Amritsar historically was also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as Ambarsar. It is a city in northwestern India which is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district and is located in the Majha region of the Indian state of Punjab. Amritsar has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY scheme of Government of India. Amritsar is the spiritual center of the Sikh Religion. It is also the cultural capital. Baisakhi festival brings out Amritsar’s magnificent face with its finest food, clothes, and merry-making. Amritsar today is a booming city with active trade and tourism industries.
BEST TIME TO VISIT AMRITSAR
Amritsar experiences extreme temperatures in both winters and summers. Therefore, September to December and February to March is the best time to visit Amritsar as the weather remains pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. July and August are peak monsoon months when most of the cityscape is covered by lush greenery. The temperature remains moderate/ warm but is quite humid. One can choose to avoid the monsoons as it could get a little inconvenient for sightseeing.
HOW TO REACH AMRITSAR
BY AIR: Located around 11 km away from the city center, the Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport of Amritsar has more than 160 domestic and international flights. There are daily direct flights to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, London, Doha, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur.
BY ROAD: Being located on National Highway 1, Amritsar is well connected by road. Daily bus services, including both government and private run, to and from Ambala, Patiala, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jammu. For transportation within the city, you can take rickshaws, auto rickshaws, taxis or buses.
BY TRAIN: The Amritsar Railway Station connects the city to almost all major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Agra, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Chandigarh. A train journey from Delhi to Amritsar takes about 6 hours.
Now Coming to top attractions, here are the must-see places in Amritsar…
1. Golden Temple
The Harmandir Sahib is a Gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar. It is the preeminent pilgrimage site of Sikhism. It is also known as Darbar Sahib. It is usually called the Golden Temple in English since it is plated with gold. The Gurdwara is spiritually the most remarkable shrine in the Sikh Religion. The Golden Temple has a unique Sikh architecture. The Gurudwara teaches the lesson for being impartial and about humility. It is built at a level lower than the surrounding land level.
Opening timing: 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: God Lovers, Nirvana Seekers, Experience Seekers
Distance from the station: 1.8 km
2. Wagah Border
The Wagah border is the border between India and Pakistan. It has become famous for the ceremony which includes the closing of international gates and the lowering of the flags of both the countries. More than 5000 people visit the Wagah border daily to witness the ceremony, which has become very popular among tourists all over the world, where people from both sides watch the ceremony. The crowd on weekends is heavy. There are stands placed for people from where they become the witness of the ceremony.
Opening timing: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the ceremony takes place at 4:15 PM in winters and 5:15 PM in summers, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: Experience seekers, history buffs
Distance from the station: 28.8 km
3. Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden and also houses a memorial of national importance. It was established in 1951 by the Government of India to honor the massacre of peaceful celebrants including unarmed women and children by British occupying forces. Though the park has been beautifully maintained by the Jallianwala Bagh Trust, the bullet marks are still intact on the walls all over. Various spots are marked from where firing took place.
Opening Timing: 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: History Buffs, Experience Seekers
Distance from the station: 4 km
4. Hall Bazaar
Hall Bazaar is a shopping complex. Located off Hall Road, Hall Bazaar is the busiest shopping centers. Shopping in Hall Bazaar is one of the best experience for the whole family. The main attraction in this place is the woolens items like carpets, blankets, and shawls, other products like wooden bangles, silver jewelry, embellished shoes and traditional embroidered garments which are easily available.
Opening Timing: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: Shopaholics, experience seekers
Distance from the station: 2 km
5. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum
Maharaja Ranjit Singh played a decisive role in Indian history and established a very vast kingdom with the help of the sword. He was called the lion of Punjab. It has been converted into a Museum during the 400th years celebrations of Amritsar City. This Museum is the cultural pride of Punjab. It is famous for its rare and priceless collections of Paintings, Weapons, Armours, Manuscripts, and Coins.
Opening Timing: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sat, Sun: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, open every day of the week except Monday
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: History buffs, experience seekers
Distance from the station: 2.7 km
6. Gurdwara Mata Kaulan
Gurdwara Mata Kaulan Sahib or Gurdwara Kaulsar Sahib is a sacred Sikh shrine on the west-side of Gurdwara Baba Atal near the main Darbar Sahib at Harmandar Sahib. Next to the Gurdwara Mata Kaulan lies a Sarovar (pool) known as Kaulsar Sahib or Kaulsar Sarvor, named after a holy lady who was raised as a Muslim called Bibi Kaulan. She was the adopted (possibly Hindu) daughter of the Qazi of Lahore. Kausar is one of the five holy tanks in the holy city of Amritsar and was got excavated on the orders of Guru Hargobind Sahib.
Opening Timing: 6.00 am – 2.00 am, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: nirvana seekers, experience seekers, god lovers
Distance from the station: 2.1 km
6. Partition Museum
The Partition Museum is a public museum located in the town hall of the city. The museum aims to become the center of stories, materials, and documents related to the post-partition riots that followed the division of British India into two independent countries: India and Pakistan. The museum was inaugurated on 25 August 2017. The list of visitors includes members from either end of the spectrum and comprises of school children, local families.
Opening Timing: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, open every day except Monday
Entry fee: Rs. 10 per person, Rs. 250 per foreigner
Ideal for: History buffs, experience seekers
Distance from the station: 4.2 km
7. Gobindgarh Fort
Gobindgarh Fort is a very historic fort which is located in the center of the city. The Fort was earlier occupied by the army but today it is being developed as a unique live museum, as a repository of Punjab’s history. It is made of bricks and lime and is laid out in a square. One must visit this historical fort which is known for its magnificent live shows such as the 7-D Sher-e-Punjab show on Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Kanda Boldiyan Ne (Light and Sound show), and the Spirit Of Punjab live show.
Opening Timing: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: history buffs, Photo Fanatics
Distance from the station: 850 m
8. Harika Wetland And Bird Sanctuary
Harike Wetland also known as “Hari-Ke-Pattan”, is the largest wetland in northern India. The wetland was declared a bird sanctuary in 1982 and named as Harike Pattan Bird Sanctuary with a large area of 8600 ha. 200 species of birds visit the wetland during winter season. The Indus River Dolphin, which are a rare breed, can also be seen here. This beautiful aquatic mammal, considered extinct in East Punjab for decades, confirmed its return to Punjab waters.
Opening Timing: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal For: nature lovers, experience seekers, photo fanatics
Distance from the station: 94.8 km
9. Akal Takht
The Akal Takht is one of five takhts of the Sikhs. It means the throne of the timeless one. It is located in the Golden Temple complex. The Akal Takht was built by Guru Hargobind as a place of justice and consideration of nonspiritual issues; which is the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa, the highest spokesman of the Sikhs. The Akal Takht was built on a site where there existed only a high mound of earth across a wide open space.
Opening timing: 2:30 am to 10:00 pm, open every day of the week
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: photo fanatics, history buffs, nirvana seekers
Distance from the station: 1.8 km
10. Dukh Banjari Ber Tree
Holding spiritual importance in the lives of the devotees, the Dukh Bhanjani Ber Tree is one of the most visited places in Amritsar. It was then named Dukh Bhanjani which means ‘eradictator of suffering’. The first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak is said to have rested at this holy spot while singing Gurbani in deep devotion to Waheguru. Visitors to the Golden Temple believe that doing so would cure them of their pain and afflictions and that they would receive blessings from the sacred tree.
Opening Timing: open 24/7
Entry fee: N/A
Ideal for: god lovers. experience seekers
Distance from the station: 1.8 km
