Amritsar has much to recommend it by way of tourist attractions, cuisine and historical landmarks. It is best known for its gilded Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), the holiest gurdwara – religious complex- and a revered shrine of the Sikh faith. Built in marble and partially covered in gold, the famed Golden Temple stands at the end of a causeway. It’s surrounded by the sacred Amrit Sarovar Lake, meaning ‘the pool of ambrosial nectar’. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib is ceremoniously placed inside the temple premises every morning and returned to the Akal Takhat (timeless throne) every night.

Located in India’s northern state of Punjab, Amritsar is in close proximity to the Indo-Pakistan border. Every evening at the border checkpoint, thousands gather to witness an elaborate military ceremony conducted by the two armies on both sides of the border. This city is also the site of the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre that took place during the British Raj, when thousands of innocent civilians were killed. A memorial to the martyred is a moving visit. Amritsar is also known for its hearty food – the Amritsari Kulcha, a stuffed flatbread, chicken and fish tikka, and flavoured yogurt lassi are some of the signature offerings.