Amritsar
It is the home of the world famous Golden Temple founded by Guru Ramdas, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, in the year 1579. Amritsar is the nucleus of Sikhism. Diwali, Baisakhi, Basant and Gurparabs are the main festivals celebrated in Amritsar. Amritsar is the gateway for travellers coming to India by land from Pakistan.
JALIANWALA BAGH is the site that hundreds of people were shot down by General Dyer. This brutal massacre of over 2000 innocent unarmed people, on the orders of a British General Dayar on April 13, 1919, highlights the atrocities performed by the British on Indians. It is a memento of the Freedom Struggle..
WAGHA BORDER is another place of interest about 30 kms from Amritsar that people visit in large numbers to witness the lowering down of the flags of both countries (India & Pakistan) at the sunset. This Post, where a special parade is organized to lower the flags simultaneously from the flags’ poles in the evening, beams with activity. The flag lowering ceremony, better known as the ‘Retreat’ is performed everyday, shortly before sunset, by Border Security Force (BSF) Jawans on the Indian side, and Pakistan Rangers on the other side. For the people of both the countries, it is a major event and hundred of Pak and Indian nationals assemble at their respective sides to watch the parade.
