AMRITSAR

'Amritsar' (, ), ''(meaning: The Pool of the Nectar of Immortality)'', is the administrative headquarter of the Amritsar District in Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,000,000 and that of the entire district to number just over 3,096,077.
Amritsar is located in the northwest part of India in the State of Punjab, 32 miles east of Lahore, Pakistan. Amritsar derives its name from ''Amŗit-sarovar'' literally meaning "The Pool of the Nectar of Immortality".
It is home to the Harimandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, and is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh Religion. In Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time, Amritsar had superseded Lahore as the pre-eminent city of Punjab. It is also known for the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919).
The main commercial activities include tourism, carpets and fabrics, farm produce, handicrafts, service trades and light engineering. Amritsar is also a seat of major educational institutions like Guru Nanak Dev University (established 1969), BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar(established 1967), Khalsa College, Amritsar (established 1892), DAV College Amritsar (established 1955), and Government Medical College, Amritsar (established 1926). Amritsar is also home to Pingalwara, the home for destitutes founded by Bhagat Puran Singh and a home to Central Khalsa Orphanage (house for orphans) which was once a home to Shahid Udham Singh.

Contents

Background

Modern Amritsar

Education

Language

Climate

Religious Shrines

Sikh

Hindu

District Administration

Transport

Geography

Demographics

References

External links

Background

'History of Amritsar'
Amritsar city is one of the major cities of the Sikh nation. Under instructions from Guru Amar Das Sahib, this city was founded by Guru Ram Das Sahib in 1574, on the land bought by him for an amount of rupees 700 from the owners of the village Tung. (Earlier Guru Ram Das Sahib had begun building Santokhsar Sarovar, near erstwhile village of Sultanwind in 1564 {according to one source in 1570}. It could not be completed before 1588). In 1574, Guru Ram Das Sahib built his residence and moved to this place. At that time, it was known as Guru-Da-Chakk. (Later, it came to be known as Chakk Ram Das). Guru Ram Das Sahib began excavation of the Amritsar Sarovar (tank) in 1577. It was ready by 1581. This tank was renovated by Guru Arjun Sahib in 1586. Since then this city is known as Amritsar (after the name of the Sarovar). The foundation of the Darbar Sahib had been laid by Guru Arjan Sahib on January 3, 1588. (Later, it was propagated that the foundation stone of Darbar Sahib was laid by Sain Mian Mir, a Muslim holy man. Sain Mian Mir was very friendly with Guru Sahib but the foundation of Darbar Sahib was laid by Guru Sahib himself). In 1590, Guru Arjan Sahib moved to village Wadali where Guru Hargobind Sahib was born on June 19, 1590. By 1601, the Darbar Sahib was fully ready. In 1603-04, the first volume of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scriptures, was prepared in this city and was installed at Darbar Sahib on August 16, 1604.
It is here that Akal Takht Sahib (Throne of the Almighty) was revealed by Guru Hargobind Sahib in 1609. Two flags representing temporal and spiritual authority (Sikh sovereignty) have been set up in front of Akal Takht Sahib. Here Guru Hargobind Sahib wore two swords of Miri and Piri (temporal and transcendental authority). The building of Akal Takht Sahib was twice demolished by Afghan armies and was very badly damaged by the Indian regime (in June 1984). The Indian government repaired it in September 1984. The Sikhs began demolishing it on January 26, 1986. The present structure has been constructed by five service-groups headed by Baba Thakar Singh of Bhindran-Mehta Jatha.
On April 13, 1634, the Mogul army attacked Guru Hargobind Sahib here. From 1635 to 1698, Amritsar remained in the control of the Mina family (descendants of Pirthi Chand). During this period, on November 23, 1664, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib visited the town. In April 1698, Bhai Mani Singh was appointed as the caretaker of the shrines of Amritsar.
The Mogul chief of Patti tried to occupy Amritsar several times. One such attempt was made in April 1709. The Sikhs, under the command of Bhai Mani Singh and Bhai Tara Singh of Dall-Wan, repelled this attack. When Baba Banda Singh Bahadur occupied several areas in the Punjab, Bhai Mani Singh chose to leave Amritsar in order to avoid the Mogul attacks. On December 30, 1711, the Mogul emperor, Bahadur Shah, granted Ajit Singh Palit the charge of Amritsar in order to use him against Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. After the death of Bahadur Shah, Ajit Singh Palit returned to Delhi. In 1721, Bhai Mani Singh returned to Amritsar and re-started regular worship. His first act was to solve a dispute between so-called Tat Khalsa and so-called Bandai Khalsa for the right to the management of the shrines at Amritsar.
On March 29, 1733, a major gathering of the Sikhs was held here in front of Akal Takht Sahib. During the same time a Sarbat Khalsa gathering was also held. It discussed the Mogul offer of Nawab-hood. In April 1734, Bhai Mani Singh was arrested and was martyred at Lahore on June 24, 1734.
In 1740, Massa Ranghar, a debauched official, desecrated Darbar Sahib. He was punished by Bhai Sukkha Singh and Bhai Mahtab Singh, on August 11, 1740. In 1757 Afghan army demolished Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib. Baba Dip Singh led several thousand Sikhs against the Afghan. A major battle was fought on November 11, 1757. Baba Dip Singh and several thousand Sikhs embraced martyrdom. Again, in 1762, the Darbar Sahib complex was demolished by Afghan army. On December 1, 1764, the Afghan army made another attack. 30 Sikhs, led by Jathedar Gurbakhsh Singh, fought against mammoth Afghan army and embraced martyrdom. In 1765, the Sikhs began re-construction of the shrines. The central part was ready by 1776. Around 1830, Ranjit Singh gold-plated some part of the inner section of the Darbar Sahib. (It harmed this Sikh institution as some ignorant people began unjustly calling it Golden Temple).
In 1846, the British established themselves in the Lahore Darbar, with a Resident in the Court; and, Amritsar became a place of frequent visits by the British. In order to keep sanctity of the city, H. M. Lawrence, the British Resident, issued an order, dated March 24, 1847, asking the English people to follow the Sikh protocol while visiting the Sikh centres. In 1858, a Municipal Committee was set up here. In 1862, train services between Lahore and Amritsar were started. Khalsa College, the first Sikh college was established here in 1892. [In 1969 Guru Nanak Dev University was established here]. In 1913, the city was electrified. In September 1915, the British declared Amritsar a "Holy City". (This order was undeclaredly annulled after August 15, 1947 by the Indian regime). On April 13, 1919, General Dyer opened fire on the gathering, at Jallianwala Bagh, near Darbar Sahib, killed 379 people and wounded another 1200. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (S.G.P.C.) and the Shiromani Akali Dal were established here in 1920.
The famous Sikh shrines at Amritsar include: Five Sarovars (sacred tanks): Amritsar (1586), Santokhsar (1587-88), Ramsar (1602-03), Kaulsar (1627), Bibeksar (1628); and, Gurdwaras: Baba Atal (1770), Shaheed Ganj Baba Dip Singh (1803, partly in 1823), Shaheed Ganj Baba Gurbakhsh Singh, Guru De Mahal (It was the residence of Guru Ram Das Sahib, Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Hargobind Sahib and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was born here), Darshani Deodi (near Guru Bazaar, associated with the memory of Guru Arjan Sahib), Gurdwara Thara Sahib (on the bank of Amritsar Sarovar; associated with the memory of Guru Ram Das Sahib and Guru Arjan Sahib), Gurdwara Thara Sahib (in memory of the visit of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib), Damdama Sahib (in memory of the visit of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, in 1664), Pippali Sahib (It is associated with memory of Guru Arjan Sahib and Guru Hargobind Sahib), Gurdwara Tahli Sahib (Guru Ram Das Sahib used to rest under a Tahli, i.e. shisham tree. The Tahli tree, believed to be the same still exists), Churasti Atari (associated with memory of Guru Hargobind Sahib), Gurdwara Lohgarh Qila (Earlier it was a fort built by Guru Hargobind Sahib in 1609) etc. Besides, 68 Bungas were constructed in the town from time to time. (See: Bunga). The Central Sikh Museum and the Sikh Reference Library are also established here. The Indian army burnt the Sikh archives, libraries and the records of the offices of the Akali Dal and the S.G.P.C. on June 6-7, 1984.
Reference "http://sgpc.net/golden-temple/amritsar.asp"
The city is dominated by the history of the Sikhs and many of their sacred shrines are found in and around the city. It was established by Guru Ramdas. The city has highest temporal seat of Sikhs "The Harimandir Sahib" popularly known as Golden Temple. The city has central old city called walled city. It has narrow zig zag streets mostly developed in the 17th and 18th century. The city has a peculiar example of introvert planning system and has uniques areas called Katras. The Katras are self styled residential units that provided unique defence system during attacks on the city.

The city lies on the main Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) from Delhi to Amritsar connecting to Lahore in Pakistan. The G. T. Road, built by Sher Shah Suri, runs through the whole of the northern half of the Indian Subcontinent, connecting Peshawar, Pakistan to Sonargaon, Bangladesh. The city is also connected to most other major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta by an extensive network of rail system. The city also provides air connectivity to major Indian cities, as well as international cities such as Birmingham, Toronto, Dubai, Singapore, Tashkent, Ashgabat, London etc from the Raja Sansi International Airport. The airport is being developed for increasing demand in future; a new International inbound & outbound terminal is operational and cargo terminal is also under construction.
The city is the administrative centre for the Amritsar District. Amritsar developed from a small village pool to a business centre. However, it did not become the industrial centre of Punjab due to its proximity to the volatile Indo-Pak border.

Modern Amritsar

Modern Amritsar is currently seeing rapid urban growth. To facilitate the development process, the Government of India and Government of Punjab have released a Rs.3,150 Crore (roughly 769 million USD) plan to guide Amritsar to world class status. The planned budget would fund construction of roads, sewage management, water, and a mass Rapid Transport transit system. Historically known as a Holy City, Amritsar is now a building location for luxury penthouses, apartments, and highrises built to accommodate the men and women working in Amritsar's developing financial centre. Even more, malls, clubs, and parks are on the list to make Amritsar a world class tourist destination. To protect Amritsar's historical and religious heritage, the new budget reserves an estimated Rs.36 crore for the preservation of all religious shrines in the city. A further Rs.106 crore is allocated for the construction of a city Convention Centre.
Religious places and tourist spots in and around the city would be connected through widening roads and developing the infrastructure. These roads would be further connected with Raja Sansi International Airport which would facilitate the tourists not only from India but also from abroad.
For the city's poor, there are plans to construct more than 14,000 affordable homes.
About Rs. 2,100 Crore is being left aside for the Mass Rapid Transport system for the city. This will help relieve city traffic, as many people will use the system, to save money and help the environment.
It is also envisaged that Amritsar will be a food and Jewelery hub, with help from companies in Mumbai.
Another big project is the city's international airport, Raja Sansi International Airport, with a new terminal and many International Airlines lining up to land here. The airport is growing rapidly. By July 2008, it will be doubled in size, 4 jetways, with a new parking area and much more.

Education

Amritsar is a major education centre, with educational institutions like Guru Nanak Dev University (established 1969), BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar(established 1967), Khalsa College, Amritsar (established 1892), DAV College Amritsar (established 1955), and Government Medical College, Amritsar (established 1926) are in Amritsar, and are among India's best universities and collages. A proposed civil aviation college is also in planning stages, if built it would the first in India.

Language

The main spoken language in Amritsar and in the surrounding villages is the Punjabi dialect of Maajhi, considered to be ''Standard Punjabi''. Other languages spoken in the city are English, Hindi, and Urdu.

Climate

The weather in this region of India is seasonal with four distinct seasons. The winter season (November to March) when temperatures ranges from 18 °C to about -3 °C, the hot season (April to June) when temperatures can reach 46 °C, monsoon season (July to September) and post-monsoon (September to November).
Amritsar is most temperate between October and March.

Religious Shrines

Sikh

The following is a list of the prominent Sikh gurudwaras and sacred places in the city and its vicinity:

★ Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple)

★ Gurdwara Manji Sahib Devan Asthan

★ Akal Takht

★ Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib

★ Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh, built at the site of the martyrdom of Baba Deep Singh

★ Gurdwara Bebaksar Sahib

★ Birth Place of Guru Hargobind Sahib

★ Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran (twenty five km south of Amritsar)

★ Gurdwara Baba Budha

★ Guru da Bagh, Kokawali

★ Gurdwara Bohli Sahib, Goindwal

★ Gurdwara Bir Baba Budha, Thattah-Chabhal

★ Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Khadur

★ ChhehartaSahib, Guru Hargobind Ji

★ Baba Bakala, where Bhai Makhan Shah proclaimed that he had found the ninth Sikh Guru in Guru Teg Bahadur

★ Birth Place of Baba Budha Ji, Kathunangal

★ Saragarhi Gurudwara

Hindu

★ Durgiana Mandir

★ Sage Valmiki's Ashram Named as Ram Tirath

★ Mata Lal Devi Mandir

★ Maha Kali Mandir,Near Escorts hospital.

★ Gopal mandir.

★ Ram Tirath

★ Shivala Bhaian Temple

District Administration

★ The Deputy Commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service, is the official in charge of general administration in the district. He is assisted by a number of officers belonging to the Punjab Civil Service and other Punjab state services.

★ The Senior Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service, is responsible for maintaining law and order in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Police Service and other Punjab Police officials.

★ The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service, is responsible for the management of the forests, environment and wildlife in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Forest Service and other Punjab Forest officials and Punjab Wild-Life officials.

★ Sectoral development is looked after by the district head/officer of each development department such as PWD, Health, Education, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, etc. These officers are from various Punjab state services.

★ The Amritsar city has a local government (municipal corporation) responsible for the management of local and public health systems of the city. The municipal corporation is a democratic body of councilors. At present there are more than 70 councilors. They elect their mayor.

★ The District Town Planner - The state government's department of Town and Country Planning has a district level office of District Town Planning. Since the formation of this office, however, the city has not received a comprehensive development plan. The government of India has selected Amritsar to invest 1000 crores rupees for development.

Transport

Getting around Amritsar is easy but can be hard at the same time. Catching a bus is easy, but crossing the road is the hard task. Amritsar is trying to improve this by cleaning up roads, planting tress and flowers on the roadside or in the centre of the road in the form of an island. The Urban Planning department is slowly doing this. Amritsar transportation is getting much better. Sidewalks and scenery are all big concerns for the Urban Planning sector. Amritsar will be soon like a modern western city, in the way of layouts, cleanliness, and law.
The roads in Amritsar are quite good and clean, but are still getting better. Amritsar is connected by bus with Ambala, Chandigarh, Delhi, Ferozepur, Jammu etc. Some of the road distances are as follows:- Jammu 216 km, Ferozepur 160 km, Chandigarh 235 km, Delhi 435 km and Wagah 29 km. Rickshaws and Autorickshaws and Buses are an easy way of getting around Amritsar.
Amritsar is connected by rail with Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, Varanasi, Wagah (Attari Border) and other major Indian cities. The main railway station in Amritsar is the, Amritsar Railway Station. It is also under going Renovation.
Air transportation in Amritsar is also very good, with daily flights to, Europe, North America, Asia, and throughout India, Raja Sansi International Airport is Amritsar's airport. The airport is expanding its global network, by expanding the airport, and more and more international airlines, like British Airways, and Air Canada wanting to land here. More than 26% of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport's 45,000,000 yearly passengers, are from Punjab alone.
About Rs. 2,100 Crore is being left aside for the Mass Rapid Transport system for the city. This will help relieve city traffic, as many people will use the system, to save money and help the environment.

Geography

Amritsar is located at ^[1]. It has an average elevation of 219 metres (718 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[2], Amritsar had a population of 975,695. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Amritsar has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References

1. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Amritsar
2.

External links

★ 'Information On Amritsar Blogspot '

★ 'Amritsar Photos'

★ 'Amritsar Map'

★ BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar

★ Travel Information From Time Travels Amritsar

★ Amritsar Portal Portal for Amritsar including live Amritsar Radio.

★ Amritsar District Administration

★ Amritsar Municipal Corporation

★ Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee

★ Amritsar - An Emerging Megapolis

★ My Pind – District Map

★

★ Amritsar History and Pictures

★ Current time and weather in Amritsar

★ Schedules for Flights to Amritsar from Birmingham and London, UK