Visit to Golden Temple, Jalianwals Bagh and Attari Border on 30-31 -Mar-2017

On the last day of the tour, we visited three important places - one  of historical importance  and one the place of pride for every Indian.  Wanted to visit these places right from the school days as learn  about them in the history book and was attached sentimentally to these places. During the day, we went through the different states of mind - very satisfied after the darshan in the Golden Temple, irritated and anguished after visiting Jalianwala Bagh and filled with enthusiasm and national pride after the Attari Parade by Border Security Force .

Myself in front of a 360-foot high flag post

Shri Harmandir Saheb Golden Temple, Amritsar

Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Sikh Guru, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib.

Spent about 3 hours in this magnificent temple constructed after excavating the holy tank (Amritsar or Amrit Sarovar). Impressed with well-equipped with facilities and discipline by the devotees. Was reading about the Golden Temple since school-days and especially after visiting in Huzursahib, Nanded.  Would have spent more time but could not as we have to reach Attari Border before 3 pm. 

Jalianwala Bagh Massacre, Amritsar took place on 13 April 1919 when British troops under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer fired rifles into a crowd. The civilians had assembled for Baisakhi which marks the Sikh new year and commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. 

The Jallianwalla Bagh is a public garden of 6 to 7 acres (2.8 ha), walled on all sides, with five entrances. Dyer stated that approximately 1,650 rounds had been fired 379 identified dead, with approximately 1,100-1500 wounded. This "brutality stunned the entire nation", resulting in the Non-cooperation Movement of 1920–22. Some historians consider the episode a decisive step towards the end of British rule in India.

The visit to the Bagh made us remember one of the most horrible events  of India's independence struggle and we all were speechless while looking at the signs of the massacre.

Bullet marks showing that the firing was done above
the waist to cause maximum casualty

Martyrs well where in 120 bodies were recovered after the massacre

This was the narrow lane which was blocked by British

The lowering of the flags ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border border is a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force, BSF) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) are jointly following since 1959. It symbolizes of the two countries’ rivalry, as well as brotherhood and cooperation between the two nations. Similar parades are organised at Mahavir/Sadqi border near Fazilka and Hussainiwala/Ganda Singh Wala border near Firozpur.

Lowering of the flags at Attari

Mrs. Kelkar ann Sadhana in front of a 360-foot high flag post