Amritsar City is one of Punjab´s principal
cities, dating back in history over 400 years.
It is known more for the world famous Golden Temple,
the seat of Sikh religion.Situated on the north-western
border of India, the city is also gateway for
the travelers on the overland route through Pakistan.
The Wagah border, which is the check-post is about
29 kms away. Amritsar literally means "the
pool of nectar", the name derived from a
pool constructed at the sacred site in the 16th
century, gifted by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to
Guru Ramdas, the fourth preceptor of the Sikh
faith.
Under instructions from Guru Amar Das Sahib, this
city was founded by Guru Ram Das Sahib in 1574,
on the land bought by him for an amount of rupees
700 from the owners of the village Tung. (Earlier
Guru Ram Das Sahib had begun building Santokhsar
Sarovar, near erstwhile village of Sultanwind
in 1564 {according to one source in 1570}. It
could not be completed before 1588). In 1574,
Guru Ram Das Sahib built his residence and moved
to this place. At that time, it was known as Guru-Da-Chakk.
(Later, it came to be known as Chakk Ram Das).
Guru Ram Das Sahib began excavation of the Amritsar
Sarovar (tank) in 1577. It was ready by 1581.
This tank was renovated by Guru Arjun Sahib in
1586. Since then this city is known as Amritsar
(after the name of the Sarovar). The foundation
of the Darbar Sahib had been laid by Guru Arjan
Sahib on January 3, 1588. (Later, it was propagated
that the foundation stone of Darbar Sahib was
laid by Sain Mian Mir, a Muslim holy man. Sain
Mian Mir was very friendly with Guru Sahib but
the foundation of Darbar Sahib was laid by Guru
Sahib himself). In 1590, Guru Arjan Sahib moved
to village Wadali where Guru Hargobind Sahib was
born on June 19, 1590. By 1601, the Darbar Sahib
was fully ready. In 1603-04, the first volume
of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scriptures, was
prepared in this city and was installed at Darbar
Sahib on August 16, 1604.
GOLDEN
TEMPLE
The
Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, situated
in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred
temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the
magnificence and strength of the Sikh people
all over the world. In the evolution of
the Darbar Sahib, is entwined the history
and ideology of Sikhism. In its architecture
are included, symbols associated with other
places of worship. This is an example of
the spirit of tolerance and acceptance that
the Sikh philosophy propounds.
The history of the Darbar Sahib starts with
Guru Amar Das, who took the first steps
towards building a shrine. Around the Golden
Temple, the holy city of Amritsar came into
being. His successor, Guru Ram Das, came
to live near this tranquil and peaceful
site, and started building the pilgrimage
centre
around the small pool, (later to become
the Sarowar) which had intially drawn Guru
Amar Das.
By the time of Guru Ram Das' death, the pre eminence
of the Darbar Sahib among the sikh devotees was
unquestionable.
The Harmandir Sahib, or the sanctum sanctorium,
was envisoned by Guru Arjan Dev. This was concieved
by him to reflect the resoluteness, clarity and
simplicity of the Sikh relegion. The Harmindir
Sahib today stands as the hallowed symbol of the
indestructability of the Sikh faith.
The gilding, marble, mirror and inlay work on
the Harmandir Sahib came much later. It was the
nineteenth century during the reign of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh, that the proud people of Punjab
lavished their wealth on their shrine in Amritsar.
The Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs,
was installed in the Harmandir Sahib in 1604,
three years after its completion. The location
of the Granth Sahib here, adds to the sanctity
& reverence of the Harmandir Sahib. Here lies
the heart of Sikhism. This symbol of abiding faith
and tolerance is held in high esteem by every
Sikh. And this is the place which every Sikh dreams,
ever so often, of visiting.
JALLIANWALA
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 Non-cooperation 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.
GOLDEN
TEMPLE
Situated
outside the Lohgarh Gate it is built after
the design of the Golden Temple and attracts
sages and scholars in Hindu scriptures from
all over India. The entrance to the Golden
Temple complex is through an ornate archway
with intricate inlay work. Verses from the
Granth Sahib are inscribed on the doorway
.The main north entrance is under a Victorian
clock tower. Known as the Darshani Deori,
the entrance is up a flight of steps and
down again to the temple and holy tank.
The temple is a two storey marble structure
reached by a causeway known as Guru´s
Bridge. The lower storey is in white marble
with the walls decorated with inlaid flower
and animal motifs in the pietradura style
of the Taj Mahal. The architecture of the
golden temple is a blend of the Hindu and
Muslim styles.
WAGHA
BORDER
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.
Beyond a
wired fence on one side was Hindustan. Beyond
a wired fence on the other side was Pakistan.
In the middle, there was a stretch of land
that had no name.
At 4.35 pm, Indian time, at 4.05 pm, Pakistan
time, a line that had separated two nations
bound by a common history; a line drawn
deep by time and an implacable hatred, was
breeched.
It was just a brief span of time, half an
hour at best, but one that will leave its
footprint on the subcontinent's history.
Wagha that has hitherto been synonymous
with division, suddenly became its very
opposite.
