Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 97 (Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C (HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 175 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 242 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
Our states economy depends upon agriculture. Earlier
we had many industries in Amritsar but these days all the industries
are closing down because they are unable to face the competition.
Here there is lot of unemployment and underemployment. People are
unable to find good jobs. Resources are getting exhausted due to
population explosion.
Amritsar District Information
Amritsar, literally a Pool of Nectar, derives
its name from Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the
fabulous Golden Temple.
Location
Amritsar city situated in northern Punjab state
of northwestern India lies about 15 miles (25 km) east of the
border with Pakistan. Amritsar is an important city in Punjab
and is a major commercial, cultural, and transportation centre.
It is also the centre of Sikhism and the site of the Sikh’s principal
place of worship.
Area
About five Thousand sq. km
Languages
Punjabi,Hindi,English & Urdu
IT boom in flesh trade
also
May 28, 2005
Believe it or not, there is an IT boom in the flesh trade industry
of Punjab with many sophisticated computer savvy call girls and
pimps making a network of their trustworthy clients through messenger
services. Not only it comes free of cost but also saves time and
money in contacting the prospective customers and above all the
process helps avoiding risk of being trapped by police while striking
deal with the customers
Read
More
Languages
Punjabi,Hindi,English & Urdu
Administrative Divisions
District Amritsar is divided into seven Tehsils, ten Sub-Tehsils,
sixteen Blocks, sixteen Assembly Constituencies & two Lok Sabha
constituencies.
Golden temple(Harmander
Sahib)
The Golden temple is located in the holy city of the Sikhs, Amritsar.
The Golden temple is famous for its full golden dome, it is one
of the most sacred pilgrim spots for Sikhs. The Mandir is built
on a 67-ft square of marble and is a two storied structure. Maharaja
Ranjit Singh had the upper half of the building built with approximately
400 kg of gold leaf. The Golden Temple is surrounded by a number
of other famous temples like the Durgiana Temple. The fourth Guru
of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who had initially constructed a pool here,
founded Amritsar, which houses the Golden Temple or Harmandir
Sahib. It is here that Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana.
Rama and Sita are believed to have spent their fourteen-year exile
in Amritsar, the epicenter of Sikhism. To the south of the temple
is a garden, and the tower of Baba Atal. The Central Sikh Museum
is atop the Clock Tower. The 'Guru Ka Langar' offers free food
to around 20,000 people everyday. The number shoots up to 100,000
on special occasions. A visitor must cover his / her head before
entering the temple premises. The Granth Sahib is kept in the
Temple during the day and is kept in the Akal Takht or Eternal
Throne in the night. The Akal Takht also houses the ancient weapons
used by the Sikh warriors. Guru Hargobind established it. The
rugged old Jubi Tree in the north west corner of the compound
is believed to possess special powers. It was planted 450 years
ago, by the Golden Temple's first high priest, Baba Buddha. Guru-ka-Langar
or the communal canteen is towards the eastern entrance of the
temple complex, and it provides free food to all visitors, regardless
of colour, creed, caste or gender. Visitors to the Golden Temple
must remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering
the temple. The temple is less crowded in the early mornings on
weekends.
Around the Golden Temple Within the sacred precincts of the Golden
Temple, a devotee can seek blessing at: The Akal Takht, Har Ki
Pauri, Dukh Bhanjani Ber (Jujube Tree), Thara Sahib, Ber Baba
Budha Ji, Gurudwara Ilachi Ber, Ath Sath Tirath, Bunga Baba Deep
Singh
Durgiana Temple (Lakshmi
Narain Temple)
Built in the third decade of the 20th Century it echoes, not the
traditional Hindu temple architecture, but that of the Golden
Temple and, in a similar manner rises from the midst of a tank
and has canopies and the central dome in the style of the Sikh
temple. One of the greatest reformers and political leaders of
resurgent India, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, laid its foundation
stone. It is a well-known repository of Hindu scriptures
Wagah Border
The international border between India and Pakistan. The pomp
and pageantry of the Beating Retreat and the Change of Guard within
handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces makes
for a most charming spectacle.
Wagah, an army outpost on Indo-Pak border - between Amritsar and
Lahore, is an elaborate complex of buildings, roads and barriers
on both sides. The daily highlight is the evening "Beating the
Retreat" ceremony. Soldiers from both countries march in perfect
drill, going through the steps of bringing down their respective
national flags. As the sun goes down, nationalistic fervour rises
and lights are switched on marking the end of the day amidst thunderous
applause.
Jallian Wala Bagh
The memorial at this site commemorates the 2000 Indians who were
killed or wounded, shot indiscriminately by the British under
the command of Gen Michael O"Dyer on April13, 1919 while participating
in a peaceful public meeting. This was one of the major incidents
of India's freedom struggle.The story of this appaling massacre
is told in the Martyr's Gallery at the site. A section of wall
with bullet marks still visible is preserved along with the memorial
well, in which some people jumped to escape. "The impossible men
of India shall rise and liberate their mother land", declared
Mahatma Gandhi, after the Jallian Wala massacre. "This disproportionate
severity of punishment inflicted upon the unfortunate people and
method of carrying it out is without parallel in the history of
civilized govt." wrote Rabindra Nath Tagore the noble laureate
while returning knighthood.
Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh a beautiful garden ,an accustomed listener to the Neighs
of thousand horses, announcing the arrival of the statesman of
the century Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) the Lion of Punjab,
has in its heart the summer Palace of this great ruler. Maintenance
free inbuilt cooling system designed in the Palace exhibits the
architectural excellence and invokes a keen interest.The king
of his time brought local chieftains under his control and virtually
finished any eventuality of possible attacks on the kingdom raised
by him. To commemorate the memory of his velour Ram Bagh on its
one end has a lively statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh saddled on
a horse in a winsome posture. The garden was named by the ruler
himself as a tribute to Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city.
Now the summer palace of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been converted
into a museum which speaks volumes on his times.On display are
weapons dating back to Mughal times, portraits of ruling houses
of Punjab and a replica of diamond "Kohinoor". In those days the
garden was approached by a huge fortified gate which still exists
in its original form and is just on the periphery of the garden.
Ram Tirath
Located 11 Km West of Amritsar on Chogawan road, dates back
to the period of Ramayana, Rishi Valmiki's hermitage. The place
has an ancient tank and many temples. A hut marks the site where
Mata Sita gave birth to Luv & Kush and also, still extant are
Rishi Valmiki's hut and the well with stairs where Mata Sita used
to take her bath. The Bedis of Punjab (Guru Nanak Dev , the founder
Prophet of Sikhism was a Bedi) trace their descent from Kush and
Sodhis (the 10th Prophet of Sikhism, Guru Gibind Singh was a Sodhi)
from Luv. A four day fair, since times immemorial is held here
starting on the full moon night in November. 16 Kilometres west
on Choganwan road is Ram Tirath, commemorating Maharishi Balmik
Ji´s heritage.
Harike Bird Sanctuary
Harike wetland about 40 minutes drive from Amritsar is one of
the finest virgin bird sanctuaries in the country. At this confluence
of Beas and Sutlej, one can see a host of migratory birds as well
as many species of wild animals in their natural habitat.
Samadhi of Guru Angad
Dev Ji
About 30 km south east from Amritsar, and within easy reach from
Goindwal Sahib is a Samadhi of the second Guru. It was built by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1815 A.D.
Jama Masjid Khairuddin
Built by Mohd. Khairuddin in 1876, this masjid is a place of architectural
beauty situated in the Hall Bazar. This is the holy place from
where a call against the British rule was given by Tootie-e-Hind,
Shah Attaullah Bukhari.
Samadh of Shravan
About 6 Kilometres from Ajnala near Jastarwal (earlier known as
Dashrathwal) is located one of the oldest heritage spots in Amritsar.
It belongs to the Ramayana period a legend has it that Shravan
lies buried here after the fell from the arrow of King Dashrath,
the Lord of Ayodhya. The Samadh is situated on the banks of an
old rivulet (Purani Dhab ).Shravan had taken his blind parents
on a wide-ranging pilgrimage by cradling them on his shoulder
in a wooden device.
Pul Kanjari
It is another heritage sight built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh
around which are sewn many tales and legends. Situated near the
villages of Daoka and Dhanoa Kalan right on the Wagha border,
Pul Kanjari is about 35 kms. Both from Amritsar & Lahore. The
Maharaja would often rest and leisure here in the baradari while
passing by along with his royal troop and retinues. Despite a
ruined fort and a baoli-a bathing pool - this heritage sight has
a temple, a Gurudwara and a mosque which bespeak of the secular
concerns of the Maharaja. The inside of the dome on the corner
of the baoli enshrines a number of scenes and sights from the
Hindu scriptures and the Raj Darbar.These frescoes are laced with
floral frames.
Khoo Kalyanwala
The city has played a stellar role in the liberation of India
from the British clutches. Freedom fighters like Madan Lal Dhingra,
Ras Bihari Bose, S.Kartar Singh Sarabha, Dr. Satya Pal and Dr.
Saif-ud-din Kitchlu are house-hold names in Amritsar. When Mangal
Pande blew the bugle of rebellion against the British in 1857,
its echoes and shock-waves were felt in Amritsar also. A platoon
of 400 soldier stationed at Lahore rebelled against the British
Government by fleeing their barracks. The deserted soldiers bravely
swam across the flooded Ravi and reached Ajnala.The information
was received by Mr.Fredric Cooper, the then Deputy Commissioner
of Amritsar.On his order, all of them were put in a coop-like
room where almost 200 soldiers died of asphyxia. The rest of them
were brutally shot dead the next morning and their dead bodies
thrown in the well which is known as the Kalianwala Khoo in Tehsil
Ajnala.
The Historical Banyan
Tree( Shaheedi Bohr)
This historical tree with massive girth and lushgreen canopy
stands majestically in the Namdhari Shaheedi Samark against the
majestic back drop of the northern boundary of Ram Bagh.Four Kookas
were hanged from this tree by the British Government in 1871.The
Kookas were hanged from this tree by the British Government in
1871 The Kookas were hanged because they had reacted violently
against the hawking of beef around the Golden Temple.
