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- Destinations
- Asia
- India
- Amritsar
Amritsar
Tucked away in the extreme north of India is the small city of
Amritsar. Despite being home to more than a million people,
Amritsar is not known for fabulous restaurants or nightlife -
people travelling to Amritsar are searching for a more spiritual
experience.
Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural heart of the Sikh
religion, which has roughly 30 million followers worldwide. This
faith is reflected in the day-to-day life of the city: for example,
nearly all the restaurants in Amritsar are vegetarian.
The city's name means 'pool of nectar', which pays tribute to
Amritsar's most famous attraction, The Golden Temple. This
magnificent structure is a pilgrimage site for Sikhs, but welcomes
visitors of all faiths. The dormitories nearby offer free food and
accommodation to all who enter. Aside from the Golden Temple, there
are other attractions in Amritsar worth visiting, including the
Jallianwala Bagh Gardens, the Mata Hindu Cave Temple, and the
museum at the Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Amritsar's location makes it a great base to explore the north
of India. A popular and fun excursion is to see the ceremonial
inter-army march-off at the daily closing of the India-Pakistan
border. Travellers armed with visas can explore further into the
Pakistani city of Lahore.
Information & Facts
Language
Although English is generally used for official and
business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by
about 40 percent of the population. Urdu is the language common
with the Muslim demographic. India has a total of 22 official
languages
Money
The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR), which is divided into
100 paise (singular paisa). Major currencies can be changed at
banks, and authorised bureaux de changes. It is impossible to
obtain rupees outside India, but no matter what time you arrive in
India there will be an exchange office open at the airport. It is
illegal to exchange money through the black market and it is
advisable to refuse torn notes, as no one will accept them apart
from the National Bank. It is best to change money into small
denominations. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely
accepted, particularly in tourist orientated establishments. ATMs
are not generally available.