Amritsar, Central Sikh Museum exhibits paintings of Sikh gurus, saints, Sikh warriors and other prominent Sikh leaders who have contributed to the enhancement of Sikh religion. It has a rich collection of coins, old arms and ancient manuscripts. It also houses an excellent library. Guide services are available on request. The museum is open on all days. Entry is free. Photography is allowed only upon prior permission.
A visit to Harmandir Sahib is not complete if someone is not visiting The Central Sikh Museum. This museum was established in the early 1960’s. The great Sikh artists, S.Kirpal Singh, Thakur Singh, Parbodh Chandra, Sobha Singh, Gurdit Singh, Amolak Singh, Phulan Rani added to its beauty by painting the Sikh history on canvas. Some rare pencil sketches by Princess Bamba add to its glory. Musical instruments like Saranda of Baba Sham Singh and rarest stringed instrument, guns of Sikh Raj, Wooden Canopy supporters covered with silver of Maharaja Ranjit Singh times are preserved in the museum. The wooden comb (Kangha) of Guru Gobind Singh, Arrows and Bow, Iron Chakras (circles) to be worn on the turban by warrior and a iron jacket made of wires (Sanjoe) are worth seeing.
The Golden Temple can be reached by road, train and air. While in Amritsar, one can easily reach by taking a taxi to the Golden temple. Other forms of local transport here are cycle rickshaws and city buses. Other cities are also well-connected to the Golden Temple. Delhi is 435 km and Chandigarh is 235 km from the Golden Temple. Amritsar is well-connected by rail with Mumbai, Varanasi, Delhi, Kolkata and other major places in India.
November to March, Amritsar experiences a chilly weather. The temperatures generally drop below 5°C in December and January. So, make sure that you pack enough warm clothes for the trip. Winters bring out the lively side of Amritsar. You get a glimpse of various festivals and revelries celebrated during this period, such as Guru Nanak Jayanti and Lohri. You can join in the festivities and make your visit memorable. Exploring the culture of the city during this time is something one must experience.
