The happy faces!

Day 2:

• Golden Temple:
  

  One of the most sacred places in Amritsar, the Golden Temple or Sri Harmandir Sahib is a gurudwara and a pilgrimage site for the Sikhs. This temple is one of the most famous temples in the world and has people visiting from all parts of the world. The temple offers free food (langar) to the devotees and it is said that no one sleeps hungry in this house of the lord.
  Hours of Operation: 3am-10pm (all day)
  

• Jalianwala Bagh:

  A garden next to the temple, Jalianwala Bagh has witnessed one of the darkest and ugliest day in Indian history. A public massacre by the British on the 13th April 1919 at the Jaliawala Bagh led to the killing of thousands of innocent Indians. This garden is famous for the heinous incident and the shaheedikuan (death well in which the people jumped to save themselves). The garden still has the memories of the incident etched on the walls.
  Hours of Operation: 6:30am-7:30pm (all day)
  

• Partition Museum:

  Built post the partition of British India into India and Pakistan, the partition museum is located near the Jalianwala Bagh and the Golden Temple. The museum showcases the documents, pieces of evidence and the state of people during the time of partition. The different sections in the museum actually depict the worst of times people have been through during the time of partition. One must visit the partition museum to experience the pain and sufferings of the people.
  Hours of Operation: 10am-6pm (all day)  
  Entry Ticket Cost: Indian-20INR, Foreigners:250INR
  

  

  

  

  

• Atari Wagah Border:

  Located at a distance of only 30kms from Amritsar, the Atari Wagah border is famous for the retreat ceremony which takes place every evening. During this ceremony, the armed forces of both India and Pakistan showcase their strength and valor in an orchestrated manner. The entire stadium is filled with cheers of the crowd and gives you a surge of patriotism. Must visit for every Indian during his visit to Amritsar.
  Quick tips for getting the best of the retreat ceremony:

  • The ceremony starts at 4:15 pm and lasts till 5:15 pm in winters and starts at 5:15 pm in the summers.
  • Please reach here early to get seats near the gates for better visibility.
  • The Border Security Forces troops invite the viewers for a song and dance performance before the ceremony, be a part of it.
  • The cab fare from Amritsar to Wagah and return is around 800INR for a hatchback car and 1200INR for a compact sedan. Make the best of your negotiation skills to get the best rates.
  • Cabs are mostly available outside the Golden Temple where you can find the cab drivers wanting to take you there.
    

• Durgiana Temple:
  

  One of the most famous Hindu temples in Amritsar, this temple of Goddess Durga is very popular among the Hindu devotees. The temple is built on the lines of the Golden Temple and has a man-made lake in the premises. You may also visit the Gobindgarh Fort located close the Durgiana Temple for a deeper look into the history.
  

Shopping in Amritsar:

Amritsar is famous for its work in Phulkari, an Indian tradition for women’s wear. There are many shopping places,  especially the old markets. You can find a lot of options for apparels, shoes, gift items and mementos in the Amritsar Downtown market. The Katra Jaimal Singh market is famous for Phulkari dupattas and Punjabi jootis (shoes). You can order a suit cloth from here, give your measurements and the suit will be ready in just an hour’s time. So by the time you explore the Golden Temple and the Jalianwala Bagh, your suit gets ready to make you look beautiful. The market next to the parking area of the Golden Temple and the Jalianwala Bagh is famous for selling miniatures of the Golden Temple and other gift items. However, we found this market to be overpriced probably because of its location.