Visit to Golden Temple and Wagah Border

Out of all, I love writing travel blogs the most. Although in 'Black & White ', it gives me a chance to relive those wonderful moments. I was just thinking about how I love going places, clicking pictures, and writing about them; and how I get to write about it so less as I do not get to travel that frequent. 

PS:- A week back I made this birthday wish to get hired by a consultancy firm and get to travel every nook and corner of this amazing round thing called EARTH :P

But Hey! Just when I thought I have no place left to write about, I got reminded of our trip to Amritsar and Goa. I never wrote about these places and ironically these two trips were the most memorable ones. We went Goa for honeymoon and in Amritsar we celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Let me save Goa experience for another blog. Here is my blog on first anniversary celebration in Amritsar.

FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY @ THE GOLDEN TEMPLE

For reasons unknown I felt that we should celebrate completion of our first year of marriage in a place of religious significance. I am neither too religious nor ritualistic. Can't recall what influenced me to zero it on Amritsar. We did not want to waste our anniversary day traveling. Hence, we started for Amritsar on November 20, 2012. Since it was really long that we were missing the fun of rail journey, these four hours train journey was real fun. I still miss travelling with open windows in train. As children we cousins used to fight like crazy for the window seat while travelling to Kolkata. Now, neither the closed windows of Shatabdi appeared so appealing, nor we bothered fighting for it.

It was pretty hot in Amritsar. The transition from Delhi's November chills to Amritsar's hot climate was not very appeasing. The city of Amritsar is small and bustling with life. The rickshaws outnumbered cars on the street. We took Rikshaw from the railway station, which was the only mode of transportation available till our hotel. Due to narrow over crowded alleys, no car/ taxi were allowed beyond a point nearing Jallianwala Bagh. Our hotel was in close proximity to the Golden Temple. It was just a minute’s walk to the temple compound. Once settled inside our hotel room, we decided to spend rest of the afternoon inside and leave for Jallianwala bagh in the evening.

Jallianwala Bagh has a gloomy history. We all have read about the unfortunate massacre that is marked as a black spot on the face of history. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed my trip to Jallianwala Bagh. 

BULLET MARKS ON THE WALL

HUGE PAINTING OF THE MASSACRE

THE WELL WHERE MANY JUMPED TO ESCAPE THE FIRINGS

TAKING A GLANCE INSIDE THE WELL

The bullet marks still intact on the walls, the sight of well where hundreds of women jumped with their children to escape from the bullets of British troops, and the huge painting of the unfortunate day were enough to upset the spectators.  

Here are few more clicks in and around Jallianwala Bagh:-

THE AMAR JYOTI

We left the bagh before sundown. Now we had entire evening to our credit and we were game to go shopping. I knew that Amritsar is the place to get good phulkari suits and jooties. We bought phulkari suit material in plenty for all the ladies of the family. It was astonishingly so cheap here as compared to Delhi prices.

Next on the list was Amritsari Jootis. There market sprawling just opposite the Golden temple had plenty shops displaying vibrant and trendy Amritsari Jooties. I was in awe of them.

AMRITSARI JUTTIS IN VIBRANT COLORS

I bought just one pair realizing soon enough that Rupam is getting annoyed with my shopping spree. However, in the succeeding days of Amritsar trip I managed to sneak in the market near to our hotel and buy some more goodies for myself ;). Just can’t understand why guys are so anti- shopping…..

ON COMPLETING 365 DAYS TOGETHER

As the date on calendar changed to November 21, and the clock struck 12 at midnight. I got the small Britannia cake pack out which I had stealthily bought with a tiny candle as a surprise. But we know well that this mid- night candle blowing is no more a surprise these days; it has become more of a tradition :). Though, Rupam acted well and looked pleasantly surprised on this gesture of mine.

It was our special day and we started it by visiting Harminder (meaning Temple oF God) Sahib informally known as The Golden Temple.  The sun rays hitting hard the golden structure of Darbar Sahib made it look splendid. The Golden temple gleaming bright yellow amidst the Amrit Sarovar looked beautiful.

THE GOLDEN TEMPLE

Gurudwara Harminder Sahab was buit in the 16^th century by Sikh Guru Arjan. Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered its upper floors with gold in early 19^th

ALL THAT IS GLITTERING IS REAL GOLD

century and hence came the name Golden Temple. More than 1lakh pilgrims visit the Golden Temple every day.

LONG UNENDING QUEUE

WAITING TO REACH THE DARBAR SAHAB

We had to wait in a long queue for around 45 minutes to visit the Darbar Sahib (inside of Golden Temple). The Darbar has four entrances which signify the openness of the Sikh culture. As a matter of fact, the construction of Harminder Sahab was done with much thought and the structure was built underlining the principals of the Sikh culture. Inside the Darbar lies the sacred Guru Granth Sahib the holiest text of Sikhs.

SOME MORE PICTURES AROUND THE TEMPLE

SOME MORE PICTURES AROUND THE TEMPLE

SOME MORE PICTURES AROUND THE TEMPLE

After exiting the Darbar Sahib we sat for a while beside the Amrit Sarovar having delicious Kadha Prasad and watching friendly fishes appearing and disappearing playfully.

It was afternoon and the sun was blazing hot by the time we left the Golden Temple.

We were fasting since morning and the hunger pangs were killing us. On the preceding day we had lunch and dinner in Brother da Dhaba and Bharawan da Dhaba respectively. Two famous and busy dhabas of Amritsar standing wall to wall. The story underlying is very interesting and very filmy. The restaurant was originally run by two brothers who parted ways owing property dispute. Now, both brothers run two different and very successful Dhabas which stands adjacent to each other. One named ‘BROTHER DA BHABA’; another named ‘BHARAWAN DA DHABA’. 

TWO FAMOUS AMRITSAR DHABAS

Anyhow! Today we were craving for famous Amritsari Fish Tikka and Amritsari Chicken, and we wanted to have it in a dhaba only. As per my internet research, there are plenty dhabas in Amritsar serving mouth watering non- vegetarian food. To our dismay, we did not find even a single ‘family’ dhaba serving non- vegetarian food. All good dhabas restricted themselves to vegetarian food only. This was disappointing! Food was a big consideration when I zeroed on Amritsar and a die-hard non-vegetarian food fan, I can’t imagine being deprived of it while on trip. 

SARSO SAAG, MAKKA ROTI AND PHIRNI

 

FAMOUS AMRITSARI KULCHE

Not finding a good dhaba, we decided going to a famous fine dining restaurant in Amritsar, Crystal Restaurant. Thank god for this discovery. We had lip-smacking non-veg food to our heart’s content.

AMRITSARI TAWA CHICKEN @ CRYSTAL RESTAURANT

We left for Wagah Border straight after lunch. Since childhood days I heard great stories about the parade in Wagah. Anything about Indo- Pak anyways creates a stir of emotions. Honestly, I wanted to visit the Wagah Border since a very long time.

The cab was parked roughly one kilometer before the spot. From there we started walking towards the site. Thousands of people come to see this evening parade at Wagah every single day.

 

WALKING TOWARDS WAGAH

On reaching the spot, we climbed up a stadium like place. The men and women were seated in different zones. In front of stadium stairs was a clean wide road for parade and flag run by mango people. 

 

 

MARCH PAST AT WAGAH

 

NATION IS IN OUR HANDS... AND IT'S SAFE!!

A PROUD SOLDIER

 Towards our left was the enormous gate that separated land as India and Pakistan. We could see the stadium on the Pakistan side. The spectators were miniscule on their side. Just handful school kids to be precise. But the roars of pride from both Indian and Pakistani spectators grew equally strong and loud as the parade progressed.

SPECTATORS AT PAKISTAN SIDE OF WAGAH

SPECTATORS AT INDIAN SIDE OF WAGAH

The 45 minutes event had first aunties, uncles, children, girls and boys participating in a relay with the National Flag in hand.

THE FLAG RELAY

 

Then there were March pasts by the border security forces. The national pride, our national Flag was brought out for hoisting on the Wagah border with utmost respect.

 

BRINGING IN THE NATION'S PRIDE WITH UTMOST RESPECT

 Both countries’ flags were unfurled and raised with the setting sun at the backdrop. That was a moment of pride and everyone stood in admiration.

PROUD CITIZENS CHEERING AS THE NATION'S FLAGS UNFURLS

The huge gate of Wagah was unlocked, and soldiers from both the countries came face to face and shook hands. This was the moment everyone was waiting for. Bharat mata ki jai was all that I could hear at that moment.

THE WAGAH GATE OPENS

SOLDIERS OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRY

The event ended with everyone shaking legs on patriotic bollywood numbers and

POSING FOR A CLICK

trying hard to get clicked with the soldiers. I did not make an attempt to compete with the mob to get a picture clicked with the soldiers. Instead I got a click with Tiranga.

 

PROUD OF THE NATIONAL FLAG

TIRANGA

AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURED

On the way back our driver suggested woolens/ blanket shopping from a factory price outlet. We picked a blanket and a jacket at a bargain price. The shopaholic me was evidently very happy. Rest of the evening was spent loitering around the market place, having tea by roadside stalls and then finally visiting one of the renowned Dhaba for dinner. Kesar ka Dhaba is a name many would know.  We ordered for stuffed parathas and stuffed every inch of our tummies with it. 

 

STUFFED PARANTHAS AT KESAR DHABA

 

I heard that Golden Temple looks gorgeous at night. We went back to witness this and to soak back in the tranquility we had experienced at the day time, sitting by the Amrit Sarovar. Truly, the gorgeousness of the Golden Temple increases manifolds at night. Check out for yourself.

 

THE GOLDEN TEMPLE AT NIGHT

We sat by the sarovar till midnight savoring some more Kadha Prasad. We just soaked ourselves in peace and beauty of the place.

The Amritsar trip was short and inexpensive. Yet it was among the most memorable ones. I am writing this blog more than a year after the trip. Still I could recall and relive each and every event of the trip while writing this blog. Really wish to thank God/ fate / or some power unknown, for giving these small shots of happiness in this busy and maddening life. CHEERS!!

PS:- This small incident deserves a special mention. As the rikshaw puller progressed towards our hotel in Amritsar, he kept telling us about the Golden Temple, Amritsar, its food etc etc. He was evidently very proud of his city. Among many things he told us about Amritsar, there is one thing I can never forget. This rikshaw puller literally turned back, and with an expression of great proud and honor he said “Sahabji, Amritsar shehar chahe chota ho; par yaha roz lakkho log aande hai… aur humare shehar vich koi bhukka nai sonda….. Harminder Sahib K langar mein garib aur amir dono ko roti mildi hai…… Langar khana zaroor shabji!! ”