While planning a trip to Dharamshala, we decided to tick off another destination on our bucket list: Amritsar. The "Gateway to Punjab, Amritsar" is a spiritual city renowned for the glorious Golden Temple. It is an ideal holiday destination for history and culture buffs since it is quite famous for its beautiful Gurudwaras, museums, historical sites, and food. Visit the sacred Golden Temple and feel a surge of pride at the Attari—Wagah Border.
How to Get to Amritsar
Amritsar has an airport, a busy railway station, and a bus station that connects it to other cities in Punjab and neighboring Himachal Pradesh. We arrived by bus from McCleod Ganj (Dharamshala), but most visitors arrive by train from Delhi.
You’ll need to take a cab or auto rickshaw from the airport or train station into Amritsar city center.
Our Travel
We had a day before we got back to our hometown. I knew we could not visit all tourist attractions in that short period, and hence we prioritized a few places.
Golden Temple
The Golden Temple is one of India's most famous landmarks, and is formally known as Sri Harmandir Sahi - it is for sure one of the most popular must-visit places in Amritsar! It is open 24 hours, and everyone is allowed inside the complex.
We visited the temple early morning as it gets crowded as the day progresses. Do not miss the opportunity to taste lungar in one of the lungar halls which serve over 100,000 people a day. Food is vegetarian, delicious, and simple – dal, chapati, and vegetables. Everyone is welcome regardless of faith and it’s an experience not to be missed. When visiting the Golden Temple, dress modestly – shoulders must be covered as well as legs (no shorts or knee-length pants/ skirts) and heads must be covered for both men and women at all times inside the temple complex. Shoes are left outside the temple at the shoe storage desk.
Jalianwala Bagh
Just a few steps from the Golden Temple, another place not to miss in your sightseeing of Amritsar is the Jallianwala Bagh. It serves as a place to honor the victims of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, where British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed Indian civilians during a festival. You can still see the bullet holes. For those who find interest in history spend a good time in the museum. There is no entry fee.
Durgiana Temple
Its cultural and religious heritage has attracted many tourists over the years. Dedicated to Maa Durga, Durgiana Temple is also famous as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, which is a well-known repository of Hindu scriptures. The remarkable thing about this temple is its appearance which is modeled on the Golden Temple.
The Wagah – Attari Border
This Wagah Border Retreat ceremony is no less fascinating than a theatrical play. Soldiers march in sync and bring down the national flag ritualistically.
Before the event, women and children dance to patriotic songs, increasing the audience's nationalistic zeal. From shouts of patriotism to the display of army discipline, the Wagah Beating Retreat Ceremony is a moving event.
Thousands of people, including foreign nationals, line up at Wagah Border Attari to watch the show. It’s a show of national pride, and also a source of entertainment for everyone.
