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Amritsar is a city in the northwestern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district Langar in the state of Punjab, India. Amritsar is situated 217 kilometers (135 mi) northwest of state capital Chandigarh and is 32 kilometers (20 mi) east of Lahore, Pakistan and therefore, very close to Indias western border with Pakistan. It is home to the Harmandir Sahib, known as the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal in Agra as it has more than 100,000 visitors on week days alone and is the number one destination for non-resident-Indians (NRI) in the whole of India. The main commercial activities include tourism, carpets and fabrics, farm produce, handicrafts, service trades and light engineering. The city is known for its food and culture. Amritsar is also home to Central Khalsa Orphanage, which was once a home for Shaheed Udham Singh, a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement.
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