Best Places to Visit in Amritsar

Although Amritsar is the holiest city for Sikh pilgrims, travelers of all faith and interests visit this beautiful place in Punjab. Popular places to visit in Amritsar include the Golden Temple, Akal Takht, Jallianwala Bagh, and Gobindgarh Fort. While the Old City to the south of Amritsar station is dotted with several historical structures and sights like the Golden Temple, the North side of Amritsar features upmarket restaurants, hotels, and spacey neighborhoods, and other shining signs of the city’s contemporary prosperity. Let’s take a closer look at all the points of interest in Amritsar:

Certainly a major highlight of all Amritsar sightseeing tours, the Golden Temple is the most significant religious site for the Sikhs and also one of the most spectacular temples in India. Also known as Shri Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, the Golden Temple is one of the top attractions in Amritsar. The temple complex is open every day from 6 am to 2 am, so visitors can enjoy its lovely reflections in Amrit Sarovar in the evening.

The two-storey structure in the middle of the sacred pool can be entered via a narrow bridge. Pilgrims can take a bath in the marked spots in the pool, before bowing their head in the temple. The Central Sikh Museum here displays a gallery of paintings illustrating stories of martyred Sikh leaders. The Golden Temple also has a famous dining hall (langar) serving free meals to all visitors round the clock.

On a trip to Amritsar, Jallianwala Bagh is one of the famous tourist attractions in Amritsar. Located five-minute walk from the Golden Temple, this 6.5-acre garden is the site of the infamous 1919 Amritsar massacre on the day of Baisakhi. To this day, visitors can see the bullet holes in the walls. One of the latest addition to Amritsar sightseeing places, Gobindgarh Fort lies in the heart of the city and was opened to public visitors in 2017.

After enjoying sightseeing in Amritsar, travelers can head 32 km west to the Wagah town. Every evening for two hours at the border gate, the Wagah border ceremony is performed by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistani Rangers. Pul Kanjri is a historical site about 35 km from Amritsar where structures like a mosque, temple, and a pond were built under the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Mata Temple is a Hindu cave temple dedicated to the saint named Lal Devi. Durgiana Temple or Sitla Mandir is another place of worship near the Lohgarh gate. Built in the style of Golden Temple, it is also built in the middle of a medium-sized lake. Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Ram Bagh Park, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama, Partition Museum, and Ram Tirth are other popular places to visit in Amritsar city.