Amritsar at a Glance

Amritsar is a city in the northwestern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. It is 32 kilometres (20 mi) east of Lahore, Pakistan and therefore, very close to India's western border with Pakistan. Another origin of Amritsar's name is from Amrit-Sagar, "The Ocean of the Nectar of Immortality". This is a very important ocean to the Sikh religion, as the name implies. This city is home to Shri. Harmandir Sahib, also known as Shri. Darbar Sahib, the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion.

Amritsar is located at 31°38'N 74°52'E / 31.63°N 74.87°E with an average elevation of 234 metres (768 ft). It has a continental climate, typical of Northwestern India and experiences four seasons primarily: winter season (November to March) with temperature ranges from 4 °C (39 °F) to about 16 °C (61 °F), summer season (April to June) where temperatures can reach 45 °C (113 °F), monsoon season (July to September) and post-monsoon season (September to November). Annual rainfall is about 790 millimetres (31.1 in).

The city is a major commercial, cultural, and transportation centre in the state of Punjab.