I’m in the back of a tuk-tuk, a three wheeled motorcycle with a bench in the back – on my way to the India-Pakistan border. Modern technology is amazing. I can write notes from the road, complete with photos, from the back of a moving vehicle.
I’ve stayed two days in Amritsar. The hostel here has been a fantastic environment, and it’s air conditioned lounge is a great place to relax and meet other travelers. I’ve met a New Zealandsr who just came from Pakistan, and he has given me tons of information on the journey ahead of me.
The main attraction here in Amritsar is the Golden Temple, which I visited last night. It is the holiest place of the Sikh religion, which has its roots here in the Punjab region. Head covering and bare feet are mandatory for all visitors to this place, male or female. This policy, along with the temple’s other rules, is enforced by spear-wielding guards.
The temple itself is set in the center of the “holy tank,” an artificial lake. At night, the gold-covered surface of the temple is floodlit, making it gleam across the water. Despite being in the center of a major Indian city, the temple is quiet, isolated from the screeching horns and accelerating motorcycles outside. It’s the most peaceful place I’ve visited in India.
