Best place ‘the Holy city Amritsar’ (Punjab) to visit
on Bharat Darshan
There are
many famous places in & around the historical & religious Amritsar city
(Punjab) to visit on Leave Travel Concession (LTC Bharat Darshan) for Central
Govt, employees as well as others who are entitled for LTC facility. Besides
the Govt. Employees, the other than the
Govt. Employees may plan to go there at their own cost. Out of them famous places, some places are
mentioned:-
1.
Jallianwala
Bagh.
2.
Gurudwara
Harmandir Sahib.
3.
Durgiana
Mandir.
4.
Attari-Wahga
border (India-Pakistan an International border).
Jallianwala
Bagh
Jallian
Bagh is public garden place in Amritsar in the Punjab State of India. This
memorial is managed by the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust. This trust
has been established by the Govt. of India in 1951.
Gurudwara
Harmandir Sahib
The
Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib informally referred to as the “Golden Temple” is the
holiest Sikh gurudwara located in the city of Amritsar. There are four doors to
get into the Harmandir Sahib, which symbolize the openness of the Sikhs towards
all people and religions.
Durgiana
Mandir
The
Durgiana temple is also known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Durga Tirath and Sitla
Mandir is a premier Hindu temple of Punjab (India) situated in the city of
Amritsar. Durgiana derives its name from the Goddess Durga.
Attari-Wagah
border (India-Pakistan an International border)
The writer of this article, visited Amritsar (Punjab)
many times & twice at Wagah border with family. This is probably one place
where any Indian would feel very patriotic. On the basis of experiences, I
hereby getting a chance to write an article to communicate the readers.
The
Wagah border is a post between India & Pakistan. It is also being called
‘Wagah’, as the name Wahga in Pakistan, is a village near which the accepted
Radcliffe Line, the boundary demarcation line dividing India & Pakistan
upon the partition of India, was drawn in 1947. Then, the law & order work in India was
entrusted to the Punjab Police & thereafter changed with BSF. Before to the
division of our country, the wahga town
was combined place of our country. After the partition of our country into two
countries viz. India & Pakistan, the wagah
place went to Lahore District of
newly born country-Pakistan & the Attari village came to Amritsar
District of this India country. These lies on the Grand Trunk Road between the
cities of Amritsar, Punjab, India & Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Attari-Wagah border is 30 kms away from
Amritsar.
Attari-Wagah
border is famous for its “Flag Retreat Ceremony”. This ceremony was started in
1959 by the mutual understanding of the both countries. This military practice
is being performed daily in the evening by the security forces of India viz. Border
Security Force (BSF) & Pakistan’s Pakistan Rangers (PR) regularly since
then. In the every evening, the ceremony starts with a blustering parade by the
soldiers from both the sides and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering
of the two nations ‘flags’. It is called the beating retreat border ceremony on
the International level. The border
place comprises of a huge arch and has gates of both the countries. During the
drill of the forces, one infantryman stands at attention on each side of the
gate. As the sun sets, the iron gates at the border are opened and the two
flags are lowered simultaneously. The flags are folded and the ceremony ends
with a retreat from either side, followed by the closing of the gates again. This
performance attracts the many visitors from both sides of the border, as well
as International tourists. This ceremony started as a gesture of good will
among the two countries.
Perhaps
this border is the only one International border where the “Flag Retreat
Ceremony” is being done with great pomp &
show. There are cries rose as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Jai Hind”, “Allah-o-Akbar”
and “Pakistan Zindabad” by the participants & visitors from each sides
before to start the parade. Seating arrangements are enabled for spectators to
watch the ceremony. There is also a VIP seating close to the gate. The special
pass is required to get seat in the VIP area. These special passes are required
to obtain from the BSF headquarter’s gate no. 03 at 03.00 p.m. by submitting
the names in their list by 10 a.m. This office is 22 kms away from Amritsar
& 08 km before the border. Since
July 2011, women guards of BSF have also been started taking part in the
ceremony. However, the women guards of Pakistan Ranger has not started yet to take
part in the ceremony.
The
ceremony at the wahga border is raised the patriotic feelings. It is alternatively a symbol of the two
countries rivalry, as well as brotherhood and co-operation between the two
nations. On its very popularity, the ceremony has been filmed and broadcast by
Michael Palin for one of his television around the world.
The
Amritsar city is really a worth seeing place and never miss it. If you are
thinking to visit Golden Temple and
Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar (Punjab), you must plan to visit Attari-Wahga
retreating ceremony. There are certain things to remember during visit the
border. No covered bags are allowed, including ladies handbag or purses &
mobiles etc. due to security reasons. However,
there are stalls nearby to buy food & water bottles. You will have to make necessary
arrangements for stay in hotel etc. at Amritsar only, since no hotel facilities
are available nearby the border area. The furnished rooms are available at
religious places on the nominal rates from Rs.200/- to Rs.500/- per day in
Amritsar city. This city is 450 kms away from Delhi. This can be reached by Airways, Railway &
Roadways.
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