Weekend Getaway: Awesome Amritsar

The mere mention of Amritsar may evoke mixed feelings. Some may just bow down with devotion while others may think of it like a cultural trip. For me, it was both. Me (along with family folks) headed to the holy city last weekend. We planned this tip in a jiffy and must say that place was worth all the efforts. We drove from Chandigarh to Amritsar by car. It took us 4 hours (including one quick breakfast break) to reach there. This, of course, comes after you’ve braved the maddening traffic. It’s not the pace of the traffic but the unregulated traffic movement that causes the frustration. You’ll have to race with rickshawpullers, auto-walls, BMWs, Volvo buses and may be even carts to get ahead on the road. 

Things get better once you are out of Ropar. On your way to Nawan Shahar, you’ll come across lush green fields laden across wide highway. It’s a delight for drivers as they have a chance to test their speed limits here. Mustard fields and virginal villages along this highway will invariably remind you of DDLJ. There are numerous dhabas (street side eating shops) serving awesome food. However, you can only expect north-Indian delicacies here. Must haves are aloo parathas with white butter in any of these joints. Besides them, there are few urban eating joints which may serve better platters. But on personal note, I would suggest dump fancy restaurants for dhabas ….. at least in Punjab. Food is good and they’ll serve it with gratitude. And you wont come across this sense of hospitality in Delhi at least.

Once you reach Amritsar city limits, the battle for driving space will start all again. The city is currently upgrading its infrastructure. Hence there is lot of construction activity going on all over. This may bring delight to travelers in near future. However, at this point of time construction activities are nothing more than a hindrance. The city authorities need to do something very very quickly to save themselves from this mess. 

Once you brave all this and reach the temple complex, you'll feel as if time has stopped here. The temple complex is amazing. This place has something magical about it. You actually get to feel that you are so closer to the almighty. I'm not one of those religious fanatics, but must admit that the sober and somber environs here can heal any wounded soul. Guess that is why we call God 'THE ALMIGHTY'. May be he is present everywhere on earth but in places like these you can feel him in evey bit - in every breath you take, in every thing that you touch around. Things like ego and pride melt in thin air. I felt like this crazy kid who's lost his game and runs home to get patted by his folks. It’s a heavenly feeling. It's as if someone reassures you that things will be alright. You have to be there to get this feeling. 

You can plan a getaway any time of the yaer. A must visit place. And if any of you have been there, you can share your experience in the 'comments' sections.