Amritsar is the second-largest city in the state of Punjab after Ludhiana. Amritsar has been one of the most popular locations in the state of Punjab from early modern times due to its commercial, transportation and cultural importance.
It is also been known as the religious centre of Sikhism and one of the pioneer constructions of this religion, Golden Temple was built in this city which has been the major attraction for tourists. Amritsar was historically known as Ramdaspur.
Golden Temple
Golden Temple is located right in the heart of Amritsar city and is also known as Harmandir Sahib and is one of the best places to visit in Amritsar. It is believed to be the holiest shrine of Sikhism and one of the popular religious centres of the country.
This temple welcomes the people of any religion and it serves free food or langar to more than 100,000 people. Amrit Sarovar is the spiritual highlight of the temple which surrounds the glistening central shrine.
Around the corner of the compound, there are more monuments and shrines among those the Sikh Museum is very popular among tourists which gives you a glimpse of the oppression imposed by Mughals, British and Indian Government of 1984.
Ramgarhia Bunga is a fortress that resides at the southeast end of the tank, it is a beautiful construction with the amalgamation of Islamic architecture.
Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh is located near the Golden Temple. Generally, it is a public garden that also gives you a memorial to commemorate the vicious massacre of the peaceful protestors by the British Authority.
Jallianwala Bagh is the witness of British brutality over the innocent masses, It is a symbol of that saddest day of Indian history when thousands of innocent people were shot on the orders of General Dyer, these people were gathered to celebrate the Baisakhi festival.
It spread over 6.5 acres of land and now has been turned into a beautiful park. Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust has been initiated to maintain this historic park. At the entrance of the park, the memorial tablet was set up as a memory to those innocent people who lost their lives in that saddest tragedy.
This place is worth visiting because it gives you some idea about our colonial tragedy and counted among the topi places to visit in Amritsar.
One of the best places to visit in Amritsar, Partition Museum is located at the Town Hall and maintained by The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TAAHCT), this museum is a part of newly developed Heritage Street, which begins from the Golden Temple and ends at the Town Hall.
This museum is housing a collection of art, memoirs, stories, artefacts, newspaper clippings, photographs, and private items donated by those survivors who witnessed the partition.
This museum is a preserver of the legacy of partition survivors or victims. TAACHT is putting effort to develop this museum as a world-class physical museum, dedicated to the memories of partition.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum is located in the Company Bagh at a distance of 1.5 kilometres from Amritsar Junction and 4 kilometres from the Golden temple. It served as the summer palace of the first king of the Sikh Empire Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
This museum reflects the life and history of Maharaja Ranjit Singh along with the art and architecture of the Sikh community between the 18th and 19th centuries.
This museum displays several belonging of Maharaja such as his armour, weaponry, paintings, manuscripts and contemporary and previous centuries coins. Showcased paintings depict the courtroom and war camp scenes of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Wagah Border marks the boundaries between the India and Pakistan border and it resides at a distance of approximately 28 kilometres from Amritsar and 22 kilometres from Lahore.
Wagah Border ceremony or the Beating Retreat Ceremony is the major highlight here, every evening just before the sunset both country’s military displays military camaraderie and showmanship. This border is also witnessing the flag ceremony conducted by the Indian Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers since 1959.
The Winter Season in Amritsar stays from November to March and Amritsar’s temperature ranges between 4 degrees Celsius to 21 degrees Celsius. Amritsar’s weather is extremely chilly in this season; however, days are pleasant to engage in some sightseeing and locations like Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Durgiana Temple, Akal Takht are highly preferred to visit in this season and Amritsar Heritage Walk is also a perfect option in this season.
It is a season of several festivals in Amritsar like Diwali when the whole city looks illuminating and another popular festival is Ram Tirth Fair which is organised after a couple of weeks of Diwali and it is a festival to spot some cultural and entertainment activities and performances.
Lohri is one of the most popular festivals to enjoy in Amritsar along with the preparations of Basant Panchami at Chheharta Sahib Gurudwara. It is a season where you find this city crowded; hence it is suggested to make the booking of accommodations and travel in advance.
The Summer Season in Amritsar is marked from April to July and Amritsar’s temperature in this season stays between 27 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. Amritsar's weather in this season is not ideal for travellers to visit the city due to the hot and humid conditions which seem unbearable.
However, in this season the festival of Baisakhi is the highlight which attracts a wide range of travellers to visit and to enjoy traditional folk music, dance and songs. It is a season for those who are looking to visit Amritsar at a low budget and travellers will find some good deals on accommodations.
The Monsoon Season in Amritsar stays from July to October and Amritsar’s temperature fluctuates between 23 degrees Celsius to 37 degrees Celsius. Amritsar is a city that witnesses heavy rainfall and the average annual rainfall it receives is around 780 mm.
Days in this season are a bit humid but remains quite better in terms of heat as compared to the summer season. The sky looks cloudy when rainfall is at its peak.
Some travellers do visit Amritsar in this season to admire the clear and cleaner view of the city and most importantly to avoid the rush of peak season. In this season many good deals are available on accommodations and travel to tourists.
How to Reach Amritsar by Air- Shri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is located approximately 10 kilometres away from the Amritsar city and widely connected to several prime cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai, Srinagar and Bangalore along with some international cities like Doha, Dubai, Oman and Tashkent.
Airline carriers such as Air India Express, Spice Jet, IndiGo, Jet Airways and Air Asia and several other international carriers like Uzbekistan Airways, Qatar Airways and the Fly Emirates do operate some regular flights. Once you reached the airport you can easily hire a taxi or cab to Amritsar.
How to Reach Amritsar by Train- Amritsar Railway Station is well connected to other towns in Punjab and other major cities like New Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
Plenty of train options such as Amritsar Shatabdi Express, Amritsar Shatabdi Special, Amritsar Garib Rath, Jallianwala Bagh Express and DLI PTK Express are available to travellers on regular basis. From outside the railway station, travellers can take auto or tax to reach their destination.
How to Reach Amritsar by Road- To reach Amritsar by bus is a very economical and feasible option due to the smooth connectivity via roads. Travellers can take private buses or state buses from different locations of the country like New Delhi which is approximately 440 kilometres away, Dalhousie at a distance of 176 kilometres, Dharamsala which is residing 186 kilometres away, Jammu at an approximate distance of 200 kilometres and Shimla which 316 kilometres away.
Travellers who want to visit Amritsar by their vehicles can opt for Grand Trunk Road, which connects Amritsar to Delhi which would be the 7 -8 hours driving.
There is several 4-star and 3-star accommodation option that provides basic and premium services and makes your experience better. Park Inn by Radisson, Amritsar Airport is residing near Amritsar Airport at a distance of approximately 11.3 kilometres from the main city centre.
It offers you the services of Bar, Bakery, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Currency Exchange, Multilingual Staff, Spa, Salon, Steam and Sauna, Open Air Bath, Picnic Area, Lawn, Night Club, Pub, Childcare Services and 24-Hour Helpdesk along with other services.
One Earth GG Regency (80 Steps to Golden Temple) is located near Golden Temple and approximately 510 metres away from Jallianwala Bagh. It provides you with the facilities such as Restaurant, Dining Area, Multilingual Staff, Medical Centre, Concierge Service, Balcony/Terrace, Paid Pickup and Drop, Prayer Room, Wake up Call and 24-Hour helpdesk with some other basic amenities.
Bloom Boutique, Ranjit Avenue is situated at Ranjit Avenue at a distance of 9.2 kilometres away from Amritsar Airport and it gives you the services of Café, Bar, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Paid Pickup and Drop, Currency Exchange, Night Club, Pub, Gym, Activity Centre, Rental Vehicles, Bellboy Service and Multilingual Staff along with some other facilities.
BR Grand is located near Jallianwala Bagh and it offers you the services of Bar, Café, Restaurant, Paid Pickup and Drop, Night Club, Water Sports, Pub, Saloon, Open Air Bath, Bonfire Pit, Lawn, Library, Medical Centre, Concierge Service and Multilingual Staff. Fairfield by Marriott Amritsar is residing at INA Colony at a distance of 2.8 kilometres from Amritsar.
It provides you're the facilities like Bar, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Free Parking, Gym, Lawn, Concierge Service, Conference Room and Multilingual Staff.
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