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Coordinates: 31°38′N 74°52′E﻿ ﻿31.64, 74.86


Amritsar (Punjabi ���, translation The Lake of the Holy Nectar) is located in the northwestern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering just over 3,695,077. Amritsar is 32 kilometres (20 mi) east of Lahore, Pakistan and therefore, very close to India's western border with Pakistan. Another origin of Amritsar's name is from Amit-Saagar, "The Ocean of the Nectar of Immortality".Amritsar is home to Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal in Agra and is the number one destination for non-resident-Indians (NRI) in the whole of India. Amritsar is considered important and holy by Hindus as well. Bhagvan Valmiki's or Nirankar Valmiki's ashram was considered to have been situated close to Amritsar, where Goddess Sita, wife of Lord Rama gave birth to Lava and Kush. The forest around the ashram was considered Valmiki's "Tapo van" (forest of meditation). Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh are considered incarnations of Lava and Kush as stated in the shri sooraj parkash granth. The Durgaina temple is also a very famous Hindu temple located on the city.There is Baba Jivan Singh temple dedicated to the brave sikh. The 9th Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur was killed by the Mughals in Delhi where there is Guru Sish Ganj Gurudwara. Baba Jivan singh ji mazhabi walked from Anandpur to Delhi and managed to capture the head (sis) of Guru Teg Bahadur and presented that to Guru Gobind Singh.Amritsar is also known for the incidents of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 under British Rule and Operation Bluestar in 1984 under the late Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.The main commercial activities include tourism, carpets and fabrics, farm produce, handicrafts, service trades and light engineering. The city is popular and known for its food and culture. Amritsar is also home to Central Khalsa Orphanage, which was once a home for Shaheed Udham Singh, a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement.[1]


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