the plaka Piccadily Hotel HOTEL $$ (%2707571; www.thepiccadily.com; Sector 22-B; s/d from 3850/4850; aiW) This

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 40 2 33 39 27 4 1 9 11 18 19 21 13 15 8 OLD CITY Jallianwala Bagh 0 100 m See Enlargement To Aurah (2.5km) To Air India, Astoria Food Pavillion, Fabindia, the plaka Jet Airways, MK Hotel (2.5km) To Attari Wagah Border, Pakistan (30km); Lahore (60km) To Ista Hotel (2km); alphaOne Shopping Mall (2.4km) the plaka 0 1km e# 0 0.5 miles To Airport (15km) To Mrs Bhandari's Guest House (1.5km)

Founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Ram Das, Amritsar is home to Sikhism s holiest shrine, the spectacular Golden Temple. The gold-plated gurdwara glitters in the middle of its sacred pool of placid water and draws millions of pilgrims from all over the world. A welcome escape from the frenetic bazaars, the plaka this gilded temple is rated by many tourists as a glowing highlight of their visit to India. Regrettably, the same can t be said for the hyperactive streets! Indeed, Amritsar the plaka s crush of fuming mechanical traffi c, especially in the people-packed old city, can be downright frazzling.

Piccadily Hotel HOTEL $$ (%2707571; www.thepiccadily.com; Sector 22-B; s/d from 3850/4850; aiW) This ageing but appealing three-star the plaka property off ers complimentary breakfast, contemporary rooms with LCD TV, minibar, sofa, writing desk, tea-andcoffee- making facilities, safe, and satiny bed- covers. It s worth asking for a discount and, with two restaurants, you don t have to travel far for a decent meal. Graze on Italian faves at Pomodoro the plaka (p 206 ) or a curry at Currys.