Places to Visit in Amritsar

Golden Temple
Also called Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple was laid by 4th Sikh guru, Sri Guru Ram Das Jee in the 14th century. It is acclaimed as one of the holiest sites of the Sikhs. It has four doorways and gorgeously decorated arches. Reflecting influences of both Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture, the temple standing in the middle of the sacred sarover (a tank), exudes tremendous architectural brilliance which draws the attention of numerous tourists around the globe. Although principally a pilgrimage spot for the Sikhs, it is visited by people of all religions and proves to be one of the greatest tourist attractions in Amritsar on your tour to India.

Akal Takht
Literally Akal Takht means Eternal Throne. It is considered as the one among the five sacred Takhts and has obtained the status of the power point of all religious activities of the Sikhs. Situated in the holiest premises of the Golden Temple, Akal Takht is conferred with the authority to call upon and order contrition on persons blamed with breach of sacred regulation. It was constructed by the sixth Guru Sri Hargobind in 1609. It is also called as Akal Bunga, the house of the Lord. The place is repository of the various weapons used by Sikh Gurus and heroes. These weapons are ceremoniously displayed every evening to the congregation of devotees. The Akal Takht being the holiest of holy seats of the Sikhs, was used for a special purpose which considerably changed the Sikh character and organization. The sixth Guru himself sat here and held a court of justice.

Jallianwalan Bagh
One name that strikes your mind about Amritsar is the Jallianwala Bagh. Sited near the Golden Temple, it bears witness to the tragedy called Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (Amritsar Massacre) during the British Raj. General Reginald Dyer ordered to open fire on a congregation at the venue where several Punjabis gathered for Baisakhi (New Year) celebrations on 13 April 1919. The story of this appalling massacre is told in the Martyr's Gallery at the site. A section of wall with bullet marks still visible is preserved along with the memorial well, in which some people jumped to escape. "The impossible men of India shall rise and liberate their mother land", declared Mahatma Gandhi, after the Jallian Wala massacre. "This disproportionate severity of punishment inflicted upon the unfortunate people and method of carrying it out is without parallel in the history of civilized govt." wrote Rabindra Nath Tagore the noble laureate while returning knighthood. Till date it serves as one of the greatest tourist attractions in Amritsar.

Durgiana Temple (Lakshmi Narain Temple)
Another place to visit in Amritsar is the Durgiana Temple Complex, which was built in the 16th century is dedicated to Goddess Durga and it also offers prayers to deities of Lakshmi and Narayana. It closely resembles the nearby Golden Temple as the temple stands in the center of a lake. The temple closes at 1 in the afternoon so make sure you are there early and take time to walk around the pathway, and enjoy the stillness of the surrounding pool.

Attari Wagha Border
The most remarkable site to visit in Amritsar is undoubtedly, Wagah, this is the international border between India and Pakistan. The pomp and pageantry of the Beating Retreat and the Change of Guard within handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces makes for a most charming spectacle. Wagah, an army outpost on Indo-Pak border - between Amritsar and Lahore, is an elaborate complex of buildings, roads and barriers on both sides. The daily highlight is the evening "Beating the Retreat" ceremony. Soldiers from both countries march in perfect drill, going through the steps of bringing down their respective national flags. As the sun goes down, nationalistic fervour rises and lights are switched on marking the end of the day amidst thunderous applause.

Tower of Baba Atal Rai
Also known as the Gurudwara Baba Atal Saheb, this octagonal nine-storied structure is a very popular place for the endearing story of a little child named Atal Rai. Born to Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, in 1619 CE, he was said to have been blessed with supernatural powers. 108 feet tower was built in 1778-1784 in memory of Baba Atal Rai. The nine storied architectural beauty is a significant landmark of the Amritsar city. The Baba Atal Rai Tower is not only a mere religious site but it has emerged as one of the favorite hangouts for the tourists. The panoramic sight atop the colossal tower is simply unparallel. One can see the whole town with a bird's eye view. The Baba Atal Rai Tower has more in store for its visitors. Miniature works depicting Guru Nanak's life adorns the first floor of the holy tower. Baba Atal's body was cremated at the spot where he had renounced it, and this nine-storied Memorial was built to commemorate the nine years that Baba Atal Rai lived. It is the highest point in the city and can be seen from afar.

Pul Kanjari
Pul Kanjari is a heritage village built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was a favourite halt for Maharaja Ranjit Singh while passing by with his troops. This fortress has a temple, gurudwara, mosque which shows the secular beliefs of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Serai Amanat Khan
The word Serai stands for "Inn". Serai Amanat Khan has hundreds of rooms used as a night stop for passerbys. There is a tomb of Amanat Khan surrounded by four minarets. There is a mosque with beautiful Persian verses displayed around. The Serai still has a ruined well with a attached "Bouli".

Jama Masjid Khairuddin
Built by Mohd. Khairuddin in 1876, this masjid is a place of architectural beauty situated in the Hall Bazar. This is the holy place from where a call against the British rule was given by Tootie-e-Hind, Shah Attaullah Bukhari.

Samadh of Shravan
About 6 Kilometres from Ajnala near Jastarwal (earlier known as Dashrathwal) is located one of the oldest heritage spots in Amritsar. It belongs to the Ramayana period a legend has it that Shravan lies buried here after being hit by the arrow of King Dashrath, the Lord of Ayodhya. The Samadh is situated on the banks of an old rivulet (Purani Dhab ).Shravan had taken his blind parents on a wide-ranging pilgrimage by cradling them on his shoulder in a wooden device.

The Historical Banyan Tree (Shaheedi Bohr)
This historical tree with massive girth and lushgreen canopy stands majestically in the Namdhari Shaheedi Samark against the majestic back drop of the northern boundary of Ram Bagh.Four Kookas were hanged from this tree by the British Government in 1871.The Kookas were hanged from this tree by the British Government in 1871 The Kookas were hanged because they had reacted violently against the hawking of beef around the Golden Temple.

Mata Lal Devi Mandir
Mata Mandir, situated at Rani ka Bagh was built to commemorate a bespectacled 20th century female Saint Lal Devi. In appearance, the shrine is similar to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple at Katra (Jammu). Mata Mandir is one of the largest Hindu pilgrim center , visited by large number of devotees from far and near specially by women wishing to have children.

A trip to Amritsar will give you an opportunity to explore the authentic beauties of the past as well as the present. Book your cheap flights to Amritsar with Oceans Travel and experience the colourful traditions and values of India. With regular flights from Birmingham to Amritsar, London Heathrow to Amritsar and all other major UK airports you will find a fantastic deal. Popular flights such as Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways fly to Amritsar. Don't miss out and book your cheap ticket to Amritsar with Oceans Travel.