Amritsar – A Modest Charmer
Amritsar is one of the charming cities in North India. I can say it with confidence that it’s a city that I instantly fell in love with! There is so much to absorb and marvel at, that it’s easy surrendering to its charismatic aura.
I am still to recover from the magic of Golden Temple.
I, along with a couple of colleagues, boarded the 7 am Shatabdi from New Delhi and reached Amritsar at around 1:30 pm. It was a mild summer day in the month of May.
The moment I breathed in the mesmeric air of Amritsar, I knew I wanted to explore it. Although I did not even spend complete 24 hours in the city, I had soaked in its essence quite a bit.
Here’s what I learned about it –
Amritsar – A Modest Charmer
There’s an inherent touch of royalty.
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| A turban adds grace to a Sikh man’s personality |
The first thing that I noticed and really liked was that even the rickshaw riders were dressed so immaculately. They wear royal Sikh attires along with big, beautiful turbans. I found it a great way of preserving the old-world culture. It was nice to get a glimpse of their deep-rooted history even in simple things.
I love such places that take me into another world! Amritsar has the quality to connect you to the times gone by.
It’s quite colourful.
Amritsar is quite a vivid city. India is loved for its colourful cities – the temples, the processions, the alleyways, the festivals, the food, the walls and the many doors. You will lay your eyes on lots of such appealing stuff while maneuvering the streets of Amritsar.
It’s traditionally grounded.
Amritsar is primarily a Sikh city, thus, there is tradition intact in everything. What I loved the most was that unlike other cities, the traditional soul of the city has no modern influences. Amritsar has a kind of purity and a sense of awe, which refuse to fade.
People are traditional, but not in a way that makes you uncomfortable. They respect their traditions and lead modest lives.
The atmosphere is amiable.
The atmosphere is something that makes a huge difference to the level of enjoyment in a city. At least, that’s what I think. If I don’t like the atmosphere of a particular city, I don’t feel like staying there for very long. Amritsar has lots of warmth and friendliness in its air. I felt so comfortable moving around and seeing the day go by. It’s one of the things I love about travel.
In fact, I would say ‘the feeling of being in Amritsar’ is all you need to return here!
It’s a foodie’s paradise.
Amritsar is one of the most loved food destinations in India, and it’s no surprise! This is not something that I discovered, but this is something that I had heard so much about. I would not say that I got a chance to experience it in its full measure, but I could definitely comprehend people’s enthusiasm towards food.
I hope to try all kinds of succulent cuisines of Amritsar whenever I visit it next.
Love the simplicity.
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| Sign-posting at one of the streets in Amritsar |
Amritsar was one city where I enjoyed walking on the road without a care. The distances are short and streets are nice. It’s fun to walk and savor the ambiance along the way. There is no nuisance or chaos. People are easy-going and fun.
We hired a rickshaw from our hotel Ritz Plaza to a certain point, from where we walked our way to Golden Temple.
The Golden Temple.
Last but not the least, Golden Temple aka Harmandir Sahib is Amritsar’s heartbeat. It’s a place that is sure to take your breath away for many reasons – its unique architecture, the temple’s crystal clear reflection in the pond and people’s ardent love for the site. Not to forget, there is heart-rending history behind it that you can read here.
So that was my short take on Amritsar. I hope to visit it again for a little longer period, which would allow me discover it more and be ‘more’ in love with it!
Have you visited Amritsar? What did you like the most about it?
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