No matter how intense the temptation for street food in Amritsar is, it is the faith that scores over the fare - with due respect to Amritsari naans, kebabs and the famous Amritsari fish. For the religiously inclined good food is a bonus while the gourmand takes temple just an excuse to tickle his taste buds.
History
Like any other holy city in India, Amritsar has its share of history, pain and joy. The story of the city began some 505 years ago, when a man known for its nobleness and compassion landed here at an ancient tank. This man was none other than the first Sikh Guru – Nanak Dev. Later Amar Dass, the third Guru moved Sikh Headquarters from Goindwal and set base here. But it was Ram Dass, the fourth in line among the Sikh Gurus who was instrumental in giving shape to the city. However, Arjan Dev, the fifth guru conceived the temple in the middle of the tank on an artificial island. The foundation of the Harmandir Sahib was laid by one Pir Mian Mir of Lahore on the request of Arjan Dev. The holy book of the Sikh - Adi Granth Sahib – was first installed here on August 16, 1604.
The location of the tank was so that the travelers between Lahore and Delhi would pass through the shrine. Soon, the city grew in popularity and settlements came up around the holy place. But it was not until the early 19th century that Amritsar got its due. In 1802 Maharaja Ranjit Singh took control of the town and marched towards the centre of the pool throwing gold coins at the crowd, he took a dip and made a promise that would give the temple another name - the Golden Temple. He ordered that the Harmandir Sahib be rebuilt in marble and covered with gold leaf.
The scars of tragic events
Amritsar had its share of anguish. Apart from the pain of partition, two major tragic incidents plagued its history. The first was in 1919, when on 13 April General Reginald Dyer - a British Officer – opened fire on an unarmed gathering in Jalianwala Bagh killing thousands of people. The 2nd is more recent one, hardly 23 years ago, when during Operation Bluestar in 1984 the Army marched to the temple complex to flush out Bhindrawale, who led the movement of an independent of Sikh nation.
The peace and calm afterwards
After big blow to the faith inflicted by the Operation Bluestar and years of militancy, Amritsar today is a peaceful place to travel. A pilgrim’s refuge and a gourmand’s delight; the city of Golden Temple promises a tour for the soul and palate in the heart of Punjab.
Useful Info on Amritsar
How to reach Amritsar: It is 234 km from Chandigarh and 445 km from Delhi. The city is well connected by air, rail and road transport. Raja Sansi Airport is 11 km from the city centre. Amritsar Junction is well connected to major cities of the country. Amritsar Shatabbdi is one of the convenient trains that connect Delhi and Amritsar. Mumbai is connected by Golden Temple and Dadar-Amritsar Express trains; and Amritsar-Howrah connects Kolkata (Calcutta) and Amritsar.
When to Go: Like most parts of the northern India, Amritsar too can be best seen from October to March. Temperatures range from 34° C to 15°C in summers and in winter it varies between 18°C and 0°C.