Amritsar is the second largest city in the Indian state of Punjab and a major cultural, transportation and economic centre. It is also the centre of Sikhism and the site of the Sikhs’ principal place of worship—the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple. Amritsar was founded in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, on a site granted by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Amritsar has a rich and turbulent history, witnessing the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, the Partition of India in 1947 and Operation Blue Star in 1984. Amritsar is also famous for its food, handicrafts and festivals. I visited Amritsar in May 2023 and spent five days exploring this wonderful city. Here are some of the highlights of my trip: Day 1: Golden Temple and Langar I started my day with a visit to the Golden Temple, the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs. The temple is surrounded by a pool of water called the Amrit Sarovar, from which the city derives its name. The temple complex is open to people of all fai