Amritsar

We decided to visit Amritsar, the city of the Golden Temple and more importantly the city with people with golden heart. We planned extensively, which means we did not plan anything other than get train tickets a couple of weeks in advance. Rest as usual we trusted wikitravel, and our luck. We took the Swarna Shatabdi (start 7.20am) and reached Amritsar 1.20pm. A short rickshaw ride got us in front of the famous temple rather the gurdwara. The ride itself showed us glimse of few run down lanes, and more interestingly pretty old almost dilapaded building --- we knew we have arrived at the right place. It has its own charm admist all the chaos and mess. Finding an accomodation was surprisingly easy. After 2-3 failed attempts we ended up in Hotel-Temple City Guest House (450/night) located next to Jallianwala Bagh and the Golden Temple.

After dropping off our luggage, we visited Kamal Singh Kulche wala for a quick lunch (Alu and Gobi kulcha, lassi). It was already time to head towards Wagha border parade which lasted from 5-6pm. The autorickshaw brought us back to the temple again --- seems like the heart of the city (also the old city). We had a quick bite from Chocolate planet (Black forest cake ). We walked around checking the side lanes and back alleys and ended up at the karpra (cloth) market. We decided to come back again next day since it was getting late. We stop for dinner at the Brother’s Dhaba (Cheese Paratha, Chane mini meal, lassi).

Finally it was time to visit the Golden temple visit at about 10 pm. It so happened that the Adi Granth was being removed around that time. We wandered around in the temple complex until 11pm. Then we ventured out to some adjacent lanes and by-lanes, before calling it a day.

Next day morning we visited the Jallianwala bagh . The history text was interesting to say the least. Standing in front of the wall we were just trying to imagine how things were on that fateful day .. almost a centrury before. The narration of the widow who stayed at the field overnight surrounded by some 300 dead people touched our minds.

Afterwards we went to the Kapra market and brought some stuff (670). After quite a bit of exploration, and wandering in more old lanes with run down buildings we found the famed Kesar da Dhaba (Roti, Paratha,dal fry, lassi). We headed back and checked out from hotel. Thereafters we went to Golden temple again. Later we dosed off while relaxing at a park. Again explored some areas and bought some local specialities -- Punjabi jutti (150), Kirpan (140), Papad warian . Had some hot jalebi at jalebiwala, and a cold softy at Softy parlour. One last stop for Alu tikki , collected our bag from the hotel and borded the train to reach back Delhi ~11pm.

It will take a few days before we forget the bylanes .. I loved them, and the ambiance -- from an age gone by.

Could not find any proper outlet for fish Amritsari!!!