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The city is characterized by some of the must visit religious, historical as well as contemporary sites of importance. The Golden Temple, where 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. Amritsar is also characterized by the hard working and warm-hearted people.
| Fast Facts |
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| Area |
114.95 sq. km |
| Population: |
7,08, 835 |
| Altitude: |
234 m |
| Languages: |
Punjabi, Hindi and English |
| Best time to visit: |
October-March |
| STD Code: |
0183 |
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History
Before Sikhism came into origin and the present city came to be known by Amritsar, legends has it that this was the place where, Luv and Kush, the twin sons of Lord Ram, got education and were taught the Ramayana by the learned sage Valmiki.
Today Amritsar is a historical place and a religious hub of the Sikhs. A major part of the city's history revolves around the Golden Temple. Guru Ram Das is supposed to have selected the villages of Tung, Gumtala and Sutanwind to lay the foundation of a new village, which would be a centre for the congregation of Sikhs. Initially, a tank was dug that was completed by Guru Arjan Dev. On the orders of Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das then built the Guru ka Chak or the Guru's residence. This House is now known as the Guru ke Mahal (guru's palace). Guru Arjan Dev then invited traders, artistes and craftsmen to settle down in at this place. The place came to be known as Ramdaspur at that time. Later on when the sacred tank (Amrit Sarovar) was completed, Ramdaspur was renamed Amritsar.
Before independence, Lahore, which is now a part of Pakistan, and Amritsar were the major educational centers of the country. The Hindu College, Khalsa College, DAV College and many other institutes in Amritsar still enjoy world fame.
Amritsar also has been a major centre of Indian independence struggle and the valorous people of the city actively participated in the freedom struggle. In AD 1947, the entire city of Amritsar strongly protested against the partitioning of Punjab between India and Pakistan and had to face riots and bloodshed for a long time that year.
Best Season, Climate, and Clothing:
The holy city of 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.
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