Amritsar

Amritsar, 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 (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. Amritsar is home to the Religious Building important to Sikhs - The Golden Temple. Amritsar is an institution by itself. And the Golden Temple is the cradle of Amritsar with the city growing around it nurtured by its divine sanctity. Amritsar is one of the most sacred sikh religious sites in India.

Amritsar, derives its name from the Amrit Sarovar that surrounds the famous Golden Temple in the city. True to its name, the heart of the city is the temple complex, which is the holiest of Sikh shrines. The Golden Temple complex itself is surrounded by a maze of narrow lanes, or katras, that house one of the busiest markets in India. The city of Amritsar is a glittering showcase of compound traditions and secular culture. A thriving city with important devout centers and historical sites Amritsar exhibits a glorious past, magnificient present and a hopeful future. A significant city of Majha region, it has been entitled the prestigious title of the jewel of Punjab. A prosperous depository of national heritage and religion, it has been renowned as the abode of all merits.

Oral tradition dictates that the Muslim divine Pir Mian Mir of Lahore, at the request of the fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev, laid the temple's foundation stone. However, there is no record supporting this, not even in the biographies of Pir. The recorded account says that Guru Arjun Dev laid the foundation in 1588. The Guru's followers settled down in the neighborhood and a small town called Ramdaspur quickly came up, deriving its later name, Amritsar, from the holy tank that encircles the Hari Mandir, or the Darbar Sahib, now known as the Golden Temple.

Economy

The city is one of the major economic centres located on the main Grand Trunk Road. It is well connected to major cities across India through an extensive rail system and to the world through a state of the art international airport. Its excellent location and connectivity puts it on the fast track to becoming the regional gateway in near future. Amritsar is a city full of life. The people of the golden city; enjoy shopping, eating out, spending memorable moments together with friends and family and that truly represents the true spirit of Punjab.

Climate

Amritsar is one of the major cities of the state of Punjab. Climate of Amritsar is warm in weather with temperatures rising up to 43 'C in summer and in winter the temperatures go down up to anywhere between 4 'C to 10 'C. The best season to visit the city is during the months of October till April. The climate of the district is characterized by general dryness except in the brief south –west monsoon season, a hot summer and bracing winter . The year may be divided in four seasons. The cold season is from November to march. The period from April to June is the hot season. The south-west monsoon season is from about the beginning of July to the first week of September. The succeeding period lasting till the beginning of November is the post-monsoon or transition period .

Places to visit

Golden Temple
Durgiana Temple
Ram Thirth
Jallianwala Bagh
Fort Gobind Garh
Tarn Taran