Punjab's holy city, home of the Golden Temple and close to the Wagah border with Pakistan.
FamousPilgrimageHeritageCity
People come for the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine, which is open day and night and feeds every visitor for free. The city also holds the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, the Partition Museum and well-known Punjabi food, and the border flag ceremony is a short drive away. It suits families, pilgrims, history lovers and anyone on a short trip from Delhi or Chandigarh.
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Photos
Panorama of the Jallianwala Bagh memorial gardenJallianwala Bagh, AmritsarThe memorial at Jallianwala BaghMain entrance of Jallianwala BaghPreserved bullet marks on a wall at Jallianwala Bagh
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
October to March
Cool and pleasant, and the best time for sightseeing. Winter days reach about 25 C and nights can fall to about 5 C. It is also the busiest and most expensive period.
April to June
Very hot, with daytime temperatures of 40 C and above. Sightseeing is tiring outside early morning and evening.
July to September
Monsoon months. Humid with rain, but queues are shorter and hotel deals are easier to find.
Sights and activities
1
Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib)
The central shrine of the Sikh faith, a gold-covered sanctum set in a sacred pool. The free community kitchen serves about 100,000 meals a day.
Distance
In the old city, about 2 km from Amritsar Junction station
Memorial garden at the site of the 1919 shooting of a peaceful gathering by British-led troops. Bullet marks on the walls, the Martyrs' Well and a gallery are preserved.
Distance
A few minutes' walk from the Golden Temple
Entry
Free
Timings
Summer 6 am to 7 pm, winter 7 am to 6 pm; gallery 9 am to 5 pm in summer, 10 am to 4 pm in winter
An 18th-century fort rebuilt by Maharaja Ranjit Singh between 1805 and 1809, now a heritage park with museums, a coin gallery, Punjabi performances and an evening light show.
Distance
About 1.5 km from the Golden Temple and from the station
A Hindu temple near Lohgarh Gate, rebuilt in 1921 in a style close to the Golden Temple and set in a sacred pool. It is also called the Silver Temple for its silver doors.
The road border with Pakistan on the Grand Trunk Road. Each evening the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers hold a 45-minute flag-lowering parade watched from grandstands.
Distance
About 28 to 30 km west of the city, around 45 minutes by road
Entry
Free
Timings
Ceremony at about 4:15 pm in winter and about 5 pm in summer; gates close about 30 minutes before, so arrive by 3 pm
Amritsar is on the Grand Trunk Road, about 450 km from Delhi and 235 km from Chandigarh. Buses from most north Indian towns arrive at the main bus stand, about 2 km from the Golden Temple.
By train
Amritsar Junction is in the city, about 2 km from the Golden Temple, with direct trains from Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Kolkata and Jammu.
By air
Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is about 11 km from the city centre, on the Ajnala road.
Where to base yourself
Stay in the old city near the Golden Temple and Hall Bazaar, where the main sights are within walking distance.
Getting around
The old city around the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum is best covered on foot.
The temple management (SGPC) runs free buses between the railway station and the Golden Temple about every 15 to 20 minutes.
Auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws cover short hops; e-rickshaws are the cheapest, and a short shared ride costs about 30 rupees.
Taxis start at about 64 rupees plus about 17 rupees per km; a cab between the airport and the bus stand costs about 200 to 300 rupees.
For the Wagah border, book a return taxi or shared ride in advance, because finding transport back after the ceremony is hard. Ola and Uber work in the city but are limited.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Hostels, guest houses and simple hotels near the Golden Temple
₹400 to ₹1,500
Mid-range
3-star and 4-star hotels
₹1,900 to ₹5,500
Luxury
Upper 4-star and 5-star hotels
₹7,300 to ₹13,500
Food
Most eating is done at dhabas and street stalls in the old city lanes around Hall Gate and the Golden Temple. A kulcha costs about 60 to 150 rupees, a lassi 80 to 180 and a plate of Amritsari fish 250 to 450. Well-known names include Kesar Da Dhaba, Bharawan Da Dhaba, Kanha Sweets and Gian di Lassi. The langar at the Golden Temple is free at any hour.
Try these
Amritsari kulcha (stuffed bread baked in a tandoor, served with chickpeas and butter)
Lassi (thick yoghurt drink topped with cream)
Amritsari fish (fried freshwater fish in spiced batter)
Sarson da saag with makki di roti (mustard greens with maize flatbread)
Dal makhani (slow-cooked black lentils)
Phirni (ground rice pudding)
Vegetarian food is the norm in the old city and the langar is fully vegetarian.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹800
₹350
₹100 per person
Mid-range
₹3,000
₹800
₹1,200 per vehicle
Luxury
₹11,000
₹2,000
₹2,500 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit is needed for Indian visitors. Carry a photo ID for hotels and for the security check at the border ceremony.
Safety
By day
The old city is busy and generally safe. Watch your belongings in crowded lanes and bazaars.
At night
The Golden Temple area stays active late into the night. Keep to main streets when walking back to your hotel.
Solo women
The temple complex is open all night and well attended. Dress modestly and use booked cabs for late or long rides.
Roads
The road to the border is a good highway but gets crowded before and after the ceremony. Note where your vehicle is parked, as the crowd is large and phone signal is weak there.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies), 108 (ambulance), 0183-2527100 (Amritsar city police)
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town. Signal is weak at the Wagah border.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are available across the city, but carry cash for dhabas, rickshaws and small shops.
Fuel
Fuel stations are easy to find in the city and on the Grand Trunk Road; petrol is about 107 rupees a litre.
Medical
The city has many hospitals, including Amandeep Hospital on GT Road, Model Town, and the Amritsar Sewa Samiti hospital near Durgiana Mandir.
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