Things To Do In Amritsar & Complete Travel Guide

The city of Amritsar is set around the majestic Golden Temple, the world’s most important pilgrimage site for Sikhs. But that’s not all: there are plenty of other things to do in Amristar. I’ll run through the best of them in this Amritsar travel guide.

RISHIKESH ESSENTIALS

India Lonely Planet

Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld

Activities: Klook

Getting there: flight (Skyscanner) / bus / train (12Go)

Airport transfer

Travel insurance: True Traveller (European travellers) / Hey Mundo (other nationalities) / Safety Wing (digital nomads)

Located in the state of Punjab, Amritsar has a mere 2.5 million people: a small city by Indian standards! It felt like all of them were swerving around me in tuk-tuks, looking intently and asking for selfies.

The city centre feels open and modern but it only takes a few turns to feel totally off-grid in a maze of muddy, noisy alleyways.

Due to the local vibe with lots of cheap eateries (plus the free entry and food at the Golden Temple), Amritsar was one of the cheapest places for backpacking in India.

Air: I arrived in Amritsar by air from Thailand. While most people arrive into India via Delhi, if you’re in Asia already, Amritsar is a good starting point. I use Skyscanner to book flights, searching by whole month to see the cheapest dates to travel. Search for flights to Amristar.

Book your airport to city transfer in advance.

Train: Amritsar Junction station will connect you by train to other cities including Delhi with 7 hours.

Bus: From Amritsar, you’re well connected to the mountainous area of Dharmshala where lots of people go next.

Use 12go to book trains and buses in India.

Things to do in Amritsar

A weird and wonderful experience in Amritsar is dining at the world’s biggest community kitchen which feeds 100,000 people a day. This is known as a langar to Sikhs.

I loved this experience because it was so unique: we sat cross-legged on the floor with a delicious dinner and hundreds of locals doing the exact same thing.

If you don’t know, caring for others is a big part of the Sikh religion. Community kitchens are a common theme in temples around the world. You won’t pay a penny for this meal which I think is so amazing and hospitable.

You’re presented with an empty tray and servers come around to dole out scoops of dahl, curd and chapatis. I loved the efficiency of it all, including the water machines that pour into your cup without the staff having to bend down!

Food is available all day in the Golden Temple dining hall, so just arrive and make your way over there.

Volunteering at the Golden Temple

One of the most interesting things to do in Amritsar is volunteer at the Golden Temple Kitchen. Here, you’ll help chefs prepare the food in bulk. I’d suggest doing this as part of a tour because your guide will know the chefs personally and help you get the best of the hectic environment.

I booked a tour with Incredible Amritsar and sadly had to cancel when I came down with food poisoning. It would have been awesome to stir the giant dahl pot and see hundreds of chapatis flipped by the industrial-sized dough machine. Next time!

If you get the chance to visit the Golden Temple at night, I’d highly recommend it. While the daytime is better for photo opportunities, the evening is more atmospheric.

Every night at 9.30pm, the Palki Sahib ceremony sees the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, get put to bed inside the temple. Temple guards carry it there while music plays and a crowd gathers, so it’s an interesting ceremony to see.

I’d suggest arriving at the Golden Temple around 8pm. Eat a meal in the kitchen, then wait for the show afterwards. To learn from a local guide, take an evening temple guided walk.

Despite the first four items in this blog being about the Golden Temple, there’s one other very cool thing to do in Amritsar.

Every day at 4.15pm in the winter and 5.15pm in the summer, the border between India and Pakistan hosts a colourful, competitive dance show. Hundreds visit to cheer for India each day, and you’ll glimpse people supporting Pakistan on the other side of the border.

Attending the Wagah Border show was one of the most exciting and random experiences I’ve ever had travelling. And that includes the time I watched a dance show in a Filipino jail then played badminton with the convicts!

Everyone was in great spirits and the high-energy dance show was just amazing. Expect elaborate costumes and some impressive high kicks.

Related tour: small group city tour inc Wagah Border ceremony

Our show begun with an energetic march and dance party from a hundred young patriotic Indian girls. We got up out of our seats and joined them!

I visited the Wagah Border, which is an hour’s drive from Amritsar, as a tour with my hostel. However, it’s easy to visit by taxi or tuk-tuk.

Every day in the central square, guides will hassle you with trips to the show, charging around 1,000 rupees per vehicle. Try and split the ride with other travellers if you can, especially because it’s more fun in a group. The show is free to watch.

Not all the things to do in Amritsar are upbeat, as you’ll find out at Jallianwala Bagh.

This memorial in the heart of Amritsar is dedicated to the hundreds of Indians who were brutally massacred at the hands of the British, all for holding a peaceful protest. My blood boils to think about this.

Indians come from far and wide to pay their respects at Jallianwala Bagh so it’s an important thing to do in Amritsar. If you’re British, you will feel no hate or judgement here, only sadness. An elderly man, who must have been a boy when it happened, didn’t miss a beat when I told him where I was from. He smiled and welcomed me to his country.

After seeing the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre Monument, I knew I had to go to the Partition Museum, however hard it might be.

If you don’t know about Partition, it’s not your fault. Our ancestors swept it under the rug on purpose but let me tell you, you need to know about this. Here’s a quick summary:

• Britain ruled India for 100 years, draining 167 million USD from the economy, using it to extend their empire and forcing Indians to live on 2.5 cents a day. Eight million Indians died of famine
• The British used divide and rule tactics to separate Muslim and Hindus therefore reducing the threat of united rebellion
• The people of India were desperate for the British to leave and launched the Quit India movement
• On their exit, the British split India and Pakistan, knowing that relationships between Muslims and Hindus were stretched beyond repair, intending Pakistan to be a homeland for Muslims
• The nation woke up to find new borders had been drawn up and 15 million people were displaced as a result
• Partition was the largest migration in human history, fraught with violence. One million Indians died and most people today cannot track their ancestors as a result.

Heartbreaking as it was, I’m grateful I got to learn about the history of Amritsar at this memorable museum. Entrance is 250 rupees for foreigners. If you wish to understand more, book a guided tour ($13).

As I mentioned earlier, the outer streets of Amritsar are busy, hectic and overwhelming. However, the central square near the Golden Temple feels modern and well-organised. It’s a nice place to wander with some impressive architecture.

You can get some total bargains while shopping, especially with these gorgeous shoes which are famously from Punjab. There are also lots of stalls selling kulfi (milky frozen yoghurt) and lassis.

Take a village tour

Where to stay in Amritsar

I stayed at Jugaadus which was excellent but seems to have sadly closed since. However I have heard good things about goStops Amritsar and Nutz Backpackers.

Browse all Amritsar accommodation on Booking.com and Hostelworld.

Where to eat in Amritsar

Best food in Amritsar:

A famous ‘kulcha’ breakfast – this thick bread dish is a bit like naan and served with butter, chickpeas and other flavoursome dips. Eat it at Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale for 80 rupees including chai.

Kesar De Dhaba – the most famous Punjab restaurant in Amritsar, hidden down a local alleyway. Order the palak paneer!

Gurdas Ram Jalebi Wala – if you don’t know it already, jalebi is a deep fried dough dessert served in sticky syrup. This street vendor is renowned after serving it for many years.

The world’s only vegetarian McDonalds – a random one but interesting nonetheless. You can find this restaurant in the main square.