One of the prime reasons for my dwindling bank balance has been my penchant for travelling. My thanks for this very satisfying and enriching choice of entertainment to my alma mater– Wilson College; which presented me with several opportunities of travelling to places – lesser known on the travelling circuit and hence unique in their own right. So, when I noticed an opening in yet another Wilson College excursion, I squeezed through for what would be a month long expedition of Incredible India.

 It began far up north, in the historic city of Amritsar. Narrow lanes, broad highways with practiced reckless driving. Sweltering heat in a dry dust bowl. Smiling, colourful and healthy ladies accompanied by men with a rough, loud and cheerful persona, radiating heartfelt happiness and contentment. This is how my senses will forever remember Amritsar.  Did I forget to mention the most heavenly lassi on God’s earth?

Host to an enlightened religion and witness to one of the most horrible massacres in the history of Indian independence, Amritsar was founded in the later half of the 16thcentury by Guru Ram Das. Opinion is divided on the exact year, 1573 or 1577AD. Originally the site of Amritsar was community land lying between the village of Sultanwind, Tung, Gumtala and Gilwali, and later it was acquired by the Sikh Gurus either on payment or was received by them free of cost. While the exact details of its origins might be a mystery, it is certain that it gets its name – which literally means ‘pool of nectar’- from the Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the fabulous Golden Temple.