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Amritsar

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Amritsar is a very large and busy city in Punjab, India.

Map of Amritsar with the locations of Sikh sites labelled, as published in the Mahan Kosh (1930)
Map of Amritsar with the locations of Sikh sites labelled, as published in the Mahan Kosh (1930)

It sits in a region called Majha. The city is located north-west of Chandigarh and New Delhi. It is also near the border with Pakistan.

Amritsar is a major center for culture and trade. It is the economic capital of the state of Punjab. The city is a huge place for travelers. Nearly one hundred thousand people visit every single day.

The city is famous for its special landmarks and food. The most important place is the Golden Temple. This is the holiest site for people who follow Sikhism.

Hamandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
Hamandir Sahib (Golden Temple)

The name Amritsar comes from a Sanskrit phrase meaning "Pool of Nectar." This name describes the pool of water around the temple. The city is also known for making wooden chess pieces. People also come from far away to eat the local food. It is a very lively place to visit.

History tells us that Guru Ram Das founded the city in 1574.

Amritsar Overhead Panorama View Artwork circa 1860's
Amritsar Overhead Panorama View Artwork circa 1860's

He was the fourth Sikh guru. At first, the city was called Ramdaspur. Later, the town grew much larger. Many people moved there to work as artists or merchants. During the time of the Sikh Empire, the city changed again. A leader named Maharaja Ranjit Singh helped build strong walls.

Statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Amritsar 01
Statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Amritsar 01

These walls helped protect the people living inside.

Amritsar has many interesting facts and numbers. The 2011 census showed a population of over 1.1 million people. By 2018, the metropolitan region had about 2 million people.

Photo of an Amritsar street scene, by Felice Beato, circa 1858–59
Photo of an Amritsar street scene, by Felice Beato, circa 1858–59

The city has four main seasons. It can get very hot in the summer months. In the winter, the temperature can drop quite low. The highest temperature recorded was 45.5 degrees Celsius in 2013. The lowest was -1.1 degrees Celsius in 1996. The city sees a lot of rain during the monsoon season.

The city has seen many difficult and important times. In 1919, a sad event happened at Jallianwala Bagh.

Many unarmed people were gathered there for a festival. This event was a major part of India's history. Later, in 1984, there was a military operation called Operation Blue Star.

BulletMarks
BulletMarks

This happened at the Golden Temple and caused much debate. These events are remembered as part of the city's long story. Today, Amritsar remains a vital part of life in India.

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🖼️ Images & Media (20)
File:Amritsar Overhead Panorama View Artwork circa 1860's.jpg
Amritsar Overhead Panorama View Artwork...
File:Ranjit Singh at Harmandir Sahib - August Schoefft - Vienna 1850 - Princess Bamba Collection - Lahore Fort.jpg
Ranjit Singh at Harmandir Sahib - August...
File:Photo of an Amritsar street scene, by Felice Beato, circa 1858–59.jpg
Photo of an Amritsar street scene, by...
File:Map of Amritsar, with the city perimeter captioned in Perso-Arabic script marking the twelve historical gates of the old city-wall, ca.1831–35.jpg
Map of Amritsar, with the city perimeter...
File:Map of Amritsar with the locations of Sikh sites labelled, as published in the Mahan Kosh (1930).jpg
Map of Amritsar with the locations of...
File:Jallianwallah.jpg
Jallianwallah.jpg
File:BulletMarks.JPG
BulletMarks.JPG
File:Statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Amritsar 01.jpg
Statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Amritsar 01.jpg
File:Hamandir Sahib (Golden Temple).jpg
Hamandir Sahib (Golden Temple).jpg
File:Star and Crescent.svg
Star and Crescent.svg
File:Om.svg
Om.svg
File:Khanda.svg
Khanda.svg

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