Delights of Amritsar

                       Delights of Amritsar

         We started at the next day-break to explore Amritsar by 2 Innova car running one behind the other 

All looking cheerful and gay waiting to watch Golden Temple in the lake of Nectar 

Ganesh, Suma and Bhavayya were in another car that was moving in front of us.

I am just lost in memory of the previous day when we were in flight ..from the air through the window-pane the Golden Temple seemed unprepossessing , a golden dome, surrounded by a shimmering square of water 

 the whole encapsulated in a white marble boundary. The very thought  made me undoubtedly happy beyond my expectation.

"There are images of  Golden temple in every shop on the way we see here" said Shivanand my husband looking at the small shops on either side of the road.

 "Of course sir,  it's the centre of attraction, the city is famous for"

   

           replied the driver enthusiastically.
                       
               " How far is the Golden Temple from the hotel Park inn ?"   
                          asked HK Bhavayya.
          
                        'nearly 11 kms'   replied the driver
   
            "Oh! that's all " Sheela asked swiftly.
       
       "I know, then we w'll be there with in no time "
      I too added, eagerly waiting to see it.   

           when the driver took us to the temple we were stupefied. We entered the temple complex, the sheer presence of the shimmering building at the centre took our breath away. 

             

'It is the centre of Sikhism, visited by over a lakh of pilgrims everyday'

                                          One of the pilgrim told us, but

the place expands to accommodate all that come that's what I felt. 

    The charming temple is surrounded by a lake.. it's a lake of nectar. We too climbed down the steps put our feet in the water felt cool  sprinkled water over one another head took snaps.

                         It was crowded. By the lake people sit, praying or watching the fishes in the water and some other prepare to take holy dip. Devotional songs play over the speakers installed around the compound. 

           'On one side, a building houses the 'Guru ka Langar' is there where all visitors get a simple, delicious and filling meal any time of the day.'

    MR Bhavayya and Suma brought this msg to us

  one of the pilgrim told them it seemed.
     
        One thing I noticed that we cannot enter the temple without covering our head. We have to cover our head fully either by veil or head-cap.

     Two eyes are not enough to view the beauty of the shimmering shrine!!!

   … The central shrine itself decorated with 750kg of gold donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh-- glitters in sunlight during the day and with strategically placed lights during the night... a guide told us.

    Another thing I noticed that we can not get 'prasadam' by standing and stretching hand forward. no never!
          We have to sit and stretch our both palms together politely then only you can get it. I felt it's a symbol of devotion.

   We saw the volunteers perform 'seva' all around the complex-cleaning the pathways, serving water, cleaning plates, managing foot-wear stalls all working together to keep their holy place running and spreading the feeling of oneness... I am delighted to see it.

        

       While coming back we saw dhabas serving rich Punjabi food. Small shops sell Amritsari kulchas, layered, butter smeared kulchas stuffed with paneer or potato masala all lip-smacking food that we tasted.

  On the way we did some shopping duppattas, kurtis and purses we carried with us like a present from the happy folk of Amritsar.

                                        We headed back with a loads of happy moments of visiting Golden Temple in Amritsar. 
       We followed very strictly  the updates sent by  Rahul.
   After watching Golden Temple and Langar , we returned to Park Inn and took rest from 12:30 to 2:30PM and then setout to next tourist attraction.                          
                            Which one? 
           
                                         Kindly wait for my next post.
        

                                                            Until then  Bye 
                                                                
                                                                              Indu Naik
  
                                            Contributor..
                                                               Shivanand G Naik