khadur Sahib, Patti,Tarn Taran
|
|
Sub-Tehsils
|
Goindwal Sahib, Jhabal, Khem
Karan, Lopoke, Ramdas, Bhikhiwind, Chola Sahib, Majitha, Attari, Tarsikka
|
|
Development Blocks
|
Ajnala, Bhikhiwind, Chogawan,
Chohla Sahib, Gandiwind Harsa Chhina, Jandiala Guru, Khadur Sahib, Majitha,
Naushehra Pannuan Patti, Rayya, Tarn Taran, Tarsika, Valtoha, Verka
|
|
Crops
|
Wheat, Rice, Cotton, Sugarcane
|
|
Airport
|
Raja Sansi, International Airport
|
|
Places of Interest in Amritsar
|
|
Golden
Temple, Jaliawal Bagh, Durgiana Mandir, Baba Atal Rai Tower, Khalsa College
& Guru Nanak Dev University, Bazaars
Around Amritsar Rambagh Garden, Ram Tirth, Wagah Border, Amanat Khan Serai, Baba Bakala, Dharamsala, Gobindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran, Harike Wetland, Dera Baba Jaimal Singh |
