Golden Temple
The Golden Temple or Durbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world. In the evolution of the Darbar Sahib, is entwined the history and ideology of Sikhism. In its architecture are included, symbols associated with other places of worship. This is an example of the spirit of tolerance and acceptance that the Sikh philosophy propounds. 
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and golden coating for English speaking world), is named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas. 

HIstory 

Attractions Around the Golden Temple

• AKAL TAKHAT
 It rightly faces the Golden Temple. Built by the Sixth Master Guru Hargobind (1606-44) in 1609, has been the nerve centre or the Sikhism ever since. All commandments affecting the community as a whole were and are issued from here. The Akal Takhat was used for holding court and Sikh congregations in the days of its builder. 

The Akal Takhat was pulled down several times by the Muslim raiders. The ground floor of the present building was constructed in 1 874. Three storeys were subsequently added by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A number of weapons used by Guru Hargobind, Guru Gobind Singh and other Sikh heroes are preserved at Akal Takhat. In 1984 during Operation Blue Star Akal Takhat was badly damaged by the Indian Army.
• BABA ATAL
A nine-storeyed tower, built in memory of Atal Rai (D. 1628), a son of Hargobind, is called Baba Atal. Atal Rai died at nine. He was called 'Baba' (an old man) head over young shulders. The tower was built between 1778 and 1784. It is the only of its kind in the city with 108 ft. height.
• GURU KA LANGAR
A Sikh temple without a Community Kitchen is inconceivable. Cooked food is serviced in the kitchen of the Golden Temple 24 hours to all visitors irrespective of religion, caste, creed and nationality. The expenses are met out of the Temple funds. Approximately 40,000 visitors share the meals everyday presently.
• SRI GURU RAM DAS NIWAS
The Niwas is a free hostel for the pilgrims maintained by the Temple authorities. It has been built by the Gurdwara Committee. It has 228 rooms and 18 big halls. Unlike the ordinary 'Daramsalas' the Niwas supplies the facilities of free beddings, cots, lights and fans etc. to the lodgers. A lodger is not generally allowed to stay here for more than three days at a time. The doors of the hostels are open to all. The lodgers however must not do anything repugnant to the teachings of Sikhism.
Among the other objects of interest in and around the Golden Temple worth                                             
mentioning are :
• Dukh Bhanjni Ber (Jujube Tree)
• Thara Sahib
• Ber Baba Budha Ji
• Gurdwara llachi Ber
• Ath Sath Tirath (Sixty eight holy places condensed into one)
• Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga Baba Deep Singh

AROUND AMRITSAR
 
Wagah Border
Wagah Border is located at a distance of 28 kilometers from Amritsar. It is the only border crossing between India and Pakistan. It is an army outpost to protect check intrusion from Pakistan and prevents any Indian from going to Pakistan. Special buses and taxes from Amritsar take the tourists to Wagah Border. En route Wagah the tourists chance upon seeing some of the most fertile lands of Amritsar.
At the border outpost there is a complex of buildings, roads and barriers on both sides. At the entrance of this outpost, there is a sightseeing gate with an inscription "Swarna Jayanti". From this a panoramic view of the landscape is seen. There are electrified fences with 66,000 volts of electric current.
People visit Wagah border to see "Beating the Retreat" ceremony performed by the soldiers in evening. Soldiers from India and Pakistan perform a flag march. The flags are both the countries are brought down. Then the gates between India and Pakistan are opened. Soldiers perform some drills and then the complex is illuminated. The whole ceremony takes about half an hour.

 GOLDENTEMPLE -KANGRA VALLEY MAGIC  TOUR

Highlights:  Delhi – Amritsar -Dalhousie-Dharamshala - Delhi

Duration:  06 Nights/ 07Days

Itinerary  

Day 01: Delhi– Old Delhi  sight seeing- eveningboard  train to Amritsar golden temple overnight on train.

Day 02: visit golden temple,evening at wagah indo-pak border .

Day-03: At golden temple,visitjallianwala bagh  On April 13,1919, a multitude of Punjabis  gathered in Amritsar's Jallian wala Bagh as part of theSikh Festival "Baisakhi fair" and to protest at these extraordinarymeasures. The throng, penned in a narrow space smaller than Trafalgar Square, had been peacefullylistening to the testimony of victims when Dyer appeared at the head of acontingent of British troops. Giving no word of warning, he ordered 50 soldiersto fire into the gathering, and for 10 to 15 minutes 1,650 rounds of ammunitionwere unloaded into the screaming, terrified crowd, some of whom were trampledby those desperately trying to escape. "The Indians were 'packedtogether so that one bullet would drive through three or four bodies'; thepeople 'ran madly this way and the other. When fire was directed upon thecentre, they ran to the sides. The fire was then directed to the sides. Manythrew themselves down on the ground, and the fire was then directed on theground. This was continued for eight or ten minutes, and it stopped only whenthe ammunition had reached the point of exhaustion".....WinstonChurchill

Day 04: Khajjiar - Dalhousie

 Early morning drive /train to khajjiar–Dalhousie Flow through a mesmerizing experience. The vast emerald green meadowof Khajjiar with its thick forested slopes of Deodhars, the stupendous mountainviews from Lakkar Mandi, the unparalleled beauty of Kalatope and BakrotaRound…Overnight at Khajjiar/Dalhousie.

Day 05:Dalhousie -Dharamshala(175kms)

After a leisurely breakfast,drive closer to the panoramic Dhauladhar ranges and upto the enchanting town ofDharamshala.After settling into the resort, explore the town, replete with Tibetan cultureand the residence of His Holiness, The Dalai Lama. Overnight at Dharamshala.

Day 06: Dharamshala

Imbibe the magic of the ‘WhiteRanges’ and of history and nature as much as you can while visiting the TibetanMonastery, St. John’s church in the wilderness, Trichund Peak, Odichi huts, Dallake, Naddi. Shop in the bazaar for Tibetan handicrafts in the evening.Overnight at Dharamshala.

Day 07: Dharamshala – Delhi

After  breakfast drive for Delhi,Evening arrival in Delhi,Tour concludes

Tour ends... but sweet memoriesalways remain.