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Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion. The Sikh areas of India that I visited had a noticeably different culture than the others. The people were more calm and peacefully minded. In Amritsar they were especially kind and friendly. We stayed at a hostel which is primarily used by pilgrims visiting the Golden Temple. The Golden Temple was a stunning complex in the city which acts as the Sikh capital.

We also visited the Pakistani border for a border ceremony which is famous among tourists and Indians alike. Soldiers from the Indian and Pakistani armies prance and shout on their respective sides of a massive gate which separate the countries. The crowds get pretty rowdy cheering on their “teams”. It was all good fun but also eerie considering how recently these countries have nearly gone to war.