Best place ‘the Holy city Amritsar’ (Punjab) to visit on Bharat Darshan

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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