Amritsar, Holy city in Punjab, India
Amritsar is a major city in the Amritsar district of Punjab, India, standing at roughly 230 meters elevation and serving as the religious center of the Sikh community. The city spreads outward from the sacred water tank, with narrow lanes opening onto wide plazas and modern neighborhoods bordering historic temple grounds.
Guru Ram Das founded the city in 1574 on land granted by Mughal emperor Akbar to establish a religious settlement around a sacred pool. Over the following centuries, the place became the spiritual heart of Sikhism and survived several conflicts that only deepened its significance.
Volunteers from all age groups work daily in the community kitchen of the Golden Temple, preparing free meals for tens of thousands of visitors without distinction. This practice reflects the living tradition of Seva, where every person regardless of background or faith joins others sitting on the floor to share food.
Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport links the city to larger hubs in India and some destinations abroad, while trains arrive from many parts of northern India. Walking through the old quarter means navigating narrow pathways and plenty of foot traffic, especially near the temple precinct.
In the lanes around the temple, vendors sell handwoven textiles and Punjabi juttis, the traditional embroidered leather shoes that visitors often take home as souvenirs. The city also hosts food processing operations that handle locally grown spices and grains produced throughout the region.
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