Pictures from Holy City of Amritsar

Indian Railways are experimenting with these smart devices from Intermec to replace reservation charts. Its touch screen can work with a normal pen instead of requiring a stylus. 1

Closer view (shaky camera) of the Windows Mobile 5.0 based Intermec device being used by Indian Railways. Intermec link: http://www.intermec.com/products/cmptrcn3/index.aspx 2

New Year 2010 edition of Times of India 3

Huge number of devotees going to visit Golden Temple 4

Our NRI room in Guru Angad Dev Ji Niwas! Pasted on door is the rate list of available items, aka menu. 5

The NRI room from inside. 6

One of the 10000 places where this was written at places in and around Golden Temple. 7

Our first look of the Golden Temple 8

Anu and Arnav @ Golden Temple 9

Golden Temple. The red brick building at the rear is the Langar (Free Kitchen). 10

The holy pond at Golden Temple contains numerous Koi fish that are well fed on Temple's prasada rich in ghee. 11

The fish come so close to people one can easily touch them. 12

A Nihang Sikh at Golden Temple 13

Girls serving free water at Golden Temple 14

Discounted Coke in the Golden Temple complex! 15

An immature young parrot had fallen to the ground and was feeling scared. Notice the big ant trying to bite it on its rear. 16

The parrot quickly responded to a few gentle and reassuring touches from Anu and clung to her. 17

Shops selling souvenirs outside Golden Temple 18

Anu shopping for a few souvenirs to take back. 19

Guard with a spear at the gate of Golden Temple. 20

A volunteer Sikh who mops the floor outside Golden Temple's gate almost continuously to keep it clean. Dutifully doing his job bare feet on wet marble floor even at near-zero (degree centigrade) temperatures. 21

Golden Temple 22

Golden Temple at night 23

Arnav and Anu @ Golden Temple 24

A roof of Akal Takht covered with intricate designs made using gold sheaths 25

Akal Takht roof -- Close up 26

A Granthi (literal meaning: "the keeper and the reader of the Sikh scripture") at Akal Takht 27

Chandelier at Akal Takht 28

Mr Kuki sipping on delicious, hot tea served free in the Golden Temple. He happily showed us around various places in the temple. 29

The night time Palki Sahib ceremony. The Guru Granth Sahib is carefully wrapped and carried in a Palki (palanquin) to a decorated bed inside the Akal Takht where it rests for the night. 30

A Granthi carrying wrapped up Guru Granth Sahib on his head. 31

People having food at Langar (free kitchen) at Golden Temple 32

An automotive equipped with a vacuum cleaner at the rear is used to clean up after people have finished eating Langar. 33

Volunteers cleaning up utensils. 34

Washed utensils are stacked up. 35

A kid volunteering to serve plates to people coming to Langar, while his proud mom watches on. 36

Me, Anu (3rd and 4th from left) along with Mr Kuki (extreme right) and his family. 37

Anu with a toothbrush and why-did-you-wake-me-up looks at 2:30 am. We wanted to watch the early morning Palki ceremony. 38

3:00 am. Arnav was still sleeping when we carried him with us. 39

The Palki being decorated with flowers. 40

A Granthi bringing the Guru Grantha Sahib in the custody of armed guards while a Chaur Sahib (artificial hairs bundled together) is used to fan over the Guru Granth Sahib. 41

Granthi carrying the Guru Grantha Sahib. 42

Volunteers carrying the Palki Sahib carrying the Guru Grantha Sahib. 43

Palki Sahib entering the Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) 44

Golden Temple at night. 45

5:30am. 2 degree Celsius. Arnav and Anu (bottom) relishing hot tea served by this elderly Sikh inside Golden Temple. 46

Reading the menu card at Bharawan ka Dhaba (Brother's Restaurant) 47

Words of praise for the Dhaba appeared in India Today, a popular Indian news magazine. 48

Aloo Kulcha, with chhole. 49

Amar Jyoti (immortal fire) at the Jallianwala Bagh 50

Arnav and Anu at Jallianwala Bagh 51

A sign post at Jallianwala Bagh 52

Jallianwala Bagh Memorial (left) and the old mosque (right) 53

Bullet Marks (white rectangles on the wall) at Jallianwala Bagh 54

Jallianwala Bagh Memorial 55

Arnav and Anu at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial 56

Martyr's Well at Jallianwala Bagh. 57

Durgiana Temple. Built to look similar to Golden Temple from outside. 58

Beautiful paintings and carvings of various Hindu gods inside Durgiana Temple. 59

A sculpture showing Lord Krishna and Radha washing feet of Sudama. 60

Carved silver windows at Durgiana Temple depicting Hindu Goddesses 61

Marble sculpture of Lord Garuda at Durgiana Temple 62

Beautiful delicate carvings in gold and marble on the outer walls of Durgiana Temple 63

Famous carved silver doors of Durgiana Temple - Left 64

Famous carved silver doors of Durgiana Temple - right 65

Large public gathering at the Wagah Border (Indian side) to watch the daily beating retreat ceremony. 66

A soldier making a long, loud cry to arouse the public. 67

Indian soldiers marching to the gate. 68

A lot of posturing is done by guards on both sides, mainly to entertain the public. 69

Pakistani guards ready to take down their national flag. 70

Indian guards ready to take down their national flag. 71

Flags being taken down - 1 72

Flags being taken down - 2 73

Guards from both sides show off exaggerated movements, again, mainly to entertain the public. Doing that everyday can lead to pains in unmentionable areas of the body. 74

Wagah border gates being closed. 75

The announcer, probably a BSF (Border Security Force) officer is mobbed by people for photographs and handshakes. 76

Lahore-Delhi-Lahore bus. 77

A signboard correct in the letter (not sure about spirit) welcomes any visitors from Pakistan side. 78

Electrified fences at the Wagah Border. 79

Dence fog even at 5:30pm. The golden orb shining at the top is street light, not the Sun. 80