Amritsar
Second-largest city in Punjab, holy site of Sikhism.
Amritsar, also known as Ambarsar, is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. Located in the Majha region, it is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre. The city is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district. It is home to the Golden Temple, the holiest site and most-visited gurudwara in Sikhism, and is a major tourist centre with nearly a hundred thousand daily visitors.
- population_metropolitan_2018
- roughly 2 million
- known_for
- Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, food, wooden chessboards and chess pieces
- mayor
- Karamjit Singh Rintu
- heritage_status
- Chosen for Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)
Lore & Background
Guru Ram Das completed a man-made pool and built his official centre, inviting merchants and artisans to settle. Later, Sher Singh added twelve gates and a fort named Dhoor Kot. The British supported textile manufacturing and established Khalsa College. The crowd was fired upon near the railway foot-bridge. On 13 April, thousands of unarmed Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims gathered in Jallianwala Bagh. Colonel Reginald Edward Harry Dyer arrived with soldiers, blocked exits, and ordered firing for about ten minutes.
Reader's Guide
Amritsar holds profound significance as the holiest city in Sikhism, centered on the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), which draws nearly a hundred thousand daily visitors. The city's history includes periods of destruction during Durrani invasions and subsequent fortification under the Sikh Empire, reflecting its strategic and religious importance. Today, Amritsar is the economic capital of Punjab, a major tourist destination, and one of ten municipal corporations in the state. It has been selected as a heritage city under the HRIDAY program. The city is also known for its food and the manufacture of wooden chessboards and chess pieces. Its etymology derives from Amṛta Sarovara (Pool of Nectar), the pool surrounding the Golden Temple, and it was previously called Rāmdāspur after Guru Ram Das.
Did You Know?
- The city's name derives from Amṛta Sarovara, Sanskrit for 'Pool of Nectar', the pool surrounding the Golden Temple.
- Amritsar was previously sometimes known as Rāmdāspur after Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Amritsar?
Amritsar, sometimes called Ambarsar, is the second-largest city in India's Punjab state, situated in the Majha region and serving as the administrative seat of its namesake district. Its metropolitan area is home to roughly two million residents.
What is Amritsar most famous for?
The city is best known worldwide as the home of the Golden Temple, the holiest and most-visited gurudwara in the Sikh faith, attracting close to a hundred thousand pilgrims and tourists daily. It is also celebrated for its regional cuisine, handcrafted wooden chessboards, and the historic Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Why is Amritsar important beyond India?
As the spiritual heart of Sikhism, it anchors one of the world's major religions and draws millions of international visitors each year. It also functions as a pivotal cultural, economic, and transportation hub for the broader Punjab region.
What happened at Jallianwala Bagh?
In 1919, British colonial troops opened fire on a large gathering of unarmed civilians in a public garden in Amritsar, killing hundreds. The massacre became one of the defining atrocities of India's colonial era and a rallying point for the independence movement.
What is Amritsar's current heritage designation?
The city has been selected for India's HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation) Yojana, a national program dedicated to preserving and revitalizing historically significant urban areas.
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