Amritsar

Overview

Amritsar is compact, walkable around the old city, and easy on the wallet. The Golden Temple is free and open round the clock, and its langar feeds anyone who walks in. Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum sit a few minutes away on foot. They cover the 1919 massacre and the 1947 Partition. Most people add an evening at the Attari-Wagah border ceremony, about 30 km out, and a Punjabi food crawl through the old lanes. Two days covers the main sights, three lets you slow down. Go between October and March. April to September is hot or humid.

Best time to visit

1. ●Jan
2. ●Feb
3. ●Mar
4. ◐Apr
5. ✕May
6. ✕Jun
7. ✕Jul
8. ✕Aug
9. ◐Sep
10. ●Oct
11. ●Nov
12. ●Dec

● best time · ◐ okay · ✕ best avoided (May–Aug)

How to reach

• By air

  Taxi to the city: about ₹300–600 (estimate)

  Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) is roughly 11–13 km from the Golden Temple, about 20–30 minutes by road depending on traffic. Taxis wait outside the terminal. Sources also mention a free SGPC shuttle bus from the airport to the temple area. Timings change, so ask at the airport. Delhi–Amritsar flights are frequent. Fares vary a lot, so compare dates.

• By train

  Auto from station: about ₹50–150; many people walk or take the free temple bus

  Amritsar Junction (ASR) is about 2 km from the Golden Temple. Delhi–Amritsar Shatabdi (12015/12016) takes around 4.5–5 hours. Mumbai trains such as Golden Temple Express (12903/12904) take well over a day. Book early for winter weekends and the Diwali and Guru Nanak Jayanti period. Check train numbers and timetables on IRCTC before booking.

• By bus and road

  Delhi–Amritsar bus: about ₹600–2,500 depending on operator and class

  Buses connect Amritsar with Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu, Katra and Dharamshala. Delhi is about 450 km by road via NH44, roughly 8 hours. The SGPC runs a free shuttle between the bus stand and the Golden Temple, about 2 km away. Confirm frequency on the day.

• Getting around the city

  Short auto rides: about ₹50–200

  The old city around the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum is easy to cover on foot. Autos and app cabs fill the gaps, such as for Gobindgarh Fort or the station. Agree the fare before an auto starts. Traffic and crowds near the temple are heaviest in the evening.

• To the Wagah border

  Bus/shared auto: about ₹50–250 / Cab: about ₹600–1,200 round trip (estimates)

  Attari-Wagah is about 28–30 km from the city, 45–75 minutes each way. Options include a local bus to Attari plus a short rickshaw, a shared auto, a private cab or the Punjab Tourism hop-on hop-off bus. Leave early. Security queues and the exit crush after the ceremony both take time.

Where to stay

• Budget: guesthouses and hostels near the Golden Temple

  ₹600–1,800 / night (estimate)

  Staying within walking distance of the Golden Temple saves time and autos, and lets you visit at dawn or late at night. Expect simple rooms and a few backpacker hostels. Rooms near the temple fill up on festival weekends, so book ahead for Diwali, Baisakhi and Gurpurab dates.

• Mid-range: city hotels

  ₹2,500–6,000 / night (estimate)

  Business-style hotels along Mall Road and near the station give you AC rooms, breakfast and easy cab pickup. They suit families and anyone who wants a quieter base away from the temple crowds. Check the distance to the temple on the map and read recent reviews.

• SGPC sarais

  Check before you go

  The SGPC runs pilgrim lodgings (sarais) near the Golden Temple. These are mainly meant for devotees and are donation-based or low-cost. Availability and rules differ. Ask at the information office, or check the SGPC website before you go.

• Upscale and heritage-style stays

  ₹8,000–18,000 / night (estimate)

  A handful of higher-end hotels and boutique heritage properties sit outside the old city. They offer pools, quiet and airport pickups. Fog and festival periods push prices up.

Things to do

• Visit the Golden Temple twice

  Free

  Go once at dawn or after dark, when the crowd thins and the lit shrine reflects in the sarovar. Come back at another hour for the full parkarma walk. Plan 2–3 hours. Entry is free, there is no VIP line, and photography is not allowed inside the sanctum itself.

• Eat langar and watch the kitchen

  Free (donations welcome)

  The community kitchen serves free vegetarian meals round the clock. You sit on the floor in rows and volunteers serve you. Take seconds if you want, return your plate, and consider helping out for a short while. Donate if you can.

• Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum

  Bagh: free / Museum: about ₹10 for Indian nationals

  Jallianwala Bagh is the memorial garden for the 1919 firing, and the Partition Museum in the old Town Hall is a short walk away. Together they take about 2.5–3.5 hours and make a thoughtful half-day.

• Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony

  Free; transport ₹50–1,200 (estimate)

  BSF and Pakistan Rangers lower the flags in a loud, choreographed parade at sunset. Entry is free, seating is first-come, and you need photo ID. Timing changes with the season, so check the current start time. Wear a cap in summer and carry water.

• Gobindgarh Fort

  About ₹100–500 depending on package; check before you go

  The restored fort offers museums, live shows and a light-and-sound programme. It suits families and is open until late evening. Ticket prices depend on which package you pick.

Food

• Amritsari kulcha and chole

  ₹80–250 per plate (estimate)

  Stuffed kulchas (aloo, paneer or onion) come hot from the tandoor with chole, a pile of butter and chutney. Breakfast and lunch are the classic times. Expect a queue at the well-known places. Go with an empty stomach.

• Lassi, chaas and sweets

  ₹40–150 (estimate)

  Thick lassi in steel glasses is a daily thing, and you will see it all over the old city. Pair it with jalebi, a laddu or kheer. Order small portions if you are doing a crawl.

• Fish, meat and street snacks

  ₹150–500 a person (estimate)

  Amritsari fish fry and tandoori chicken have loyal fans, and there is plenty of vegetarian chaat, papdi and dahi bhalla too. Pick busy stalls with fast turnover and drink bottled water.

• Langar as a meal

  Free

  Langar is free and fills you up, so it can replace one meal a day for a tight budget. It is not a restaurant, so keep to the temple etiquette: head covered, wait your turn and finish what you take.

Safety & permits

Permits & entry

• No permit for the main sights

  Domestic travellers do not usually need a permit for Amritsar or its main sights. Carry a photo ID (Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence). Hotels ask for it, and you need it for Wagah. Rules change, so confirm on the official sites (SGPC, BSF Punjab Frontier, Punjab Tourism) before you travel.

• Golden Temple rules

  Entry is free and open 24 hours. Cover your head (free scarves are available at the entrance), take your shoes off at the free cloakroom and wash your feet in the pools. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Tobacco and alcohol are not allowed. Photography is restricted in some areas. Sources differ on whether there is a formal dress code, so confirm with the SGPC and follow the volunteers' instructions.

• Wagah border entry

  Entry is free with no ticket or advance booking for general visitors. Carry a valid photo ID and expect a security check. Large bags are generally not allowed, so travel light. Phone signal is often jammed around the border. Public entry has been suspended at short notice in the past (for 12 days in May 2025) for security reasons. Check current status before you set out.

• Wagah ceremony timings

  Timings keep changing. Reports in October 2026 say the ceremony moved to 5:00–5:30 pm from 16 October, after an earlier 5:30–6:00 pm slot. In summer it ran later (6:00–6:30 pm from 1 May 2026). Older guides still list 4:15 and 5:15 pm. Check the BSF announcement or a local source on the day.

• Museum closures

  The Partition Museum is closed on Mondays and on 26 January, 15 August and 2 October, per its official page. Hours of 10 am to 6 pm are listed there, though other sites state different closing times. Jallianwala Bagh hours differ between sources, from a 6:30 am start to a 9 am start and from a 6:30 pm to a 7:30 pm close, so confirm locally.

Places in Amritsar

Tips & questions

Quick tips, questions and photos from people who've been — or are going.

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