Portal:Punjab/Selected article/6

Amritsar (Punjabi: ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ), historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as Ambarsar, is a city in north-western part in Punjab and the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district located in the Majha region of the state of eastern Punjab.

According to the 2011 census, the population of Amritsar was 1,132,761. The city is situated 217 km (135 mi) northwest of state capital Chandigarh. It is near Pakistan, with the Wagah Border being only 28 km (17.4 mi) away. The nearest city is Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan, located 50 km (31.1 mi) to the west.

Amritsar is home to the Harmandir Sahib (commonly known as the Golden Temple), the spiritual and cultural centre for the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal with more than 100,000 visitors on weekdays alone and is the most popular destination for the Punjabi diaspora. The city also houses the Akal Takht, the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa, and the committee responsible for the upkeep of Gurdwaras.