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Amritsar
Amritsar had its beginnings when, in the 16th century, Guru Ramdas, the fourth Sikh guru settled down by a pool with miraculous healing powers. His son, Guru Arjun Dev, built a temple in the midst of this pool and enshrined in it the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs.
In 1803, the renowned Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered the lower half of the temple with marble and the upper half was encrusted later with pure gold leaf, which has given it the name, the Golden Temple.Near Amritsar is ram Tirath, the birth place of Lav and Kush, the sons of Rama of the
epic, Ramayana.
What to See:
GOLDEN TEMPLE:
Formerly known as Hari Mandir, the Golden Temple is the holiest Sikh shrine. Sikhism is in fact, a mixture of Hindu and Muslim ways and came out of the Bhakti movement.
The Temple was built in the 16th Century AD by the fifty of Sikhism’s 10 gurus, Guru Arjun Dev. In 1767, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the first Sikh Kingdom, added the golden dome on top, from which the temple gets its name.
JALLIANWALLAH BAGH:
A monument - if this park and the commemorative pillar can be called that – to India’s freedom movement. On April 13, 1919 British General Dyer ordered his Gurkha tropps to fire into a 1500 strong gathering of unarmed Protestants. Over 300 people died in the massacre. Jallianwallah Bagh is one of the sites which symbolies India’s struggle for Independence like little else, including Delhi’s grand Parliament House.
EXCURSIONS:
This is really a gateway to Pakistan and the international border is very near. A train still runs between Amritsar and Lahore in Pakistan, ferrying relatives, friends and tourists across a border that did not exist less than 50 years ago.
SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
Visits the Golden temple- The scared Sikh sanctuary,marbled,Bronzed and covered with gold leaf wherein the Guru Granth Sahib-The Bible of the Sikhs is placed reverently. Also see the community Kitchen where 10,000 pilgrims are fed daily on voluntary and complimentary basis. The historic Jallianwala Bagh where Gen. Dyer’s bullets Killed scorers of innocent Indians and the beautiful Ram Bagh Gardens.
Chandigarh
Chandigarh was designed by a team of internationally acclaimed architects led by the imitable Frenchman Le Corbusier. The team included Pierre Jeauneret England’s E.Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, among others. It was planned like Brasilia solely as a capital.
After the Partition in 1947, when Lahore, the original capital of the Punjab, went to Pakistan, both Shimla and Jullundhur were used as seats of Government. When it was decided to start from scratch, the site for Chandigarh, at the base of the shivalik hills, was selected for its good soil and water supply, accessibility and beauty.
In 1966, when the state of Haryana was created from the already truncated Punjab, Chandigarh became the capital of Punjab & Haryana.
WHAT TO SEE:
GOVERNMENT COMPLEX:
The focal point of Chandigarh is the Government complex at the City’s northern end. The Secretariat, an elonged structure, cost rs.15 million to be built in the 50s.The nicest part of the garden in the terrace garden. Nearby is the multipillard High Court, with its stucco sun screens, stands in a reflecting pool.
THE CULTURAL ZONE:
In the western part of the town, the zone has a museum and an excellent art gallery. Connected with the cultural sector is a park in which colleges situated.
GARDEN OF NEK CHAND:
Almost in the shadow of Le Corbusier’s Geometric buildings in sector 1is the extra-ordinary 12-acregarden of Nek Chand,the highly talented, self-taught artist who has created an epic out of junk.
ZAKIR ROSE GARDEN:
In sector 16 is the handsomely landscaped Zakir Rose garden. With 30 acres it’s supposed to be the largest garden in ASIA.
THE LAKE:
A huge artificial lake where you can boat, stroll leisurely along the shore, or fish.
EXCURSION:
MUGHAL PINJORE GARDENS:
Travel 16 km. from Chandigarh and you will find yourself back in the 17th century at the Mughal Pinjore Gardens. They are cool and green and as carefully planned as Chandigarh but delightfully frivolous compared with the well-planned city. The Pinjore gardens, once the preserve of the Maharaja of Patiala, are now a popular picnic spot.
STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
Chandigarh was designed by Le Corbusier –The famous French architect, Half day tour includes visit to the Secretariat, high Court, State Libarary, Assembly Chambers, Rose gardens, University, Botanical garden and the beautiful Lake.
Chittorgarh
The original capital of Mewar before Udai Singh built Udaipur, the fort 115 Km from Udaipur, has witnessed so many battle-cries and the clash of swords. Sacked three times, chittor was first attacked in 1303 by Allaudin Khilji when he was bewitched by Rani Padmini. In 1535, Bahadur shah of Gujarat took over the capital. The final sack came when Akbar’s general Man Singh defeated Pratap. Almost every building was defaced and every possession looted or destroyed.
The Fort is perched on a 180 - metre high hill and sprawls over 700
acres. The formidable 9-storeyed structure of Vijay stambh or victory Tower
was built by Rana Kumbha in 1440. Kirti stambh is dedicated to Sti Adinath, Rishabhdeo, and the first Jain Tirthankaras.
A temple is dedicated to Meera Bai, mystic-poetess and one of the leading figures of the Bhakti movement. A sun temple dating to the 8th century was converted in the 14th century into a Mother Goddess temple.
STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
Once the cradle of Rajput chivalry and heroism it preceded Udaipur by about a thousand years as the capital of Simodia Rajputs of Mewar. The ancient bastion, described in a ninth century classic in Khoman Raza is renowned for strength with in the grasp of no one. It was sacked thrice and the wide gaping wounds can still be seen. It withstood all onslaughts, which is the charm of this fort.
Dalhousie
Lord Dalhousie’s find, so to say. The Governor- General in the 19th century established a sanatorium here & the small station got his name. Dalhousie is in the district of Chamba and borders Jammu & Kashmir.
Hillsides full of pine forests interspersed with meadows and beautiful English-style cottages gives the area an almost magical feel. Small pathways go up and down the ridges and valleys connecting far-flung homes.
WHAT TO SEE:
PANJPULA:
A natural Lake with five man-made bridges. It is also the memorial of Sardar Ajit Singh, who died the day India became independent, August 15, 1947.
SUBHASH BAOLI:
An unbelievably beautiful spot, excellent for sighting the snow-covered ranges beyond. Nearby is the jandry Ghat.
DAINKUND:
About 10 km.from Dalhousie town is the site from where on a clear morning you can see the three rivers, the vyas, Ravi and Chenab.
KALATOPE:
About 9 km.from Dalhousie town is Kalatope from where you can see the higher Himalayan.
EXCURSIONS:
KHAJJIAR: About 30 km, from Dalhousie is Khajjiar which is a 1.5 km by 1 km.saucer-shaped valley surrounded by Deodar trees. In the middle is a lake with a floating Island. Local residents hold the lake as sacred because of a belief that it is associated with nearby Khajinag Devi temple.
CHAMBA:
50km from Dalhousie, chamba is the district headquarters. The town itself is famous for temples, which are built in the shape of its temples, which are built in the shape of mountain peaks. There are lots of great temples situated in Chamba like lakshminarayan temple dedicated to lord Vishnu & Shiva built in 8th & 10th century.The chaturmukh image in the Hariram Temple is beautiful etc. Around chamba, sarol, Saluni and Bundel are other places to visit. The Chandrasekhar temple at Sahu and katasan Devi temple are also worth visiting.
BHARMAUR:
The traditional capital of the Chamba state. The town is teeming with temples. The important ones are the Mani Mahesh, Lakshnadevi, Ganesh and Narshima. The town is the summer retreat of the semi-nomadic Godriya-in the winter they move to Bilashpur, Kangra & Mandi.
STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
A summer resort par excellence, this hill resort par excellence, this hill resort was founded by Lord Dalhousie during the British days in 1850 as a sanatorium. It is situated 640 kms. From Delhi and lies on the outer slopes of the Dhaula Dhar range of the Himalayas Apart from its own considerable scenic attraction, it is also the gateway to Chamba, the valley of Milk, Honey, springs and streams.
Dharamshala
Dharamsala is the principal township of the Kangra Valley region and is magnificently set to the background of the Dhauladhar Mountains. The town has been the seat of his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the Leader of the Tibetans, since 1960 when the Chinese over-ran and occupied Tibet. So much so that Dharamsala is often referred to as little Lhasa. The area is famous for the Kangra School of miniature paintings.
WHAT TO SEE:
MACLEODGANJ:
The Tibetan government-in-exile is also located here. The Buddha temple is
situated opposite the residence of Dalai Lama, the leaders of the Tibetans, and around the temple are the monastery and a nursery. You can find images of Buddha, padmasambhavam and Avalokiteshwara.
ST. JOHN’S CHURCH:
you can see the memorial dedicated to lord Elgin, a victory during the British Raj, who died at Dharamsala and was buried here in 1863.
WAR MEMORIAL:
Upon entering Dharamsala, you will see this beautifully designed monument, raised to the memory of those who lost their lives in the various wars.
BHAGSUNATH:
Close to slate quarries are a fresh water spring and an old temple.
CHINMAYA TAPOVAN:
This is a recently developed ashram complex established by a great exponent of the Gita, Swami Chinmayananda.
MASROOR:
The sanctum of the main temple has images of Ram Lakshman and sita.
TRIUND:
Triund lies at the foot of the Dhauladhars.The snowline starts at Ilaqa, barely 5 km.
DAL LAKE:
It is the starting point for excursions and trekking & lies next to the Tibetan village.
MOUNTAINEERING: There is a branch of the Mountaineering Institute of Manali at Dharamsala from where one can hire equipment including tents.
EXCURSIONS:
NURPUR:
Known for its textiles, Nurpur has an ancient fort, & a temple of Buj Behani.
SUJANPUR-TIRA:
An ancient town famous again, for its temples.
JWALAMUKHI: A popular centre of pilgrimage for several centuries, the temple of Jwalamukhi is considered to be very sacred. There is no idol in this picturesquely located temple, & the flame that issues from a well around which the temple has been constructed is considered a manifestation of the goddess.
CHINTPURNI & CHAMUNDADEVI:
Chintpurni is represented by a stone idol.
OTHER MAJOR EXCURSIONS:
KANGRA, NADUN, PALAMPUR, BAIJNATH, TRILIKPUR.
STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
A beautiful little hill resort, Dharamsala is 90 kms from Pathankot, lying on the other side of Chamba. It is the headquarters’ of Kangra district. The waterfall of Bhasunath is within a walking distance. The Dalai Lama, the head of Tibetan Buddhism, who fled Lhasa in 1959, has lived in refuge in this hill town. This place has numerous picnic spots also.
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