Visiting Amritsar: What to Do, Ideal Season, and Tips

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Golden Temple, Wagah Border, and Jallianwala Bagh, are some major tourist attractions.
• October to March is the ideal time to visit Amritsar. 
• Learning some common Punjabi phrases can help you interact with locals.
• Book your flights at least a month before, to avoid last-minute charges.  

Golden City or Holy City of India, Amritsar, is one of those places that every person needs to visit at least once in their lifetime. Amritsar was founded by the fourth guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Ramdass Ji, in 1574 A.D.

This sacred place has become a global attraction and attracts over 30 million people annually. There are various destinations for tourists to see, food to eat, and people to interact with. It’s one of those spots that will give people a memory for a lifetime. 

With that being said, in this article, I’ll mention what to do in Amritsar as a tourist, the ideal season to visit, and must-know tips. All of these points are based on my personal experience, so they are going to be pretty useful. 

Must-Experience Attractions

Amritsar is a beautiful city with many tourist attractions that you simply can’t miss. This includes: 

Golden Temple: One of the holiest places in India, visited by over 100,000 people daily. Known for its great architectural design, spirituality, and love for people. Make sure to feast on the daily Langer that is free of cost. Not gonna lie, the food was simple yet something I had never tasted before, and it was fantastic.  

• Jallianwala Bagh: A historic site that was built to commemorate those who lost their lives during the 1919 massacre. Bullet marks are still preserved here, and this memorial reminds people of the struggles India went through for Independence. 

• Wagah Border: Situated nearly 28 km from Amritsar, Wagah Border is a crucial area that marks the boundary between India and Pakistan. Every day, a ceremony is held right before sunset, known as the Beating Retreat Ceremony, where both countries close the international gate and lower their respective flags. 

• Durgiana Temple: Only 1.6 km away from the Golden Temple, Durgiana is a Hindu temple that worships Goddess Durga, Goddess Laxmi, and Lord Vishnu. Its resemblance is quite simple to the Golden Temple. 

• Partition Museum: If anyone is interested in knowing how India was before British rule, during it, and after that, this is the place you have to visit. Here you can find various collections of art, artifacts, and stories. I was mesmerized by the things that I saw here.

These are the main attractions in Amritsar that can’t be ignored. Each one of these has something unique to offer, and showed me the real side of Punjab and all whole India. Some other notable places include Gobindgarh Fort, Akal Takht, Gurudwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib, and more. Below, I have mentioned my favorite things in Amritsar. 

Find the Best Time to Visit

Now, while the city itself is beautiful, to further elevate the experience, I booked flights to Amritsar during certain months. Practically, you can go to Amritsar any time of the year, but from October to March, I was met with the most comforting weather. 

During this time, the temperature is between 10 °C to 25 °C, which is neither too hot nor too cold. It is also the festive season, and I got to enjoy Lohri as I went in January. July to September is moderate, apart from not being able to enjoy the festivals; the rest remains the same.

April, May, and June are the hottest, so I avoided going during this time. I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive, and sightseeing was going to be very difficult. 

Travel Tips and Essential Advice

Before leaving for Amritsar, I got myself educated a bit. First, I learned some basic Punjabi phrases, so that I can communicate with locals and, in case of an emergency, I can ask for their assistance. 

There are various hotels and stays to choose from. Most of them are affordable, and I went for those as I knew I’ll be sightseeing most of the time. Instead of eating in restaurants and hotels, I gave local food a try; it was delicious and reasonable. 

I also hired a tour guide who showed me and my friends around while also filling us in on the historical facts. I explored most of Amritsar in just 2 days, and at max it should take only 4, there’s no need to stay for a week or anything.

Where to Find Flights to Amritsar

Finding flights to Amritsar is not difficult, as they are available on pretty much every platform. As an international tourist, I found it on MANNTRAVEL.

I made sure to book the flights in advance so that I could avoid last-minute flight charges that could potentially cost 20-30% extra, which can mess up your overall expenses. Direct flights from London, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur to Amritsar are available. 

From India itself, my friends had various options to choose from, like bus, train, or flight. However, depending on the distance, they decided on their mode of transport.