AMRITSAR CITY GUIDE
Amritsar is
the soul of Punjab. Situated very near to the international border of Pakistan.
Amritsar has an Airport and it is connected by 2 pairs of Shatabdi train to
New Delhi. Other cities are connected by super fast or express trains and luxury
and deluxe buses go to Delhi and Chandigarh.
The Khatris and Aroras of Punjab had trading outlets from Chitagong (now in
Bangla Desh) right upto Iran in Persia. Amritsar town was built around the Golden
Temple and when these Khatris and Aroras converted to Sikhism Amritsar became
the East's biggest trading 
and
eventually a manufacturing centre. Today it is India's important distribution
centre of dry-fruits, tea (next only to Calcutta), of condiments and is a leading
exporter of goods to the Middle East. Woollen tweeds, suitings, blankets, shawls
in traditional weaves, ivory (now plastic) inlay furniture, swords of all designs,
oils, scents, jutties (traditional embroidered shoes), cut-glass crockery, selective
musical instruments, carpets are manufactured here almost in every bazaar.
It is one of the leading publication centres, especially in Punjabi language,
in the whole world, is India's manufacturing centre of Ayurvedic medicines and
renowned for treatment of eye diseases.
Amritsar is the home of traditional Punjabi cuisine, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian
where each eating-house has a specialty, which can not be matched. Its pickles,
murabbas (Indian jams) and papads and warian (recipes can not be translated
into English) and sweetmeats are exported to far off places, right into Punjabi
Diaspora abroad.