Amritsar

Amritsar was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. The city was originally called Ramdaspur and was named after the Guru who founded it. Amritsar grew to become a major spiritual and cultural center for the Sikh religion. It is home to Sikhism's most important spiritual and cultural landmark, the Harmandir Sahib, which is also known as the Golden Temple.

The Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism, was installed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for the first time on August 16, 1604. Compiled by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, the scripture is considered the eternal Guru by the followers of Sikhism. The installation marked a significant moment in the history of the Sikhs and made Amritsar a focal point of Sikh learning and devotion.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the leader of the Sikh Empire, captured Amritsar in the early 19th century, specifically on July 25, 1805. His acquisition led to the expansion of the city and the reinforcement of its religious significance. Ranjit Singh's reign established the city as a center of power in the region and further solidified its importance in Sikh history and culture.

Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar was transformed into a public garden in 1870, serving as a recreation ground for locals. It later became infamous for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which took place in 1919. The site has since been a symbol of the struggle for Indian independence and is visited by thousands who come to pay their respects to the martyrs.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a seminal event in the history of Indian independence. On April 13, 1919, British troops under Brigadier General Dyer fired into a crowd of unarmed Indian civilians, killing hundreds and wounding thousands. The brutal attack galvanized the Indian independence movement and highlighted the resistance against colonial rule. The site is now a national memorial.

Amritsar found itself on the front lines during the partition of India in 1947. The city, situated near the newly drawn border, witnessed immense communal violence and mass migrations. As many Muslims left for Pakistan, streams of Hindus and Sikhs arrived from the other side. It was a time of great upheaval, marked by significant demographic changes and deep scars on the collective memory of the city.

Operation Blue Star was a military operation ordered by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove militant religious leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Conducted between June 1 and June 8, 1984, the operation led to significant damage to the holy site, a high number of casualties, and had long-lasting repercussions on Sikh-Hindu relations.

In 2001, significant restoration and reconstruction work was undertaken at the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. These efforts aimed to repair damages from previous conflicts and to restore the temple's splendor. This restoration was part of a broader initiative to preserve important Sikh historical and cultural landmarks and ensure the temple remained a central place of worship and pilgrimage.

The inauguration of Sikh Heritage Walks in Amritsar in 2014 marked an important cultural and educational initiative. These walks provide tourists and locals with guided tours of historically significant sites within the city, highlighting the rich history and heritage of Sikhism. The initiative has helped revitalize interest in the city's historical narrative among both young Sikhs and international visitors.

On October 19, 2018, a tragic train accident occurred in Amritsar during the Dussehra festival celebrations. As a large crowd gathered to watch a fireworks show near a railway track, a train plowed through the crowd, resulting in the deaths of over 60 people and injuries to dozens more. The tragedy raised serious questions about safety during large public events and led to widespread calls for reforms.