Overview
Amritsar district is an administrative district in the Majha region of the Indian state of Punjab. Its headquarters is the city of Amritsar, which is among the most populous and historically significant cities of Punjab. The district is internationally known for the Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib), the holiest shrine of Sikhism, and for its proximity to the Attari–Wagah border with Pakistan.
Key facts
| State | Punjab |
|---|---|
| Region | Majha |
| Headquarters | Amritsar |
| Country | India |
| Major language | Punjabi |
| Notable site | Golden Temple |
| International border | Pakistan (via Attari–Wagah) |
Geography
The district lies in the north-western part of Punjab, in the fertile alluvial plain between the Ravi and Beas river systems. It shares an international boundary with Pakistan to the west, and is bordered by the Punjab districts of Tarn Taran to the south, Kapurthala to the south-east, and Gurdaspur to the north and east. The terrain is largely flat and intensively cultivated, with wheat and rice as the dominant crops, supported by a dense canal network.
Administration
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner and is divided into several tehsils and sub-tehsils, including Amritsar-I, Amritsar-II, Ajnala, Baba Bakala and Majitha. For policing it is organised under the Amritsar (Urban) and Amritsar (Rural) commissionerates of the Punjab Police. Local government is exercised through the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar in the urban area and through panchayati raj institutions in rural areas.
Constituencies
The district contributes to the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency and includes several Vidhan Sabha (state assembly) segments such as Amritsar North, Amritsar South, Amritsar East, Amritsar West, Amritsar Central, Ajnala, Majitha, Raja Sansi, Attari and Jandiala.
History
The city of Amritsar was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das, around the sacred tank from which it takes its name (Amrit Sarovar, the "pool of nectar"). Under Guru Arjan the Harmandir Sahib was constructed and the Adi Granth installed in 1604. The area subsequently became the spiritual and political nucleus of the Sikh community.
In the 18th century the region passed through Mughal, Afghan and Sikh misl rule, and was consolidated under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who gilded the upper levels of the Harmandir Sahib. After the Anglo-Sikh wars, the district came under British administration in 1849 as part of the Lahore Division of the Punjab Province.
Amritsar was the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 13 April 1919, a defining event of the Indian freedom struggle. At the partition of India in 1947, the district was placed in India and became a frontier district, with Lahore — the historic urban anchor of the region — now across the border in Pakistan. In 2006, the southern portion of the erstwhile larger district was carved out to form the new Tarn Taran district.
Economy
The district economy combines intensive irrigated agriculture with trade, light manufacturing, handloom and food processing. Amritsar city is a long-established centre for the production of woollen textiles, shawls, carpets and handicrafts, and has a substantial wholesale and retail trade. Tourism, both religious and cross-border, contributes significantly, with the Golden Temple drawing millions of pilgrims and visitors each year.
Transport
Amritsar is a major node on the northern rail and road network. It is served by