The most sacred pilgrimage city for Sikhs, Amritsar was visited by four of the 10 Sikh Gurus in the course of time - Guru Nanak, Guru Amar Dass, Guru Ram Dass, and Guru Arjan Dev - who contributed to develop it as a premium sight for Sikhism. The foundation of Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple was laid in 1588 but Maharaja Ranjit Singh added the Golden Temple sometime in between 1803 to 1830. The spectacular display of the might of Indian and Pakistani paramilitary forces at the Wagah Border every evening is a must-see ceremony, where both sides try their best to outdo each other.
Places to See
A small town, Amritsar has many Gurudwaras, Temples and Samadhis that you must see. These include:
- Golden Temple
- Akal Takht
- Baba Atal
- Gurudwara Lohgarh Amritsar
- Ramsar Sahib
- Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak
- Gurudwara Taran Taran
- Gurudwara Khadur Sahib
- Gurudwara San Sahib
- Baba Bakala
- Damdama Sahib
- Sri Keshgarh Sahib
- Goindwal Sahib
- Gurudwara Chheharta Sahib
- Gurudwara Manji Sahib
- Durgiana Temple
- Ram Tirath Temple
- Jallianwala Bagh
- Ram Bagh
- Wagah Border
- Gurudwara Anandpur Sahib
- Gurudwara Kiratpur Sahib
- Harike Bird Sanctuary
- Serai Amanat Khan
- Jagdev Kalan
- Kotli Sultan Singh
- Samadhi of Guru Angad Dev Ji
- Samadhi of Shravan
- Jama Masjid Khairuddin
Shopping
You can find exotic shops in the Old City and premium brand stores at Queens Road and the Mall in the New City. Sikh and Punjabi items such as from turbans, kurtas, jootis, triangular religious flags, Sikh literature, ceremonial talwars with embroidered scabbards and delicious papad and pickles are some of the best buys at Amritsar.
Where to Stay
Ranging from basic budget and economy hotels to premiere luxury hotels, Amritsar offers accommodations of all types. We recommend:
- Mohan International Hotel
- M K Hotel
- Hotel Heritage Inn
- Hotel Ritz Plaza
- Hotel Royal Castle
How to Reach Amritsar
A major pilgrimage and tourist spot in Punjab, Amritsar has a fine network of roadways, railways and airways.
By Road: Grand Trunk Karnal Road connects Amritsar straight to Delhi. Regular to deluxe buses are available from ISBT Delhi straight to the city. Other major Indian cities are connected to Amritsar by a network of roads too but you may have to change the bus midway.
By Rail: Several trains connect major Indian destinations to Amritsar. It takes about 8 to 10 hours to reach Amritsar from Delhi by train.
By Air: Raja Sani International airport at Amritsar has regular flights to and from major Indian cities. Major airlines offer domestic and international flights connecting the city to Delhi, London, and Birmingham.
