Amritsar

Revision as of 11:46, 25 May 2025 by 2409:4055:40d:278c::1594:e0ac (talk)
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Main other{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox settlement with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | alt | anthem | anthem_link | area_blank1_acre | area_blank1_dunam | area_blank1_ha | area_blank1_km2 | area_blank1_sq_mi | area_blank1_title | area_blank2_acre | area_blank2_dunam | area_blank2_ha | area_blank2_km2 | area_blank2_sq_mi | area_blank2_title | area_code | area_code_type | area_codes | area_footnotes | area_land_acre | area_land_dunam | area_land_ha | area_land_km2 | area_land_sq_mi | area_metro_acre | area_metro_dunam | area_metro_footnotes | area_metro_ha | area_metro_km2 | area_metro_sq_mi | area_note | area_rank | area_rural_acre | area_rural_dunam | area_rural_footnotes | area_rural_ha | area_rural_km2 | area_rural_sq_mi | area_total_acre | area_total_dunam | area_total_ha | area_total_km2 | area_total_sq_mi | area_urban_acre | area_urban_dunam | area_urban_footnotes | area_urban_ha | area_urban_km2 | area_urban_sq_mi | area_water_acre | area_water_dunam | area_water_ha | area_water_km2 | area_water_percent | area_water_sq_mi | blank_emblem_alt | blank_emblem_link | blank_emblem_size | blank_emblem_type | blank_info | blank_info_sec1 | blank_info_sec2 | blank_name | blank_name_sec1 | blank_name_sec2 | blank1_info | blank1_info_sec1 | blank1_info_sec2 | blank1_name | blank1_name_sec1 | blank1_name_sec2 | blank2_info | blank2_info_sec1 | blank2_info_sec2 | blank2_name | blank2_name_sec1 | blank2_name_sec2 | blank3_info | blank3_info_sec1 | blank3_info_sec2 | blank3_name | blank3_name_sec1 | blank3_name_sec2 | blank4_info | blank4_info_sec1 | blank4_info_sec2 | blank4_name | blank4_name_sec1 | blank4_name_sec2 | blank5_info | blank5_info_sec1 | blank5_info_sec2 | blank5_name | blank5_name_sec1 | blank5_name_sec2 | blank6_info | blank6_info_sec1 | blank6_info_sec2 | blank6_name | blank6_name_sec1 | blank6_name_sec2 | blank7_info | blank7_info_sec1 | blank7_info_sec2 | blank7_name | blank7_name_sec1 | blank7_name_sec2 | caption | code1_info | code1_name | code2_info | code2_name | coor_pinpoint | coor_type | coordinates | coordinates_footnotes | demographics_type1 | demographics_type2 | demographics1_footnotes | demographics1_info1 | demographics1_info10 | demographics1_info2 | demographics1_info3 | demographics1_info4 | demographics1_info5 | demographics1_info6 | demographics1_info7 | demographics1_info8 | demographics1_info9 | demographics1_title1 | demographics1_title10 | demographics1_title2 | demographics1_title3 | demographics1_title4 | demographics1_title5 | demographics1_title6 | demographics1_title7 | demographics1_title8 | demographics1_title9 | demographics2_footnotes | demographics2_info1 | demographics2_info10 | demographics2_info2 | demographics2_info3 | demographics2_info4 | demographics2_info5 | demographics2_info6 | demographics2_info7 | demographics2_info8 | demographics2_info9 | demographics2_title1 | demographics2_title10 | demographics2_title2 | demographics2_title3 | demographics2_title4 | demographics2_title5 | demographics2_title6 | demographics2_title7 | demographics2_title8 | demographics2_title9 | dimensions_footnotes | dunam_link | elevation_footnotes | elevation_ft | elevation_link | elevation_m | elevation_max_footnotes | elevation_max_ft | elevation_max_m | elevation_max_point | elevation_max_rank | elevation_min_footnotes | elevation_min_ft | elevation_min_m | elevation_min_point | elevation_min_rank | elevation_point | embed | established_date | established_date1 | established_date2 | established_date3 | established_date4 | established_date5 | established_date6 | established_date7 | established_title | established_title1 | established_title2 | established_title3 | established_title4 | established_title5 | established_title6 | established_title7 | etymology | extinct_date | extinct_title | flag_alt | flag_border | flag_link | flag_size | footnotes | founder | geocode | governing_body | government_footnotes | government_type | government_blank1_title | government_blank1 | government_blank2_title | government_blank2 | government_blank2_title | government_blank3 | government_blank3_title | government_blank3 | government_blank4_title | government_blank4 | government_blank5_title | government_blank5 | government_blank6_title | government_blank6 | grid_name | grid_position | image_alt | image_blank_emblem | image_caption | image_flag | image_map | image_map1 | image_seal | image_shield | image_size | image_skyline | imagesize | iso_code | leader_name | leader_name1 | leader_name2 | leader_name3 | leader_name4 | leader_party | leader_title | leader_title1 | leader_title2 | leader_title3 | leader_title4 | length_km | length_mi | map_alt | map_alt1 | map_caption | map_caption1 | mapsize | mapsize1 | module | motto | motto_link | mottoes | name | named_for | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nickname_link | nicknames | official_name | other_name | p1 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p2 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23 | p24 | p25 | p26 | p27 | p28 | p29 | p3 | p30 | p31 | p32 | p33 | p34 | p35 | p36 | p37 | p38 | p39 | p4 | p40 | p41 | p42 | p43 | p44 | p45 | p46 | p47 | p48 | p49 | p5 | p50 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | parts | parts_style | parts_type | pop_est_as_of | pop_est_footnotes | population | population_as_of | population_blank1 | population_blank1_footnotes | population_blank1_title | population_blank2 | population_blank2_footnotes | population_blank2_title | population_demonym | population_demonyms | population_density_blank1_km2 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi | population_density_blank2_km2 | population_density_blank2_sq_mi | population_density_km2 | population_density_metro_km2 | population_density_metro_sq_mi | population_density_rank | population_density_rural_km2 | population_density_rural_sq_mi | population_density_sq_mi | population_density_urban_km2 | population_density_urban_sq_mi | population_est | population_footnotes | population_metro | population_metro_footnotes | population_note | population_rank | population_rural | population_rural_footnotes | population_total | population_urban | population_urban_footnotes | postal_code | postal_code_type | postal2_code | postal2_code_type | pushpin_image | pushpin_label | pushpin_label_position | pushpin_map | pushpin_map_alt | pushpin_map_caption | pushpin_map_caption_notsmall | pushpin_map_narrow | pushpin_mapsize | pushpin_outside | pushpin_overlay | pushpin_relief | registration_plate | registration_plate_type | seal_alt | seal_link | seal_size | seal_type | seat | seat_type | seat1 | seat1_type | seat2 | seat2_type | settlement_type | shield_alt | shield_link | shield_size | short_description | subdivision_name | subdivision_name1 | subdivision_name2 | subdivision_name3 | subdivision_name4 | subdivision_name5 | subdivision_name6 | subdivision_type | subdivision_type1 | subdivision_type2 | subdivision_type3 | subdivision_type4 | subdivision_type5 | subdivision_type6 | timezone | timezone_DST | timezone_link | timezone1 | timezone1_DST | timezone1_location | timezone2 | timezone2_DST | timezone2_location | timezone3 | timezone3_DST | timezone3_location | timezone4 | timezone4_DST | timezone4_location | timezone5 | timezone5_DST | timezone5_location | total_type | translit_lang1 | translit_lang1_info | translit_lang1_info1 | translit_lang1_info2 | translit_lang1_info3 | translit_lang1_info4 | translit_lang1_info5 | translit_lang1_info6 | translit_lang1_type | translit_lang1_type1 | translit_lang1_type2 | translit_lang1_type3 | translit_lang1_type4 | translit_lang1_type5 | translit_lang1_type6 | translit_lang2 | translit_lang2_info | translit_lang2_info1 | translit_lang2_info2 | translit_lang2_info3 | translit_lang2_info4 | translit_lang2_info5 | translit_lang2_info6 | translit_lang2_type | translit_lang2_type1 | translit_lang2_type2 | translit_lang2_type3 | translit_lang2_type4 | translit_lang2_type5 | translit_lang2_type6 | type | unit_pref | utc_offset | utc_offset_DST | utc_offset1 | utc_offset1_DST | utc_offset2 | utc_offset2_DST | utc_offset3 | utc_offset3_DST | utc_offset4 | utc_offset4_DST | utc_offset5 | utc_offset5_DST | website | width_km | width_mi | mapframe | mapframe-area_km2 | mapframe-area_mi2 | mapframe-caption | mapframe-coord | mapframe-coordinates | mapframe-custom | mapframe-frame-coord | mapframe-frame-coordinates | mapframe-frame-height | mapframe-frame-width | mapframe-geomask | mapframe-geomask-fill | mapframe-geomask-fill-opacity | mapframe-geomask-stroke-color | mapframe-geomask-stroke-colour | mapframe-geomask-stroke-width | mapframe-height | mapframe-id | mapframe-length_km | mapframe-length_mi | mapframe-marker | mapframe-marker-color | mapframe-marker-colour | mapframe-point | mapframe-shape | mapframe-shape-fill | mapframe-shape-fill-opacity | mapframe-stroke-color | mapframe-stroke-colour | mapframe-stroke-width | mapframe-switcher | mapframe-width | mapframe-wikidata | mapframe-zoom }}{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check | template = Infobox settlement | cat = Template:Main other | population; population_total | image_size; imagesize | image_alt; alt | image_caption; caption }}{{#if:

|

}}Template:Main other

Amritsar,Template:Efn also known as Ambarsar,Template:Efn is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. Located in the Majha region, it is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre. The city is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district. It is situated Template:Convert north-west of Chandigarh, and Template:Convert north-west of New Delhi. It is Template:Convert from the India-Pakistan border, and Template:Convert north-east of Lahore, Pakistan.

According to the 2011 census, the city had a population of 1,132,383. It is one of the ten municipal corporations in the state; Karamjit Singh Rintu is serving as the mayor of the city.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Amritsar is the second-most populous city in Punjab and the most populous metropolitan region in the state, with a population of roughly 2 million. Amritsar is the centre of the Amritsar Metropolitan Region.

Amritsar is the economic capital of Punjab. It is a major tourist centre with nearly a hundred thousand daily visitors. The city has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) program of the Government of India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is home to the Golden Temple, the holiest site and most-visited gurudwara in Sikhism. The city is also known for its food, and for the manufacture of wooden chessboards and chess pieces.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

EtymologyEdit

The term Amritsar was previously sometimes known as Rāmdāspur after Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru who is credited with founding the city.<ref name="McLeod1990p28" /> The name Amritsar was often mispronounced as Ambarsar by uneducated people in rural areas; the latter name has since become a colloquial term for the city.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

MythologyEdit

The Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal situated at Amritsar is believed to be the ashram site of Maharishi Valmiki, the writer of the Ramayana.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As per the Ramayana, Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha, sons of Rama at Ramtirath ashram. Numerous people visit Ramtirath Temple, Located 12 Km west of Amritsar on Chogawan road, dates back to the period of Ramayana, Rishi Valmiki's hermitage. at the annual fair. The nearby cities Lahore and Kasur were believed to be founded by Lava and Kusha, respectively. It is believed that during the ashvamedha yajna by Rama, Lava and Kusha caught the ritual horse and tied Hanuman to a tree near to today's Durgiana Temple.Template:Cn

HistoryEdit

Founding of Amritsar cityEdit

File:Amritsar Overhead Panorama View Artwork circa 1860's.jpg
Overhead panoramic view artwork of Amritsar, Template:Circa–1890s

In the Sikh tradition, Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru, is credited with founding the holy city of Amritsar.<ref name="McLeod1990p28">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="ShackleMandair2013xv">Template:Cite book</ref> Two versions of stories exist regarding the land where Guru Ram Das settled. In one, based on a Gazetteer record, the land was purchased, with Sikh donations, for 700 rupees from the owners of the village of Tung.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

According to historical Sikh records, the site was chosen by Guru Amar Das and called Guru Da Chakk. The latter guru had asked Ram Das to find land to start a new town, and to create a man-made pool as its central point.<ref name="Arshi1989p5">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After the coronation Guru Ram Das in 1574, who faced hostile opposition from the sons of Guru Amar Das,<ref name="Mandair2013p38">Template:Cite book</ref> he founded the town; it was named after him as "Ramdaspur". He first completed the pool, and built his new official Guru centre and home next to it. He invited merchants and artisans from other parts of India to settle into the new town with him. The town expanded during the time of Guru Arjan Dev, financed by donations and constructed by volunteers. town grew to become the city of Amritsar. After the son of Guru Amar Das built the gurdwara Harmandir Sahib, the pool area developed further as a temple complex. In 1604 Amar Das's son installed the scripture of Sikhism inside the new temple.<ref name="ShackleMandair2013xv"/>

The period and achievements of construction between 1574 and 1604 are described in Mahima Prakash Vartak, a semi-historical Sikh hagiographic text likely composed in 1741. It is the earliest known document dealing with the lives of all the ten Gurus.<ref name="McLeod1990p28"/>

In 1762 and 1766–1767, Ahmad Shah of the Durrani Empire invaded the Sikh Confederacy. He besieged Amritsar, massacred the populace, and destroyed the city.Template:Sfn

Old walled cityEdit

During the reign of the Sikh Empire, in 1822 Maharaja Ranjit Singh fortified the city, starting from a wall at Katra Maha Singh area.<ref name=":1" />

Among the Katras (fortified residential societies) constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh within the city were the following:<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>

  • Katra Moti Ram
  • Katra Kanwar Kharak Singh (also known as 'Katra Nikkai')
  • Katra Fateh Singh Kallianwala
  • Katra Ahluwalia<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Map of Amritsar, with the city perimeter captioned in Perso-Arabic script marking the twelve historical gates of the old city-wall, ca.1831–35.jpg
Map of Amritsar, with the city perimeter captioned in Perso-Arabic script marking the twelve historical gates of the old city-wall, ca.1831–35

Later, Sher Singh continued with construction of the city wall, adding twelve gates. He also had built a fort named Dhoor Kot; its fortification were yards broad and 7 yards high. The circumference of the walled city was around five miles. The twelve gates constructed during this era were known as (including later renamings):<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref>

  1. Lahori Darwaza (Lahori Gate)<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" />
  2. Khazana Darwaja (Khazana Gate)<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" />
  3. Deori Hakiman (Gate Hakeema/Darwaza Hakeema Wala)<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
  4. Gilwali Darwaza – no longer extant<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
  5. Darwaza Rangar Nanglian (Gate Bhagatawala) – no longer extant<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
  6. Darwaza Ramgarhian (Chattiwind Gate) – later restored<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref>
  7. Darwaza Ahluwalia (Darwaza Gheo Mandi) – was no longer extant but has since been restored<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />
  8. Doburji Darwaza (Sultanwind Gate or Delhi Darwaza)<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
  9. Deorhi Kalan<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
  10. Darwaza Rambagh<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
  11. Deorhi Shazada (Hathi Darwaza/Darwaza Sehzada)<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
  12. Darwaza Lohgarh – no longer extant<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />

When the British annexed Punjab in 1849, Amritsar was a walled city. The British built a thirteenth gate in 1866 known as Hall Gate, Neighborhood in Amritsar, Punjab.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref>

File:Map of Amritsar with the locations of Sikh sites labelled, as published in the Mahan Kosh (1930).jpg
Map of Amritsar with the locations of Sikh sites labelled, as published in the Mahan Kosh (1930)

The British rulers would later demolish some of the walls and gates or reconstruct some.<ref name=":1" /> An entire new wall of the city was completed in 1885.<ref name=":1" /> Many surviving gates have since been renamed and no longer bear their mid-19th century names, while others have since been demolished.<ref name=":1" />

Jallianwala Bagh massacreEdit

File:Jallianwallah.jpg
The Jallianwala Bagh in 1919, months after the massacre
File:BulletMarks.JPG
Bullet marks on the walls of the park premises

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, involving the killings of hundreds of Indian civilians on the orders of British Colonel Reginald Edward Harry Dyer, took place on 13 April 1919 in the heart of Amritsar, the holiest city of the Sikhs, on a day sacred to them as the birth anniversary of the Khalsa (Vaisakhi day).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In Punjab, during World War I (1914–18), there was considerable social unrest, particularly among the Sikhs. First, they opposed the demolition of a boundary wall of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, a historic gurdwara near Parliament House in New Delhi. Later, they were disturbed about the activities and trials of the Ghadarites, almost all of whom were Sikhs. In India as a whole, political activity had arisen during the strains of war. Two leaders had emerged: Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), who after a period of struggle as a young man against the British in South Africa had returned to India in January 1915 to work there for change and Annie Besant (1847–1933), head of the Theosophical Society of India. On 11 April 1916 she established the Home Rule League with the goal of autonomy for India. In December 1916, the Indian National Congress, at its annual session held at Lucknow, passed a resolution asking the king to issue a proclamation announcing that it is the "aim and intention of British policy to confer self-government on India at an early date".<ref>Proceedings of the Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress, 1916, cited by Template:Cite book</ref>

On 10 April 1919, Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew, two popular proponents of the Satyagraha movement led by Gandhi, were called to the deputy commissioner's residence. There they were arrested and transported by car to Dharamsetla, a hill town, now in Himachal Pradesh. A general strike arose in response in Amritsar. Excited groups of citizens soon merged into a crowd of about 50,000 marching to protest these arrests to the deputy commissioner. The crowd, however, was stopped by British colonial forces and fired upon near the railway foot-bridge. The official version reported that the number of casualties were 12 dead and between 20 and 30 wounded. Based on evidence presented to an inquiry of the Indian National Congress, fatalities were reported as between 20 and 30.Template:Cn

Three days later, on 13 April, the traditional festival of Baisakhi, thousands of unarmed Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh. An hour after the meeting began as scheduled at 16:30, Dyer arrived with a group of sixty-five Gurkha soldiers (from the 9th Gorkha Rifles) and twenty-five Baluchi soldiers (from the 59th Scinde Rifles). Without warning the crowd to disperse, Dyer blocked the main exits from the Bagh and ordered his troops to begin shooting toward the densest sections of the crowd; the firing continued for approximately ten minutes. A British government inquiry into the massacre placed the death toll at 379.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Indian National Congress, on the other hand, estimated that approximately 1,000 people were killed.<ref name=":0" />

Operation Blue StarEdit

Amritsar was a center of unrest in the late 20th century. In the 1980s, Sikh militants occupied the Golden Temple there. Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, ordered Operation Blue Star (1 – 6 June 1984), an Indian military operation<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to remove the militants from the temple. The operation was carried out by Indian army troops equipped with tanks and armoured vehicles.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> While militarily successful, the operation aroused immense controversy. The government's justification for the timing and style of the attack are hotly debated.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> India Today magazine has ranked Operation Blue Star as among the Top 10 Political Disgraces in India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Official reports put the number of deaths among the Indian army at 83, with 493 civilians, including Sikh militants killed.<ref name=terrorincontext>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> While independent estimates place the numbers upwards of 5,000 people, a majority of them pilgrims, including women and children.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In addition, the CBI is considered responsible for seizing historical artefacts and manuscripts in the Sikh Reference Library before burning it down.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=david>Template:Cite book</ref> Four months after the operation, on 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards in what is viewed as an act of vengeance. Following her assassination, more than 17,000 Sikhs were killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.<ref name="SAGE">Template:Cite book</ref>

GeographyEdit

Amritsar is located at Template:Coord<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with an average elevation of Template:Convert in the Majha region of the state of Punjab in North India and lies about Template:Convert east of the border with Pakistan. Administrative towns includes Ajnala, Attari, Beas, Budha Theh, Chheharta Sahib, Jandiala Guru, Majitha, Rajasansi, Ramdass, Rayya, Verka Town and Baba Bakala.Template:Cn

ClimateEdit

Typically for Northwestern India, Amritsar has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) bordering on a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Cwa). Temperatures in Amritsar usually range from Template:Convert. It experiences four primary seasons: winter (December to March), when temperatures can drop to Template:Convert; summer (April to June), when temperatures can reach Template:Convert; monsoon (July to September); and post-monsoon (October to November). Annual rainfall is about Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The lowest recorded temperature is Template:Convert, was recorded on 9 December 1996 and the highest temperature, Template:Convert, was recorded on 23 May 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The official weather station for the city is the civil aerodrome at Rajasansi. Weather records here date back to 15 November 1947.Template:Citation needed

Template:Amritsar weatherboxAmritsar has been ranked 39th best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India according to 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 Results' <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

DemographicsEdit

Template:See also Template:Historical population

File:Hamandir Sahib (Golden Temple).jpg
The Golden Temple, in Amritsar, is the holiest site in Sikhism

As of the 2011 census, Amritsar municipality had a population of 1,159,227.<ref name="districtcensus" /> The municipality had a sex ratio of 884 females per 1,000 males and 119,592 (10.32%) of the population were under six years old, with the child sex ratio being 826 females per 1000 males.<ref name="districtcensus" /> Literacy was 83.81%; male literacy was 86.52% and female literacy was 80.76%.<ref name="districtcensus" /> The scheduled caste population is 21.76%.

ReligionEdit

Template:Bar box

According to 2011 Census of India, Hinduism and Sikhism are the main religions of the Amritsar city followed by 49.36% and 48.00% of the population, respectively. Christianity is followed by 1.23% and Islam 0.51%. Around 0.9% of the population of the city stated 'No Particular Religion' or other religion.<ref name="Religion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Amritsar is the holiest city in Sikhism and about 30 million people visit it each year for pilgrimage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Religious groups in Amritsar City (1868−2011)Template:Efn
Religious
group
1868<ref name="Census1868">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1881<ref name="Census1881">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref name="Census1881B">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Rp

1891<ref name="Census1891">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Rp

1901<ref name="Census1901">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Rp

1911<ref name="Census1911">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Rp

1921<ref name="Census1921">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Rp

1931<ref name="Census1931">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Rp

1941<ref name="Census1941">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Rp

2011<ref name="Religion"/>
[[Population|Template:Abbr]] Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr
Islam File:Star and Crescent.svg 61,193 Template:Percentage 75,891 Template:Percentage 63,366 Template:Percentage 77,795 Template:Percentage 71,851 Template:Percentage 71,180 Template:Percentage 132,362 Template:Percentage 184,055 Template:Percentage 5,862 Template:Percentage
Hinduism File:Om.svg 49,115 Template:Percentage 61,274 Template:Percentage 56,652 Template:Percentage 65,117 Template:Percentage 58,720 Template:Percentage 65,313 Template:Percentage 98,001Template:Efn Template:Percentage 144,522Template:Efn Template:Percentage 572,189 Template:Percentage
Sikhism File:Khanda.svg 19,267 Template:Percentage 13,876 Template:Percentage 15,751 Template:Percentage 17,860 Template:Percentage 20,357 Template:Percentage 21,478 Template:Percentage 32,009 Template:Percentage 58,779 Template:Percentage 556,431 Template:Percentage
Christianity File:Christian cross.svg 130 Template:Percentage Template:N/a Template:N/a 848 Template:Percentage 1,104 Template:Percentage 1,128 Template:Percentage 1,446 Template:Percentage 1,819 Template:Percentage 2,611 Template:Percentage 14,280 Template:Percentage
Buddhism File:Dharma Wheel (2).svg 0 Template:Percentage Template:N/a Template:N/a 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 5 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage Template:N/a Template:N/a 773 Template:Percentage
Jainism File:Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Template:N/a Template:N/a 9 Template:Percentage 143 Template:Percentage 532 Template:Percentage 652 Template:Percentage 738 Template:Percentage 604 Template:Percentage 974 Template:Percentage 1,143 Template:Percentage
Zoroastrianism File:Faravahar.svg Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a 5 Template:Percentage 19 Template:Percentage 48 Template:Percentage 58 Template:Percentage 41 Template:Percentage Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a
Judaism File:Star of David.svg Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a 0 Template:Percentage Template:N/a Template:N/a 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 4 Template:Percentage Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a
Others 4,220 Template:Percentage 846 Template:Percentage 1 Template:Percentage 2 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 79 Template:Percentage 8,549 Template:Percentage
Total population 133,925 Template:Percentage 151,896 Template:Percentage 136,766 Template:Percentage 162,429 Template:Percentage 152,756 Template:Percentage 160,218 Template:Percentage 264,840 Template:Percentage 391,010 Template:Percentage 1,159,227 Template:Percentage

Template:Pie chart

At the time of the 2011 census, 91.12% of the population spoke Punjabi and 7.90% Hindi as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

PoliticsEdit

The city is part of the Amritsar (Lok Sabha constituency).

Constituency number Constituency name Reserved for (SC/None) Electors (2017)<ref name=election2017>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>Template:Update after

District<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

15 Amritsar North None 175,908 Amritsar
16 Amritsar West SC 179,766 Amritsar
17 Amritsar Central None 135,954 Amritsar
18 Amritsar East None 153,629 Amritsar
19 Amritsar South None 148,809 Amritsar
20 Attari SC 173,543 Amritsar

TourismEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Div col

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Div col end

EconomyEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Amritsar is the second-largest city and district of Punjab. It is also one of the fastest-growing cities of Punjab.Template:Cn In the mid-1980s the city was famous for its textile industry. Amritsar's trade and industry faced a blow during militancy period in 1980s, but there are still many textile mills, knitting units and embroidery factories functional in the city. It is famous for its pashmina shawls, woolen clothes, blankets, etc. Among handicrafts, the craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru in Amritsar district got enlisted on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the effort to revive this craft under the umbrella of Project Virasat is among India's biggest government-sponsored craft revival programs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tourism and hospitality have recently become the backbone of local economy due to heavy tourist arrivals. Hundreds of small and some large hotels have sprung up to cater to the increased tourist inflow. Restaurants, taxi operators, local shopkeepers have all benefited from the tourist boom.Template:Citation needed

TransportEdit

AirEdit

Amritsar hosts Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport. The airport is connected to other parts of India and other countries with direct international flights to cities and is the 12th busiest airport in the country in terms of international traffic.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> It serves Amritsar and several other districts in Punjab and neighbouring states.Template:Citation needed

RailEdit

Amritsar Junction railway station is the main station serving Amritsar. It is the busiest railway station in Indian state of Punjab and one of the highest revenue-generating station of Northern Railways. Due to high traffic at the Amritsar Junction railway station, Indian Railways has planned to develop two satellite stations-Chheharta and Bhagtanwala, in order to decongest traffic at this station. As many as 6 trains would be shifted to Chheharta railway station in the first phase.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation has also planned to make the Amritsar Junction railway station a world-class railway station on lines of the international airport based on PPP model. The project has received an overwhelming response with bids from 7 private firms, including GMR.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

RoadEdit

Amritsar is located on the historic Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road), also known as NH 1 now renumbered as National Highway 3. An expressway by name of Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway at the cost of Template:INR25,000 crore is approved under Bharatmala scheme which will cut the travel time from Amritsar to New Delhi by road from current 8 hours, to 4 hours.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Another expressway, called Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway is under construction which will connect Amritsar to Jamnagar in Gujarat. Additionally, NH 54 (Old NH15), NH 354 and NH 503A connect Amritsar to other parts of state and rest of India. A ring road will also be built surrounding all 4 sides of Amritsar<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:INR 450,000,000 is being spent to expand the Amritsar-Jalandhar stretch of G.T. Road to four lanes. In 2010, elevated road with four lanes connected to the National highway for better access to the Golden Temple has been started.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Amritsar MetroBusEdit

File:ISBT Amritsar.jpg
Amritsar Inter State Bus Stand

Amritsar has a bus rapid transit service, the Amritsar Metrobus which was launched on 28 January 2019. 93 fully air-conditioned Tata Marcopolo buses are used for the service connecting places likeTemplate:Citation needed

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sister CitiesEdit

Following cities are Sister Cities of Amritsar:

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Educational institutionsEdit

Medical facilitiesEdit

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See alsoEdit

NotesEdit

Template:Notelist

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

BibliographyEdit

External linksEdit

Template:Wikivoyage Template:Sister project Template:Sister project

Template:Amritsar district Template:Punjab (Indian state) Template:Portalbar Template:Authority control