| Voice of Amritsar :
Dr. S S Sinha
Our states economy depends upon agriculture. Earlier we had many
industries in Amritsar but these days all the industries are closing
down because they are unable to face the competition. Here there
is lot of unemployment and underemployment. People are unable to
find good jobs. Resources are getting exhausted due to population
explosion.
Amritsar District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 5094.0 Km2
Population in Amritsar (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 24,90,891
Male : 13,22,088
Female : 11,68,803
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 45921
In seeing : 14113
In speech : 2594
In hearing : 1730
In movement : 19392
Mental : 8092
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 97 (Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C (HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 175 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 242 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Amritsar District Information
Amritsar, literally a Pool of Nectar, derives
its name from Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the fabulous
Golden Temple.
Location
Amritsar city situated in northern Punjab state
of northwestern India lies about 15 miles (25 km) east of the border
with Pakistan. Amritsar is an important city in Punjab and is a
major commercial, cultural, and transportation centre. It is also
the centre of Sikhism and the site of the Sikh’s principal place
of worship.
Area
About five Thousand sq. km
Languages
Punjabi,Hindi,English & Urdu
IT boom in flesh trade also
May 28, 2005
Believe it or not, there is an IT boom in the flesh trade industry
of Punjab with many sophisticated computer savvy call girls and
pimps making a network of their trustworthy clients through messenger
services. Not only it comes free of cost but also saves time and
money in contacting the prospective customers and above all the
process helps avoiding risk of being trapped by police while striking
deal with the customers
Read
More
Languages
Punjabi,Hindi,English & Urdu
Administrative Divisions
District Amritsar is divided into seven Tehsils, ten Sub-Tehsils,
sixteen Blocks, sixteen Assembly Constituencies & two Lok Sabha
constituencies.
Golden temple(Harmander Sahib)
The Golden temple is located in the holy city of the Sikhs, Amritsar.
The Golden temple is famous for its full golden dome, it is one
of the most sacred pilgrim spots for Sikhs. The Mandir is built
on a 67-ft square of marble and is a two storied structure. Maharaja
Ranjit Singh had the upper half of the building built with approximately
400 kg of gold leaf. The Golden Temple is surrounded by a number
of other famous temples like the Durgiana Temple. The fourth Guru
of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who had initially constructed a pool here,
founded Amritsar, which houses the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib.
It is here that Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana. Rama and
Sita are believed to have spent their fourteen-year exile in Amritsar,
the epicenter of Sikhism. To the south of the temple is a garden,
and the tower of Baba Atal. The Central Sikh Museum is atop the
Clock Tower. The 'Guru Ka Langar' offers free food to around 20,000
people everyday. The number shoots up to 100,000 on special occasions.
A visitor must cover his / her head before entering the temple premises.
The Granth Sahib is kept in the Temple during the day and is kept
in the Akal Takht or Eternal Throne in the night. The Akal Takht
also houses the ancient weapons used by the Sikh warriors. Guru
Hargobind established it. The rugged old Jubi Tree in the north
west corner of the compound is believed to possess special powers.
It was planted 450 years ago, by the Golden Temple's first high
priest, Baba Buddha. Guru-ka-Langar or the communal canteen is towards
the eastern entrance of the temple complex, and it provides free
food to all visitors, regardless of colour, creed, caste or gender.
Visitors to the Golden Temple must remove their shoes and cover
their heads before entering the temple. The temple is less crowded
in the early mornings on weekends.
Around the Golden Temple Within the sacred precincts of the Golden
Temple, a devotee can seek blessing at: The Akal Takht, Har Ki Pauri,
Dukh Bhanjani Ber (Jujube Tree), Thara Sahib, Ber Baba Budha Ji,
Gurudwara Ilachi Ber, Ath Sath Tirath, Bunga Baba Deep Singh
Durgiana Temple (Lakshmi Narain Temple)
Built in the third decade of the 20th Century it echoes, not the
traditional Hindu temple architecture, but that of the Golden Temple
and, in a similar manner rises from the midst of a tank and has
canopies and the central dome in the style of the Sikh temple. One
of the greatest reformers and political leaders of resurgent India,
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, laid its foundation stone. It is a well-known
repository of Hindu scriptures
Wagah Border
The international border between India and Pakistan. The pomp and
pageantry of the Beating Retreat and the Change of Guard within
handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces makes for
a most charming spectacle.
Wagah, an army outpost on Indo-Pak border - between Amritsar and
Lahore, is an elaborate complex of buildings, roads and barriers
on both sides. The daily highlight is the evening "Beating the Retreat"
ceremony. Soldiers from both countries march in perfect drill, going
through the steps of bringing down their respective national flags.
As the sun goes down, nationalistic fervour rises and lights are
switched on marking the end of the day amidst thunderous applause.
Jallian Wala Bagh
The memorial at this site commemorates the 2000 Indians who were
killed or wounded, shot indiscriminately by the British under the
command of Gen Michael O"Dyer on April13, 1919 while participating
in a peaceful public meeting. This was one of the major incidents
of India's freedom struggle.The story of this appaling massacre
is told in the Martyr's Gallery at the site. A section of wall with
bullet marks still visible is preserved along with the memorial
well, in which some people jumped to escape. "The impossible men
of India shall rise and liberate their mother land", declared Mahatma
Gandhi, after the Jallian Wala massacre. "This disproportionate
severity of punishment inflicted upon the unfortunate people and
method of carrying it out is without parallel in the history of
civilized govt." wrote Rabindra Nath Tagore the noble laureate while
returning knighthood.
Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh a beautiful garden ,an accustomed listener to the Neighs
of thousand horses, announcing the arrival of the statesman of the
century Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) the Lion of Punjab, has
in its heart the summer Palace of this great ruler. Maintenance
free inbuilt cooling system designed in the Palace exhibits the
architectural excellence and invokes a keen interest.The king of
his time brought local chieftains under his control and virtually
finished any eventuality of possible attacks on the kingdom raised
by him. To commemorate the memory of his velour Ram Bagh on its
one end has a lively statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh saddled on
a horse in a winsome posture. The garden was named by the ruler
himself as a tribute to Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city. Now
the summer palace of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been converted
into a museum which speaks volumes on his times.On display are weapons
dating back to Mughal times, portraits of ruling houses of Punjab
and a replica of diamond "Kohinoor". In those days the garden was
approached by a huge fortified gate which still exists in its original
form and is just on the periphery of the garden.
Ram Tirath
Located 11 Km West of Amritsar on Chogawan road, dates back
to the period of Ramayana, Rishi Valmiki's hermitage. The place
has an ancient tank and many temples. A hut marks the site where
Mata Sita gave birth to Luv & Kush and also, still extant are Rishi
Valmiki's hut and the well with stairs where Mata Sita used to take
her bath. The Bedis of Punjab (Guru Nanak Dev , the founder Prophet
of Sikhism was a Bedi) trace their descent from Kush and Sodhis
(the 10th Prophet of Sikhism, Guru Gibind Singh was a Sodhi) from
Luv. A four day fair, since times immemorial is held here starting
on the full moon night in November. 16 Kilometres west on Choganwan
road is Ram Tirath, commemorating Maharishi Balmik Ji´s heritage.
Harike Bird Sanctuary :
Harike wetland about 40 minutes drive from Amritsar is one of the
finest virgin bird sanctuaries in the country. At this confluence
of Beas and Sutlej, one can see a host of migratory birds as well
as many species of wild animals in their natural habitat.
Samadhi of Guru Angad Dev Ji:
About 30 km south east from Amritsar, and within easy reach from
Goindwal Sahib is a Samadhi of the second Guru. It was built by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1815 A.D.
Jama Masjid Khairuddin:
Built by Mohd. Khairuddin in 1876, this masjid is a place of architectural
beauty situated in the Hall Bazar. This is the holy place from where
a call against the British rule was given by Tootie-e-Hind, Shah
Attaullah Bukhari.
Samadh of Shravan:
About 6 Kilometres from Ajnala near Jastarwal (earlier known as
Dashrathwal) is located one of the oldest heritage spots in Amritsar.
It belongs to the Ramayana period a legend has it that Shravan lies
buried here after the fell from the arrow of King Dashrath, the
Lord of Ayodhya. The Samadh is situated on the banks of an old rivulet
(Purani Dhab ).Shravan had taken his blind parents on a wide-ranging
pilgrimage by cradling them on his shoulder in a wooden device.
Pul Kanjari:
It is another heritage sight built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh
around which are sewn many tales and legends. Situated near the
villages of Daoka and Dhanoa Kalan right on the Wagha border, Pul
Kanjari is about 35 kms. Both from Amritsar & Lahore. The Maharaja
would often rest and leisure here in the baradari while passing
by along with his royal troop and retinues. Despite a ruined fort
and a baoli-a bathing pool - this heritage sight has a temple, a
Gurudwara and a mosque which bespeak of the secular concerns of
the Maharaja. The inside of the dome on the corner of the baoli
enshrines a number of scenes and sights from the Hindu scriptures
and the Raj Darbar.These frescoes are laced with floral frames.
Khoo Kalyanwala :
The city has played a stellar role in the liberation of India from
the British clutches. Freedom fighters like Madan Lal Dhingra, Ras
Bihari Bose, S.Kartar Singh Sarabha, Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. Saif-ud-din
Kitchlu are house-hold names in Amritsar. When Mangal Pande blew
the bugle of rebellion against the British in 1857, its echoes and
shock-waves were felt in Amritsar also. A platoon of 400 soldier
stationed at Lahore rebelled against the British Government by fleeing
their barracks. The deserted soldiers bravely swam across the flooded
Ravi and reached Ajnala.The information was received by Mr.Fredric
Cooper, the then Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar.On his order, all
of them were put in a coop-like room where almost 200 soldiers died
of asphyxia. The rest of them were brutally shot dead the next morning
and their dead bodies thrown in the well which is known as the Kalianwala
Khoo in Tehsil Ajnala.
The Historical Banyan Tree( Shaheedi Bohr):
This historical tree with massive girth and lushgreen canopy
stands majestically in the Namdhari Shaheedi Samark against the
majestic back drop of the northern boundary of Ram Bagh.Four Kookas
were hanged from this tree by the British Government in 1871.The
Kookas were hanged from this tree by the British Government in 1871
The Kookas were hanged because they had reacted violently against
the hawking of beef around the Golden Temple.
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