The name of the city is derieved from Sanskrit: Amrta-sarovar = "Lake of Nectar". It is home to the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh Religion. Located in the Norhtwest region of Punjab, India - Amritsar is a mere 32 miles east of Lahore.The main commercial activities include tourism, carpets and fabrics, farm produce, handicrafts, service trades and light engineering
Climate: During the winter season (November to March) where temperatures ranges from 18 °C to about -3 °C, the hot season (April to June) where temperatures can reach 46 °C , monsoon season (July to September) and post-monsoon (September to November).
Main Language(s): Punjabi is the dominant language with English, Hindi and Urdu being widely spoken too.
Time Zone: GMT + 05:30
Phone Area Code: +0183
The Golden Temple
The Golden Temple also known as the Harminder Sahib is a famous temple in Amritsar. There are various other Gurudwaras you could pay your respects to. However, make sure you are dressed appropriately to go to a religious place. Men too may need to cover their hair.
The food in Amritsar is to die for. Visit any of the local "Dhabas" - hotels to get a real taste of Punjab.
Baisakhi
Baisakhi, the festival of spring, is celebrated here every year on 13th of April. It is all the more auspicious because it is on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa panth. Through out the city the atmosphere is of gaiety and colour. It is believed that wheat crop is also ready for harvesting and on this day, farmers start reaping the harvest for which they have waited patiently. So the occasion is of happiness. The Guru Granth Sahib is read in all the Gurdwaras and a procession is carried out in the city. People enjoy be dancing the Punjabi folk dance bhangra.
Guru Nanak Jayanti
The festival falls in the month of October. The day commemorates the birthday of Guru Nanak Devji Maharaj. The Guru Granth Sahib - the Holy Book for the Sikhs is read and langars (large amounts of food is cooked and given freely to whoever comes in) are organized in the Gurdwaras and at homes.
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