I visited Amritsar with the motive of exploring golden temple. Little I knew that Amritsar has a history for itself and is a magnificent place to excavate. Thankfully, a NRI Sikh friend, Jaspreet, who accompanied me in my journey to Amritsar and was a great help as he acted my guide in my tour to Amritsar. He told me that Amritsar, literally 'a pool of nectar', was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, 1534 - 1581, who had initially constructed a pool here. Though most known because of its famous gurudwara, The Golden Temple, it is also believed to be the site where Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana. According to popular belief, Rama and Sita had spent a brief period of their 14 year exile here.

It was amazing for me that I didn't faced any problem in traveling in India. All the citiies are well linked through air, land and rail and Amritsar was no exception. It boosted an Amritsar international airport and as well a domestic airport. With in city, auto rickshaw and taxis were available.

We took a cab from airport and headed towards Jaspreet house. On the way, I was able to see big and small hotels . " Oye, you don't have to worry about your stay" intrupted Jaspreet as he saw me gazing at the hotels.

Prior to the partition of the country, Amritsar occupied an unrivalled position in the business and commercial life of the undivided Punjab. Situated as it is on important trade routes, its trade even today extends to Kabul, Kashmir and Tibet, although the Partition left it a border town and did away with much of its erstwhile importance as a trade center.

Jaspreet, my NRI Sikh friend was a great help to me in exploring the cities " Ok, I need your two days...if you want to see Amritsar properly" asked Jaspreet and I nodded. Fortunately, Jaspreet had a car, Opel Extra, for which he used to boost a lot "Oye, only I have this car in the entire colony... after all I am rich "said Jaspreet as I sat down in his car and believe me! this line was coming for the tenth time in last 1and half days, that I spent with him . Phew!.....

The first place that he took me to was the Summer palace of Maharajah Ranjit Singh and then the historic Rambagh Garden, outside the city, was also a big attraction in the evenings when people throng its green parks to relax and breathe fresh air. This garden is laid out on the pattern of Shalimar Bagh at Lahore. Then he took me to the famous the Golden temple, located in Amritsar. The Golden Temple serves as the most important house of worship for the Sikhs. Originally built in 1604, the temple sustained repeated damage from attacks by Afghan invaders. During the early 19th-century reign of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, the temple was rebuilt using marble, copper, and an overlay of gold foil. The temple sits on a small island and connects with land on the west by way of a marble causeway.

" Hey! I also show you a look alike of golden temple..come" yelled Jaspreet ....should I say said but his voice have an extra pitch to it, so yelled is appropriate. The Durgiana Temple, a partial replica of the Golden Temple, is situated outside the Lohgarh Gate. It is sacred to the Goddess Durga and is frequented by the devout Hindus.

Then we visited the Tarn Taran, 24 Kilometers south of Amritsar , a town founded by Sri Guru Arjan Dev in 1590.Fairs are held here on every 'Amavas' dark night of the month, birth anniversaries of the Gurus, Baisakhi and Diwali.

And then we pooped in Goindwal that was a few kilometers away from Tarn Taran is the town of Goindwal, where Guru Amar Das established a new centre for preaching Sikhism. A 'Baoli', well paved with 84 steps was constructed here. " You know! The devout believe that by reciting Japji Sahib, the divine 'Word' revealed to Guru Nanak Devji at each step after taking a bath in the Baoli provides 'Moksh', liberation from 84,000 cycles of life of this world. " Jaspreet enlighted me with his knowledge.

oh! how can I forget about Harike Wetland, the lake formed at the point of confluence of rivers Beas and Sutlej at Harike ford, situated mid way between Amritsar and Ferozepur. Here Jaspreet almost fell down the lake but by god's grace, I saved him from splashing into the lake water. Later, after few minutes when he came back to form he acquainted me with the fact that it was declared a national wildlife sanctuary in 1982. It is a welcome winter home to about 350 odd species of birds from far-flung lands of China, Siberia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.