Amritsar

 If you cannot visit many places in Punjab, visiting only Amritsar is itself a considerable and good choice. The rich culture, spicy food, warm hospitality, Punjabi cuisine and the spiritual vibes inspired by Sikhism are all on show in good measure at Amritsar. Here’s my highlight of Amritsar on my 24-hour visit
 

The Beating retreat ceremony is a spectable that cannot be missed on a visit to Amritsar. Attari on Indian side and Wagah on Pakistani side is the International border crossing zone of Indo-Pak. This border is approximately 30 km from Amritsar, India. The ceremony at evening is a daily highlight where the soldiers from both countries march in perfect drill, going through the steps of bringing down their respective national flags at evenings. This is one of the most energetic and vibrant borders of the world and the roar of the audience will not fail to give goosebumps and patriotic essence to its visitors. And not to miss, the border is closed at time during tensions between the two nations.

The best time to visit this lustrous beauty is during late evening when the central golden shrine shimmers under lights and appears like a lotus floating on tranquil waters. The white marbles under lights look stunning showcasing a unique artistic style. Inside the Golden Temple, visitors are requested to respect the dress code, remove shoes, bring a head scarf and arrive early to avoid crowds. Gurudwara is incomplete without having langar (community eating) with the fellow devotees. Around 50,000 to 100,000 people eat at its langar everyday and this makes it the world’s largest community kitchen.  The best part is it runs 24 hours a day, everyday of the year 

Located closer to the golden temple,  this memorial stands tall holding extreme national significance in the memory of those killed during the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. This is considered as one of the bloodiest and most sordid episodes of the history of India. This memorial also set up a gallery that holds the letters and incidents relating to the event. A quick video-play shows the rise of independence struggle. Timings to visit the garden:  6AM - 6PM, Gallery: 9AM to 4 PM. The timings differ in summer and winter.

Shopping around the temple is  primarily done in the surrounding markets, like Hall Bazaar, which is popular for buying local goods such as  phulkari dupattas, Amritsari juttis (shoes), spices, dry fruits, traditional jewelry and Punjabi suits. The products are in general considered to be of less price but in good quality. The markets are accessibile by Auto rickshaws. As it is too much crowded, safety is a concern here.