What are Popular Festivals in Amritsar?

Festivals of Amritsar reflects to the vibrant cultural and the traditional extravaganza. The festivals of Amritsar are connected to the different religious and the mythical significance. The festivals of the Amritsar are renowned by the excited citizens of the city. It is a perfect place to celebrate a holiday. You will reveal your own inner spirit there after taking cheap Amritsar flights. Amritsar is not much popular for festivals but its festivals are worth attending. People love to attend these festivals and buy different local items. Among many a few popular festivals including as follow.

Ram Tirath Fair: This is considered as the significant religious event of the city. This fair is organized at place which is known as the Ram Tirath. It is held on full moon day in the month of November every year. It is a four to five day event.  From the city centre of the Amritsar this place is located at a distance of the 11 km. This place is considered as the pilgrimage site for the Punjab at which the fair took place. Visitors frequently take cheap flights to Amritsar from UK. During the event pilgrims take bath in the water of sacred tank which is believed to be dug by Hanuman. Pilgrims come in the morning to attend the fair. The most attractive feature of fair you would like to attend after taking cheap flights to Amritsar is the songs and hymns with lamps floating into tank by women, which is believed to wash off all the sins.

Basant Panchami: This is a festival which stands as the important one in the district. This festival is more famously celebrated at the Gurudwara of the Chheharta Sahib which hosts the festival with the suitable support by the local community. The major attraction of the event visitors taking flights to Amritsar like the most is the competition of kite flying. Which is very old tradition related with this festival. This fair starts early morning and continues till late night.  The Bhandara is also held during this festival where the visitor can have the lunch which is free.

Diwali at Golden Temple: It is the most popular Sikh tradition to celebrate Diwali. All people in general and Sikh particularly take flights to Amritsar India to join this festival. This event is also known as Bandhi Chod Diwas in Sikh History. It is celebrated in the second half of October or November at Golden Temple. It is a festival of lighting the temple and its surroundings are illuminated with a chain of colourful lights. Every year huge crowds of tourists take cheap flights to Amritsar India from UK.

Guru Purab: It is one of the important festivals of Amritsar. Every year two of the festival takes place. One is celebrated in the month of the November when it is the birthday of the Guru Nanak Devji and the other one is celebrated in the month of the January when it is the birthday of the Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Both the festivals are celebrated with the great enthusiasm and the energy. The langars are organized free of cost at the time of Guru Purab. Every year enormous crowds of tourists take cheap flights to Amritsar India from UK to join this festival.

About Punjab

Punjab the land of five rivers and integrated cultural history is a treasure trove for an avid tourist. For this land of the great Gurus not only boasts old ancient monuments but throbs with historical embodiments. It is no secret that whoever comes to this land of yellow fields with blue mountains providing the romantic and picturesque backdrops has never gone back without imbibing the essences of Punjab. There is no dearth of breathtaking palaces. Since this state borders Pakistan, there are two main posts from which you can peep into the land that was once an integral part of Punjab and experience the feelings of the people separated by a line.

The much truncated India’s portion of present Punjab is divided into three natural regions: the Majha, the Doaba and the Malwa.

MALWA REGION
Malwa is a region of Punjab and parts of Haryana between the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. This Malwa should not be confused with the Malwa Plateau region of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Sikhs of Malwa are known for being great fighters and warriors during the era of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Malwa area makes up majority of the Punjab region consisting 11 districts, and has the most fertile land. Cities such as Ludhiana, and Mohali located in the Malwa region are the richest cities, and are the most expensive places to live in the Punjab State. Ludhiana is the business centre of Punjab and is also referred as the Manchester of Punjab. Also the city is home to Punjab Agricultural University the best in all of Asia. Malwa is also home to many NRI residents mostly from the Ludhiana, Sangrur, Moga, Barnala, and Bathinda districts. Ferozepur, which was the biggest district and a metro city before the division of India and Pakistan, also comes in Malwa region which is famous for its Patriotism as well as Martyrdom and also for the yield of best quality of wheat and paddy in the world. The Malwa region has been controlling the political power in Punjab for decades.

Malwa comprises 10(parts of some) of the twenty districts of Punjab. Districts in Malwa include:
 Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Ropar, and Sangrur.

The people of the region are known as Malwais. The dialect of Punjabi spoken in Malwa is called Malwais. During the Mughal era, Malwa was known as Sirhind, since it consisted of the city by that name. Sirhind was the headquarters or the Mughal administration in Eastern Punjab. The city was also the headquarters of the Mujaddidiya branch of the Naqshbandiyya Order of Sufism. Malwa, like the rest of the province, was also the scene of many clashes between the Mughals, the Sikhs, the Afghans, the Marathas and the British.

DOABA REGION
Doaba is the region of Indian Punjab surrounded by the rivers Beas and Sutlej. The name "Doaba" literally translates to "land of two rivers" ("Do" two, "Ab" river; Punjabi). It is one of the most fertile regions of the world, and was the centre of the Green Revolution in India.

Scheduled castes form more than 35% of the population in Doaba. This area is also called the NRI (Non Resident Indians) Hub of the Punjab as many people from this region reside outside India.

Historically Doaba has been the residence of 'Sanadh' and 'Sodhi' communities. Guru [Govind Singh] Ji during his visit to Sanadh region got favorable adds by Sanadh community.

The biggest cities in Doaba are Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Desha, Phagwara, Banga and Nakodar.

MAJHA REGION

Majha is a historical region of the Punjab comprising the modern districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran in the Indian State of Punjab and the districts of Lahore and Kasur in the Pakistani Province of Pakistan. Historically, Majha comprised the older settled parts of the Bari Doab (in particular Sheikhupura) and the Rechna Doab (in particular, Gujranwala), the newer settled parts belonging to the canal colonies. Major towns in the region include Amritsar, Batala, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Tarn Taran Sahib. The largest part of Majha called the Bari Doab. It lies between two of the five great rivers of the Punjab: the Ravi and the Sutlej. As such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region. No wonder then, that one meaning of Majha is 'the central plains' or 'the central country'. The people of Majha are known as 'Majhis' or 'Majhis'. The Majhi dialect of Punjabi is the basis of standard Punjabi.

Shopping in Mumbai (Maharashtra)

Shopping in Mumbai is a memorable experience as you wander through its Bazaars with striking names like Chor Bazar, Crawford Market, The Mangaldas Market, Fashion Street, Flora Fountain, Mutton Street and Zaveri Bazar. At Chor Bazar you'll find a phenomenal collection of antiques, jewellery, wooden articles, leatherware and general bric-a-brac.

Crawford Market
Also known as Mahatma Jyothiba Phule Market named after a local patriot, the old Victorian building is located north of the Victoria Terminus station. Built in 1869, it used to be the city's wholesale produce market. Just above the main entrance there is a bas-relief designed by Lockyard Kipling, father of Rudyard Kipling depicting workers in a wheat field. The market has interesting varieties of fresh produce at wholesale rates- fruits and vegetables, a meat section, imported cheese, chocolate etc. There is a bazaar area Lohar chawl across the street with an extensive range of goods. Nearby is Kiplings' cottage where Rudyard was born.

The Mangaldas Market
The Mangaldas Market is the largest indoor cloth and dress material market in Mumbai. There are hundreds of stalls where you can buy beautiful material from the finest silk saris to raw cotton.

Chor Bazar (Thieves Market)
Chor Bazar is a paradise for the antique hunter. It is arguably one of Mumbai's best shopping centers. This much talked about market in Mumbai occupied by an odd collection of shops deals with goods from second hand car parts to handmade furniture. One can buy good painting, jewellery, wooden articles, statues, leather ware and general bric-a-brac, silver coins and lots of other things from here. There are a number of shops where bargain is possible. The main avenue is Mutton Street, flanked by rows of little antique shops.

Zaveri Bazar (Jewellery Market)Zaveri Bazar offers a range of jewellery in diamond, gold and silver. The market is crowded and bursting at the seams. Napkin rings, picture frames, snuff boxes, bangles and necklaces in old silver can be purchased for reasonable prices. This is where the Mumbai's bullion exchange and diamond market used to be, though it is now primarily a retail centre. Mumbadevi temple is nearby.

Fashion Street
Fashion Street, also knows as FS is very famous for its readymade garments. It has at least 130 to 140 shops. You can see the latest fashion trends here, and casual wear is probably the cheapest anywhere in the world. It is a very popular area with college students and teenagers. The clothes are usually surplus exports and therefore are of very good quality and make. There are also several shoe and jewellery shops and anything else you can think of.

Flora FountainAll around the square sit Mumbai's infamous vendors selling just about everything from cheap nylon saris and ballpoint pens to herbal remedies.

The World Trade Center
The World Trade Center at Cuffe Parade is one of the main shopping centers in Mumbai. It has a huge number of state government emporiums, textile and carpet shops.

Central Cottage Industries Emporium
Central Cottage Industries Emporium where you can buy everything, ranging from the latest fashion in Bombay, handicrafts, consumer or electronic equipments, paintings, engineering innovations etc.

Mumbai Tourist Attractions (Maharashtra)

Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is the main attraction of Mumbai city. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. Situated at the Apollo Bunder, the gateway holds greater historical significance as the last of the British troops that left India by sea, marched through its portals. The monument is complete with four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. You can also go for a short cruise through Mumbai's natural harbour in one of the little motor launches that are stationed here.

Mani Bhawan
Mani Bhawan is one of the important places to visit in Mumbai. Presently functioning as a Gandhi memorial, it used to be the Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It is from this famous house No. 19, called Mani Bhawan, that Gandhiji was arrested in 1932. This two storied building houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo feature on the Mahatma's life, some memorabilia, an old Gandhiji's charkha and a film and recording archive. A minimum entry fee is required to get into the Mani Bhawan.
 

Prince of Wales Museum
The Prince of Wales museum is another major attraction of Mumbai. Built in the year 1914, it is surrounded by a beautiful landscape forming an ideal getaway for the people of Mumbai. The museum houses art, sculpture, rare coins, and old firearms and a priceless collection of miniature paintings. The Prince of Wales museum is regarded as one of the best museums in the country.

Marine Drive
A stroll down the Marine Drive is the best way to discover Mumbai. This winding stretch of road with tall buildings on one side and sea on the other extends from Nariman Point to Malabar Hills. Due to its curved shape and many street lights, it was once called the Queen's Necklace. A popular sea front, Marine Drive is also the main thoroughfare linking for the Malabar Hills to the southernmost points of Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Nariman Point, and the Fort.

Juhu

Nicknamed as the uptown bourgeois paradise, Juhu Beach is a place that attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year. Characterised by walkers, screaming children and courting couples, the beach covers an area of about 5 kilometres. Juhu beach is attractively studded with many five star hotels offering the customers a splendid view of the coast. The beach remains noticeably crowded on weekends. Moreover, the beach activities like camel rides, pony rides, acrobats, performing monkeys and entertainers will keep you enthralled all the time. Keep away from hawkers.

Hanging Gardens

The Hanging Gardens makes another must see site in Mumbai. The park was built during the early 1880s over Mumbai's main reservoir at the top of the Malabar Hills. The reason of its location being to cover the water from the potentially contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of Silence. Located just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park, this terraced garden, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Garden, is famous among the locals as well as tourists. The garden provides lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea.

Kamla Nehru Park

Kamla Nehru park, located at the top of Malabar Hills is another site to visit in Mumbai. Overlooking the Marine Drive, the park houses "Old Woman's Shoe", wonderfully cut hazes and roomy walkaways. Moreover, the park also provides you a spectacular view of the city and the sunset. The Kamla Nehru park also makes a favourite gateway for the locals here.

Chowpatty

Another sandy gateway of Mumbai is the Chowpatty beach in the suburbs of the city. Chowpatty is perhaps the most famous beach of Mumbai, characterised by the usual hustle and bustle of stallwalahs, people snoozing under the shade of its stunted trees, screaming kids, Ferris wheels, pony rides, wayside astrologers, monkey shows, and even the odd self-styled gymnast demonstrating their skill for a fee. Moreover, the bhelpuri shops and sometimes the film shoot or a street play also adds to the festive atmosphere of the beach. A beach of action, Chowpatty makes a must visit in Mumbai.

Aarey Milk Colony

One of the most modern milk colonies in the world is Aarey Milk colony of Mumbai. Located at a distance of 32 kilometres from main Mumbai city, it falls on the main Ghodbunder Road. Aarey makes a must visit in Mumbai not only for its sophisticated dairy and the many well fed cows but also for its surrounding natural beauty. A visit to the observation pavilion here on a hill near the colony's entrance also gives you an enchanting view of the surrounding areas. But the main feature of the colony is the 4000 acres of parkland with fine gardens. You can also try the fresh milk and snacks in the colony's canteen here.

Tower of Silence

A peculiar site to visit in Mumbai is the Tower of Silence. Mumbai has a large number of Parsi population. The Parsis have the custom of leaving their dead in the open. These particular places are called "Towers of Silence", where the vultures come to eat the dead. For the Parsis, this is regarded as the final act of charity. Mumbai's Towers of Silence, have virtually disappeared today. Only a handful remain that attract a considerable number of tourists every year.

Jain Temple

Jain temple of Mumbai also makes the interesting place to visit in the city. Located on the Malabar Hill, the Jain temple houses frescoes depicting various events in the lives of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras.

Places to visit in Amritsar

Akal Takht
The fabulous Akal Takht building is made of a spectacular five storeys – all complete with white marble, and sporting an amazing gold roof at the top. With such a breath-taking and rare sight, the Akal Takht is, indeed, one of the top attractions in the city.
The Akal Takht is a building that Amritsar takes great pride in, and rightfully so. It was damaged once in 1984, and instantly rebuilt to the glorious sight it is today. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, the Akal Takht is important due to its grand religious significance.
Visit today for this splendid view, and get an up-close look at the spiritual and touching rituals performed here for the public! The sights are unforgettable, and the practised ritual will leave you speechless. Peaceful, historical and cultural – the defining words of Akal Takht.

Amrit Sarovar
The Amrit Sarovar is the large, clear, pure water that is surrounding the Golden Temple. It is famously known for the amazingly spiritual essence about it. Standing at the edge and looking into this great pool, you can clearly see the mirror image of the Golden Temple itself.
The Amrit Sarovar offers an amazing opportunity for the massive amount of tourists it collects. To spread the immense feeling of holiness and cleanliness, it has sections marked off for travelers wanting to bathe and dip into this smooth pool.
This important monument is guaranteed to grace you with its holy and spiritual qualities. Make a trip to the Amrit Sarovar today, and enjoy the endless possibilities of this great opportunity. Some of the most renowned people in the world have entered these waters.

Central Sikh Museum
The Central Sikh Museum is located in a wonderful spot – right outside the Golden Temple! With the many adventures to be found here, as well as the incredible views, the Central Sikh Museum attracts many kinds of travelers.
Constructed in 1958, the Central Sikh Museum houses an abundance of religious memorabilia, tying in perfectly the motif with the temple situated just outside. The pristinely preserved items tell the story of the Sikh history – your curiosity is bound to be sky-high as you travel from room to room.
Enjoy this fine collection of paintings depicting Sikh saints, warriors and powerful leaders. The display of priceless coins, documents and much more are absolutely outstanding. Explore the Central Sikh Museum to its fullest. There’s a lot to be seen, and even more to be learned.

Durgiana Temple
The Durgiana Temple is dedicated to the famous Goddess Durga, and represents the Hindu faith. Visitors are highly intrigued by the use of architecture here – it is often referred to as the "Silver Temple" of Amritsar, due to the replicated pattern of the Golden Temple, and the use of silver on its stunningly carved doors.
The entrance is welcoming, and continues to draw in visitors of all faiths, beliefs and backgrounds. The Durgiana Temple is part of a very exciting complex, containing amazing features of history here, such as the Bara Hanuman and Sita Mata temples. Merely exploring the grounds will have you lost in another world – not to mention era.
Replicating the Golden Temple has been the main cause for the important visitors, such as sages, priests and Hindu scholars from all over the world – but upon reaching the Durgiana Temple, you see that it has a personality entirely of its own. Visit today, and feel the uplifting spirit reach your heart, too – as it has done with many others.

Golden Temple
The Golden Temple, also known as the "Harmandir Sahib," is world acknowledged for being the holiest Sikh shrine in the entire city. This temple is the most major destination for travelers with culture, history and spiritual curiosity from all corners of the world.
This tourist attraction has reached the peak of fame, and continues to draw in people with its utterly sacred and holy appearance. The liveliness of the community in respects to the rituals that are performed here on a regular basis allows all under its roof to feel a sense of belonging.
The Golden Temple’s rich, lavish architectural marvel also adds to the powerful greatness of its existence. This sacred attraction is open to all visitors – take advantage of it by visiting today.

Jallianwala Bagh
The Jallianwala Bagh is a hugely historical piece, of large value to the city. This memorial was created to pay respects to the lives of thousands of innocent people in the community. The massacre took place on April 13th of 1919, a day that will forever be remembered by the people – especially when visiting the touching, beautiful Jallianwala Bagh.
The Jallianwala Bagh is a lovely, peaceful community garden, with remnants of the innocent victims located artistically all throughout. Located within the vicinity of the Golden Temple, everyone who visits has said they can feel the holiness and calmness wash over them.
The Jallianwala Bagh is a massive piece of history for this glorious town. Explore the beautiful garden walls, the lavishly grown flowers, and most importantly – the commemoration of the souls. You will truly feel touched by the spirit shown here.
　

Information about India

India, officially the Republic of India, has different names in several languages spoken in the country, as its name in Hindi language "Bharat". India is the largest country in the Subcontinent, located in the south of Asia, is the seventh largest country by geographical area in the world, the second most populous country, and the largest democracy of the world. India shares borders to the West with Pakistan, to the North with China and Nepal, to the North-East with Bhutan, to the East with Bangladesh and Myanmar, and to the south with the Indian Ocean.

The country is home of the oldest civilization, the Indus Valley civilization, in fact, the center of the civilization was situated in the province of Sindh, Pakistan, and counts with about 5000 years of glorious history. The history maybe began with the civilization settled along the Indus River, around 2500 B.C., later the Moghuls maintained effective control of the country from 1520s to until the mid 18th century, influx in the culture, architecture, etc. After, British took the control of the whole of the subcontinent, and around the 1880s the country gets its independence, until Mahatma Gandhi began the policy of non-cooperation with the British. And now India is the most populous liberal democracy in the world.

But India is not only history, the rich and exuberance culture of the country is manifested in different forms. India also is a secular state because there is professed several religions as the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Zoroastrian and others. Maybe it is the most multicultural country in the world with 18 official languages and about 1652 dialects. Its principal languages are English and Hindi.

The country is very rich in architecture, the influence of the Mughals, British and other cultures made of the country an exquisite place to appreciate the example of the most exquisite architecture. The most representative monument is the Taj Mahal which in the 2007 was declared as one of the New Seven Wonders of the modern world, and is certainly a beautiful building of the Mughal age. But India also has many monuments such as Forts in the desert, palaces of the European style, Mughal palaces, Hindu temples, temples of other religions, Churches, and gardens.

India is the country of contrasts, from highest Himalayas in the north, to the beautiful beaches in the south, you can find different places to see and enjoy, such as the desert of Rajasthan, the jungle and wild life in West Bengal, the backwaters in Kerala, the mountains of tea plantations, and many beautiful places. Other attraction are the cities and peculiar towns, such as Jaipur called the Pink City, Udaipur called the City of Lakes, Jodhpur or the Blue City, Calcutta the City of Joy, Mumbai or well called Bollywood by its film industry. To finish the Indian festivals are several and colorful, you can see almost one in any week through the year all very fun and joy.

Amritsar Eating Out

Amritsar Hotels
Amritsar is a holy city symbolizing Sikhism in India. You will find the major residents and market owners to be Sikhs. Not only in the people, you will also get to see an Indian-Punjabi touch in the food and cuisines
There are many restaurants in Amritsar offering you several kinds of foods and dishes. But when you go to Amritsar, the langar at the Golden Temple is a must visit for all people. "Langar" is the food served in the Golden Temple in the main dining hall, for free.

They do not take any charges from you or from the local people.

When you enter in the hall plates and spoons are handled to you at the gate and you need to find a vacant spot in the crowd to get the food. The taste of this food is unmatched with any family restaurant in Amritsar
You cannot afford to miss this opportunity once you visit Amritsar.

Delicious Food Available In Family Restaurants
There are many family restaurants in Amritsar, near to main markets and shopping complexes. At the corner of the Bhandari Bridge is the Country Inn and Suites where you can get excellent Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisines. However, while visiting to Punjab you should taste the Punjab food which is a specialty over here.

Many restaurants in Amritsar like New Punjabi Rasoi, Kesar da dhaba and Bubby Dhaba offer you a very good Punjabi food and south Indian dishes like masala dosa.

Most of these are vegetarian restaurants in Amritsar as they are made near to the Golden Temple.
Being a holy place for Sikhs, they do not prefer selling no veg near the temple area. But you will enjoy the vegetarian food at "The Brothers or Bharavans" located just next to Golden Temple.

Coffee and Snacks
When looking for some snacks like Pizza, burgers and some beverages there are few options available like Oka Café which is basically a coffee shop. It also has arrangements for lunch and snacks as well
Another snacks bar near to it is My Kind of place which also provides Indian and Continental food.

Amritsar has very few non vegetarian restaurants and almost none near to the Golden Temple. Hotel Raj Darbar can be a recommended for non veg restaurant in Amritsar near to the Sarai market.
The official American chain of Pizza hut can also be found at a few kilometers from the Golden Temple. You can get local auto rickshaws, which are well known about the place and will take only Rs.20-30 to take you there.

Amritsar (Golden Temple) India

Amritsar (pronounced Um-rit-sir), meaning the "holy pool of nectar" is one of the major cities in the state of Punjab. It is one of the most ancient and fascinating cities of India. The legend 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, before Sikhism came into existence and present city came to be known as Amritsar. The city was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas. With the respect of the pilgrims that pulls into Amritsar, the city has become the symbol of Sikhism. Today, Amritsar has evolved as a historical place and a religious hub of the Sikhs. A major part of the city's history revolves around the Golden Temple, which is the prime and distinct attraction in Amritsar.

Tourist Attractions
The Golden TempleSri Harimandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple is named after Hari(God) the temple of God. Sikhs from all over the world come here to pay their reverence to Guru Granth Sahib and take a dip in the Amrit Saras Kund for spiritual purification. The Golden Temple is the major landmark of the place. Founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, the Golden Temple is a two storey marble structure, with an imposing dome of pure gold.

Jalianwala Bagh Jalianwala Bagh reminds us of the brutal killing of the innocent people on April 13, 1919 by general Dyer, a British general. The mass massacre took lives of over 2000 unarmed people, who gathered there for meeting. This garden commemorates the martyrs, keeping the tragic episode in its historical context. Today, this site of brutal massacre, encloses a memorial with an eternal flame, dedicated to the martyrs

Durgiana TempleLocated outside the Lohagarh gate of the old city, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is a centre of pilgrimage for devout Hindus. Other attractions of the city are Baba Atal Rai Tower, Ram Bagh garden, Fatehabad Mosque, Tarn Taran, Harike Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, Wagha Border.

Tarn Tartan24 kilometer south of Amritsar is Tarn-Taran-a town founded by Sri Guru Arjun Dev in 1590. The Gurudwara got constructed by the Guru stands on the side of a large tank. Fairs are held here on every 'Amavas' dark night of the month, birth anniversaries of the Gurus, Baisakhi and Diwali.

Akal TakhatSixth Guru Sri Har Gobind had got it constructed as a seal of temperal authority symbolising the unity of spiritual and temporal life in 1609.

Tower of Baba Atal RaiBuilt in the memory of Baba Atal Rai, son of Sri Har Gobind Ji, this octagonal nine-storeyed structure about 50 meters high has several beautiful frescos on its walls, relating to the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Khalsa College & Guru Nanak Dev University

Khalsa College, Amritsar was founded in 1892 and built on grand scale in typical Sikh architecture, its distinguished alumni; sportsmen, servicemen, administrators, professionals, fill up India's compilations of Who's Who. On a part of its land a new University called Guru Nanak Dev University was established at Amritsar. Soon it has become distinguished for starting modern curricula and has etched its name on the sports map of India.

There are a number of cotton, woollen and art silk textile factories besides other industries dealing with electric goods, sewing machines, auto parts, carpets in Amritsar. The milk processing plant at Verka about 6 kms. from Amritsar is the second biggest project of its kind in the country. Amritsar is India's leading exporter of goods to the Middle-East, leading distribution centre of dry fruits, tea and condiments. Amritsar is a shopper's paradise and a gourmet's delight. It is world's leading centre of Punjabi publications.

Shopping in Delhi

Delhi is known as shopper's paradise. You can find anything you are thinking of to buy in Delhi. Fabrics or readymade garments, gems or jewelry, accessories or footwear, furniture or crockery and sports equipments or electronic gadgets, you will find the best product while shopping in Delhi. Whether you are shopping for a designer label, a branded product or local made stuff, there are places for all these in Delhi. Enjoy shopping in air-conditioned malls without worrying about scorching heat and sweat or on roadside malls bargaining to your best of ability.

Connaught Place is the first place that comes into the mind when thinking about shopping in Delhi. The big showrooms are attractively decorated with their products such as shoes, garments, toys, household appliances, ornaments and cosmetics both of Indian and international brands. There are cinema hall and some very good restaurants and fast food outlets if you want some entertainment, relaxation and good food after a shopping spree.

In the vicinity of Connaught Place is the National Cottage Emporium in the Jawahar Bhawan in Janpath. It is a huge building complex where several sections displays items like clothes, dress material, jewelry, footwear, accessories, draperies, bed linens, furniture, decorative items and souvenirs. It is a government run showroom, so the quality and price of the items is guaranteed. Baba Kharak Singh Marg, also in the vicinity of Connaught Place, is lined with all the state emporiums where you can find the specialty products of each state along with items like fabrics, saris, dress material, bed linens and decorative items.

If you are shopping for designer labels or imported brands in clothes, dress materials, jewelry and shoes and also want an up market ambiance, then the markets of South Extension and Greater Kailash-I are the right places to check out. Shopping for designer wears made by Indian designers is available at the Hauz Khas Village Complex or Mehrauli Designer's Complex.

If shopping for marriage of a son or a daughter, then you could not afford to miss a visit to Karol Bagh. It is probably the biggest market for shopping of wedding trousseau. Whether it the heavy saris, designer suits, dress material or gold jewelry, you will feel satisfied only in this market

If you are looking for some smart casual wears that are latest in fashion but reasonable in prices, then you can explore the fashion markets of Janpath, Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar. Whether you are looking for readymade casuals, bags, shoes or jewelry, you will find the best in the prices that you could afford in these markets.

Chandni Chowk is mother of all markets in Delhi. Here you will find a wide variety at really low prices from any where in Delhi but you will have to walk a lot in order to search for what you are looking for. Check out the saris, suits, dress materials, readymade garments, furnishing, utensils, books, stationeries, jewelry and spices at Chawri Bazaar, Nai Sarak, Katra Neel, Katra Asharfi, Batashe Wali Gali and Fathepuri. Besides shopping, the added attraction of Chandni Chowk are the old and famous eating joints selling Indian chaats, like gol guppas, tikkis, dahi bhallas, aloo chaats, aloo kulle, paranthe, jalebi and several other eatables.

Dilli Haat near AIIMS flyover has become a popular shopping mart over the years. The stalls are given to various skilled artists from different states to exhibit and sale their handicrafts such as jute products, cane items, regional paintings, period furniture, regional paintings, rugs and carpets, ethnic printed dress material and decorative objects. Here you will also fin various food stalls representing all the states of India and you can try the culinary specialties of these states.
On a whole, shopping in Delhi is an extremely pleasurable activity and is but just one of the fascinating ways of understanding the pluri-cultural and pluri- ethic capital city of India.

Places to Vist in Delhi

Delhi is one of the most historic capitals in the world and two of its monuments- the Qutb Minar and Humayun's Tomb - have been declared World Heritage Sites. It offers a multitude of interesting places and attractions to the visitor, so much so that it becomes difficult to decide from where to begin exploring the city.

Rashtrapati Bhawan
Modern Delhi, or New Delhi as it is called, centres around the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is architecturally a very impressive building standing at a height, flowing down as it were to India Gate. This stretch called the Rajpath is where the Republic Day parade is held. The imposing plan of this area conceived by Lutyens does not fade in its charm with the numerous summers or winters that go past.

India Gate
India Gate is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi. The impressive colonial architecture of India Gate is a symbol of modern Delhi. The beautiful stone arch was built by the British in honor of Indian soldiers killed in World War I. Here you will also find the 'Amar Javan Jyoti', which is a permanent flame in honor of the Indian soldiers who died in wars since 1918.

Laxminarayan Temple
Also called the Birla Mandir, the Laxminarayan Temple was built by the Birla family in 1938. It is a temple with a large garden and fountains behind it. The temple attracts thousands of devotees on Janmashtami day, the birthday of Lord Krishna.

Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's wife, Hamida Begum, built this monument in Delhi in the year 1556. The tomb is set on a platform amidst a garden and is believed to have influenced the design of the Taj Mahal. The structure of the tomb is as magnificent as the Taj Mahal in Agra. The splendor of this grand monument becomes overpowering on entering through the lofty double storied gateway. The fountains with simple yet highly developed engineering skills enhance the beauty of the garden.

Qutab Minar
The Qutab Minar is located at a small village called Mehrauli in South Delhi. It was built by Qutb-ud-din Aybak of the Slave Dynasty, who took possession of Delhi in 1206. It is a fluted red sandstone tower, which tapers up to a height of 72.5 metres and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the holy Qur'an. Qutb-ud-din Aybak began constructing this victory tower as a sign of Muslim domination of Delhi and as a minaret for the Muslim priest, the muezzin, to call the faithful to prayer. However, only the first storey was completed by Qutb-ud-din. The other storeys were built by his successor Iltutmish. The two circular storeys in white marble were built by Ferozshah Tughlaq in 1368, replacing the original fourth storey.

Red Fort
When one approaches old Delhi with a somewhat Westernised perception the emotional response can range from wonderment to bewilderment, from utter disgust to ecstasy. Undoubtedly, Old Delhi gives an insight into the multi-layered identity that so aptly characterizes India. The red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort (Lal Qila) rise 33m (108ft) above the clamour of 'Old' Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Moghul emperors. The fort's main gate, the Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern Indian nation and attracts a major crowd each Independence Day.

Raj Ghat
On the bank of the legendary Yamuna, which flows past Delhi, there is Raj Ghat-the last resting place of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. It has become an essential point of call for all visiting dignitaries. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are situated nearby.

Lotus Temple
Known in India as the "Lotus Temple", the Baha'i House of Worship attracts an average of three and a half million visitors a year.The Baha'i Temple, situated in South Delhi, is shaped like a lotus. It is an eye-catching edifice worth exploring. Built by the Baha'i community, it offers the visitor a serenity that pervades the temple and its artistic design.

Jantar mantar
The various abstract structures within the Jantar Mantar are, in fact, instruments that were used for keeping track of celestial bodies. Yet, Jantar Mantar is not only a timekeeper of celestial bodies, it also tells a lot about the technological achievements under the Rajput kings and their attempt to resolve the mysteries regarding astronomy.

The Rail Museum
Its vintage displays include the oldest locomotive in the world-still working; the Viceregal Dining Car (1889) and the Prince of Wales Saloon (1875), Maharaja of Mysore's Saloon (1899), Maharaja of Baroda's Saloon (1886). The royal saloons are definitely worth a look for the elaborate interior design.