Indian States
Punjab
Cities
( Amritsar )
Amritsar
is the soul of Punjab. Situated very near to the international
border of Pakistan. Amritsar has an Airport and it is connected
by 2 pairs of Shatabdi train to New Delhi. Other cities are connected
by super fast or express trains and luxury and deluxe buses go to
Delhi and Chandigarh.
The
Khatris and Aroras of Punjab had trading outlets from Chitagong
(now in Bangla Desh) right upto Iran in Persia. Amritsar town was
built around the Golden Temple and when these Khatris and Aroras
converted to Sikhism Amritsar became the East's biggest trading
and eventually a manufacturing centre. Today it is India's important
distribution centre of dry-fruits, tea (next only to Calcutta),
of condiments and is a leading exporter of goods to the Middle East.
Woollen tweeds, suitings, blankets, shawls in traditional weaves,
ivory (now plastic) inlay furniture, swords of all designs,
oils, scents, jutties (traditional embroidered shoes), cut-glass
crockery, selective musical instruments, carpets are manufactured
here almost in every bazaar.
It is one of the leading publication centres, especially in Punjabi
language, in the whole world, is India's manufacturing centre of
Ayurvedic medicines and renowned for treatment of eye diseases.
Amritsar is the home of traditional Punjabi cuisine, both vegetarian
and non-vegetarian where each eating-house has a specialty, which
can not be matched. Its pickles, murabbas (Indian jams) and papads
and warian (recipes can not be translated into English) and sweetmeats
are exported to far off places, right into Punjabi Diaspora abroad.
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