Sports & nature

Amritsar is located at 31.63°N 74.87°E with an average elevation of 234 metres (768 ft).

Amritsar has a semiarid climate, typical of Northwestern India and experiences four seasons primarily: winter season (December to March) with temperature ranges from 0 °C (32 °F) to about 15 °C (59 °F), summer season (April to June) where temperatures can reach 42 °C (108 °F), monsoon season (July to September) and post monsoon season (October to November). Annual rainfall is about 681 millimetres (26.8 in). The lowest recorded temperature is 3.6 °C (25.5 °F), was recorded on 9 December 1996 and the highest temperature, 48.1 °C (118.6 °F), was recorded on 22 May 2013.

Places

Jallianwala Bagh

Jallianwala Bagh is the site of one of the most monstrous massacres in human history and a dark event during the Indian independence struggle. Also known as Amritsar massacre, as many as 1100 peaceful protesters were killed when British troops opened fire on April 13, 1919 at this place. The brutal murder of thousands added fuel to the fight against the British and raised severe questions about the British intentions to rule India in a humane way. Today, the park has been converted into a memorial who sacrificed their lives.

On April 13, 1919, 20,000 people comprising Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs had gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh in answer to Mahatma Gandhi’s call for public non-violent protest against the Rowlatt Act. The Act indefinitely extended “emergency measures” to control public unrest and root out conspiracy and allowed police to imprison any person suspected of terrorism for two years without trial. Acting on the assumption that a conspiracy was being planned to overthrow the British rule, Brigadier Gen Reginald Dyer marched to the spot with a platoon of 50 soldiers and an armoured car. The roads to the park being narrow, Gen Dyer had to leave behind the armoured car. On reaching the park, the British general opened fire at the peaceful protesters without warning or asking them to disperse.

As many as 1600 rounds were fired and the firing stopped only when the British ran out of ammunition. Many people jumped into the well in the park to escape the bullets. Though official records put the number of fatalities at 379 and injured at 1,100, the numbers were widely believed to be more. Even the British civil surgeon, Dr Williams DeeMeddy, put the numbers at 1,000 fatalities and 1,526 injured. Shaken by the brutality of the incident, the British instituted the Hunter Commission which found Dyer guilty of mistaken notion of duty and was relieved of his command and prematurely retired.

Post Indian independence, the park was turned into a memorial to the people who sacrificed their lives. A memorial designed by American architect Benjamin Polk now stands at the site. The memorial was inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad on April 13, 1961. Jallianwala Bagh is open to public on all days. But the memorial is open between 6 am and 9 pm in summers and 7 am-8 pm in winters.

You can see the Martyr’s well, the well into which people jumped to escape the bullets. It has been preserved inside the park and stands as a reminder of the horrific event that occurred here. You can also see Bullet holes on the wall within the Jallianwala Bagh. The Golden Temple is located at a stone’s throw away from Jallianwala Bagh.

Rambagh Gardens

Ram Bagh is a garden within the summer palace of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which has now been converted into a museum. Renowned as one of the best gardens in Punjab, this park is intersected by water channels fitted with fountains and golden fish. Coniferous trees and herbal plants that rarely found in plains are scattered across the garden.

At the end of the garden, there is a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh saddled on a horse in a winsome posture. Maharaja Ranjit Singh named this garden after Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city of Amritsar.

Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary

‘Lying at the confluence of Beas and Sutlej, it welcomes visitors from Siberia and the Arctic.’

Harike Wetland is the largest wetland in northern India and is located in the Tarn Taran Sahib district of Punjab. The popular Harike Lake lies deep within the park. This man-made wetland was created as a result of the diversion constructed across the Sutlej River in 1953 and therefore stands at the confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers. It occupies an area of 4100 hectares and spreads into three districts of Punjab namely Amritsar, Ferozepur and Kapurthala. It is also a water source for the Indira Gandhi Canal, situated in Rajasthan. The rich biodiversity (particularly birds) of this wetland helps in maintaining the ecological as well as ecological balance and attracts a large number of tourists. The Harike Wetland also known as Hari-ke-pattan is a famous destination for bird watchers. There are many more local attractions for visitors as it is supposedly only an hour away from the city of Amritsar.

Kaiser Bagh Park

Also called as the Ceaser's Park, Kaiser Bagh is the most exciting place of Amritsar. The garden is a quadrangular shaped park that features a pavilion, flanked by yellow painted forms on the three sides. The architectural style of this garden is an amalgam of Gothic and Mughal style. The most favorite part of the place among the tourist is its entrance. The entrance has a flight of stairs that lead to the main floor. The first floor has a small temple which is similar to a bridge.