Wednesday 27/02/2013 - AMRITSAR & WAGAH.
The Golden Sikh Temple.
Founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Ram Das, Amritsar is home to Sikhism's holiest shrine, the spectacular Golden Temple.
This guilded temple is rated by many tourists as a glowing highlight of their visit to India.
The Golden Sikh Temple.
Founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Ram Das, Amritsar is home to Sikhism's holiest shrine, the spectacular Golden Temple.
This guilded temple is rated by many tourists as a glowing highlight of their visit to India.
Entering the tempel complex with the "Pool of Nectar" and the Golden Tempel on the island..
The Golden Temple reflected in the Pool of Nectar.
Sikh priests continuously read their two Holy Books.
Praying Sikh.
India-Pakistan border at Attari-Wagah.
People come to the border, 30km west of Amritsar, for two reasons: to enjoy the daily late afternoon border-closing ceremony, or to use the crossing between India and Pakistan.
Just before sunset, members of the Indian and Pakistani military. meet at the border to engage in a 30 minute display of pure theatre.
The flag-loweringary, closing-of-the-border ceremony is a fusion of orderly colonial-style pomp, comical goose-stepping and, considering the two countries rocky relationship, a stunning demonstration of harmony.
And with the recent bombings in Hyderabad by fanatic Pakistani terrorists, the atmosphere was even more stressed.
Friendly Indian tourists nicely waiting in lane for the ceremony,
while the soldiers allowed me to bypass the queue as a VIP.
VIP entrance, just for me and some other Europeans!
In the background the Pakistan tribune: man and woman well seperated from each other,
all looking extremely serious.
