Amritsrar India:
The Golden Temple
On December 16, 2009, the Bakersfield City Council designated Amritsar, in India’s Punjab region, as Bakersfield’s newest Sister City. A delegation including Amritsar Mayor Shwait Malik visited Bakersfield to meet with then Mayor Harvey L. Hall to sign a Memorandum of Understanding during a special ceremony in the City Council chambers to formalize the relationship - culminating more than four years of effort by Bakersfield Sister City, the local Sikh and Punjabi community, and Mayor Hall.
During that time, representatives from Bakersfield, including Sister City members and Mayor Hall, visited Amritsar twice. Mayor Malik visited Bakersfield in 2008, followed by Deputy Mayor Randhawa and Sister City Committee Chair Rupinder Kaur in December 2009. These exchanges helped both cities define the scope of the partnership.
With strong support from the Sikh and Punjabi community in Kern County, this relationship reflects our core goals - “to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation, one individual, one community at a time.”
❋ An International Friendship
Located in the Punjab region of northern India, Amritsar stands as one of the country’s most historically and culturally significant cities. Known as the spiritual center of Sikhism, Amritsar is home to the iconic Harmandir Sahib, often called the Golden Temple, which welcomes millions of visitors from around the world each year. Founded in the 16th century by Guru Ram Das, Amritsar has long served as a center of faith, trade, and resilience. The city’s name comes from “Amrit Sarovar,” meaning “Pool of Nectar,” referring to the sacred water surrounding the Golden Temple.
❋ Spiritual Significance
Our communities are bound not just by its industries, but by it’s people. The Central Valley holds one of the largest Punjabi populations in the United States, and Bakersfield itself has a well-established Sikh community with multiple gurdwaras and tens of thousands of Punjabi residents. Amritsar and Bakersfield are both rooted in the most productive farming regions for our regions across the world, sharing a lasting tradition of agriculture. For both our communities, farming has shaped family and daily life.
❋ A Bond of Roots
Beyond its spiritual importance, Amritsar holds a profound place in modern history. In 1919, British forces opened fire on a large civilian gathering at Jallianwala Bagh, killing hundreds and injuring many more. The event accelerated organized resistance across India and influenced national political strategy in the following decades. The site is preserved as a public memorial documenting the incident and its role in the independence movement. The photo you see here commemorates that incident.
❋ Historical Significance“to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation, one individual, one community at a time.”