Amritsar Visit

Amritsar Visit I, balan, Radhika, shruthi and shravan started by Chattisgarh Express. On 26-12-2006.The train supposed to start at 8.40Pm is delayed by a 1.5 hrs and we were shivering in the platform.We reached only by 11:00 am on 27th.We checked into Grand hotel and hired a car and left to Golden temple. We ate at Bhawagan Daba (The parrathas, Kulchas an subjis were very good) we reached Golden temple around 1.30Golden TempleWe are not allowed to wear chappals or shows, so we desisted them in the boot stalls (no charges), also we were supposed to cover our heads inside the Temple, we bought 5 orange color cloth and covered our heads.At the entry there is a small pit with water, were we hv to wash our feet.Standing at the gates were two Persons with spears.Unlike Taj Mahal there is no securityChecks.When entered we can see the Majestic Golden temple at the middle of a big pond. The place is serene.We walked around the corridor, they have mats, walking on the floor is chilling. Taking pictures here and there and enjoying the beautiful, big fishes in the pond.At the two sides of the Golden temple, at the top of towers in the gates there are two big clocks, one in regular numbers(what do we call them!) and other in Punjabi(I supposeNumeral.Then we stood in a queue, which is on a small bridge or path to reach the temple in the center of the pond, the queue took around 45 minutesInside also it was good, surprisingly the priest gave a "Prasadham" packet to my brother, it is wrapped inna orange cloth, inside we also climbed one storey, and able to watch the surroundings from the windows.When we come out they gave sweet prasadham to all.>From there we rushed to Jallin walah bagh at 3:30 pm. Jallianwala Bagh From golden temple we rushed to Jallianwala Bagh, it is a 2 minute walk. The place has been now preserved, with gardens and a big monument built in memory of all those innocent people lost their lives. The building with bullet marks and the well in which people jumped to escape the bullets is also preserved. The scene brought back my visit to war cemetery at Kanchanapuri(Thailand) Wagha Border From there we rushed to Wagha Border, by the time we reached (4.45 PM) the parade has already started, it is about 45minutes drive from Golden temple. We saw a huge crowd there, we saw the Retreat ceremony, of both Pakistan and Indian flags are unhoisted and brought to the BSF control room, there was huge slogans and shout like "Bharath Mata Ki Jai" and we saw huge boards like "Welcome to India". Shuthi clicked a Photo with the BSF jawan. We saw the electric fence at the border. There were shouts, from both sides. (Pakistan and India), this is unique experience. From there we reached hotel and Caught Golden Temple Mail at 9.40 PM and reached Delhi on 28th Morning.