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Amritsar city is one of the important religious hubs of the country. It is the most sacred place for the Sikh community and is best known for the famous Golden Temple. This sacred temple is surrounded by a holy sarovar named Amrit Sarovar. Amritsar is a renowned spiritual centre for the Sikh Community. The city comes alive on the Baisakhi festival, where you can enjoy the finest food and many cultural programs. On this day, Sikhs celebrate the festival with much enthusiasm. You will find many famous places in Amritsar that you can explore during your Amritsar trip. From the infamous Jallianwala Bagh to Wagha Border, you will want to explore each place when you are in Amritsar. Every single place here showcases the rich cultural heritage of the city and offers you a sneak peek into its glorious past.
The city has witnessed the tragedy of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and has stood strong in the testing times. Today, Amritsar is a thriving city due to its being the economical capital of Punjab, and its significant role as a major spiritual centre of the country.
Best Places to Visit in Amritsar
Here are a few places that you can consider visiting during your Amritsar tour:
Golden Temple
It is one of the holiest places in the country for the Sikh people. Also called Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple is quite popular for its breath-taking architecture and its spiritual significance. The place is also famous for its community kitchen, where a large number of people eat daily. People from any religion can visit this gurudwara. If you too want to experience the spiritual essence of the Golden Temple, you can visit this place during your trip to Amritsar.
Jallianwala Bagh
This is one of the most visited places in Amritsar. Jallianwala Bagh is a garden that was built to commemorate the massacre of people by the British. The massacre day was one of the unfortunate days for the peaceful protestors who were killed on the orders of General Dyer. The place where this massacre took place is now a beautiful park and is administered by the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust.
Wagah Border
This is also one of the best places to explore during your Amritsar trip. The Wagah border marks the boundaries of Indo-Pak border. One of the highlights of the Wagah Border is the Wagah Border Ceremony. It is also called the Beating Retreat Ceremony and is organized daily. Every evening, Indian and Pakistani soldiers meet at the border post and showcase the military camaraderie here.
The Partition Museum
Another interesting thing to explore in Amritsar city is the Partition Museum. It has a great collection of art, memoirs, and artefacts from the partition of British India. If you are a history buff, the Partition Museum is just for you. It was founded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust.
You can see many photographs, newspaper clippings, and personal items in the museum. These items were donated by the people who lived during the time of partition. The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust has an aim to make this museum a world-class museum that is dedicated to the memories of the partition. This museum is devoted to the survivors and victims of the partition.
Durgiana Temple
Another worth-seeing place to explore in Amritsar is Durgiana Temple. Situated near the Golden Temple, this sacred place is a must-visit destination for tourists and spiritual seekers. It has a resemblance to the Golden Temple and carries a sense of spirituality, peace, and tranquillity.
A beautiful Sarovar is located in the temple, where you will find floating idols of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. You will also find a statue of Gur Shail Mal Kapoor at the entrance of the temple. One of the striking features of this place is a fountain show, which is organized in front of the main temple in the evening. Apart from the main temple, you can also find other subsidiary temples at this site.
Gobindgarh Fort
It is a cultural theme park and a historical museum that displays the history of Punjab and the Punjabi culture. There are many museums in the fort where you can see the weapons of war, the traditional attire of Punjab, and the household items of the olden times. You can also see the light and laser shows here, such as Whispering Walls and Sher-E-Punjab shows. These laser shows showcase the life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which is interesting to know for many people.
You can also enjoy live shows here where people perform a traditional martial art named Gatka and Bhangra. If you are an art lover, you can explore the art museum, which showcases paintings of many warriors and Saints. The tourists can also explore Haat Bazaar, where they can purchase traditional items such as colorful Juttis and Phulkari styled clothes.
Shopping in Amritsar
Some of the best shopping destinations that you must visit during your Amritsar tour are as follows:
Hall Bazaar
It is one of the best shopping destinations to visit in Amritsar. Hall Bazaar is a bustling shopping destination for shopaholics. The market has a variety of shops that offer tourists a wide range of items. Some of the things you can buy here include Phulkari suits, turbans, textiles, jewellery, etc. You can also buy many items in the market that showcase the rich cultural heritage of Punjab.
Guru Bazaar
This is another best place to explore for the shopaholics. Guru Bazaar is one of the ancient markets of Amritsar. You will find a large variety of shops in the market where you can buy all sorts of clothing. Apart from that, you can also buy beautiful traditional ornaments and jewellery in this market. Other items that you can get here include idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, silver diyas, earthen lamps, etc. You can also buy chess pieces here, which are made up of sandalwood and ivory.
Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar
Another shopping place in Amritsar is Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar. In this market, you will find a plethora of items to buy, such as Pashmina shawls, jewellery, woodwork, footwear, sarees, etc. Apart from that, you will also find all kinds of wedding materials for men as well as women. You can also buy handicraft items at this place. The streets of the market are full of tailor shops and clothing stores. This market is overcrowded with visitors. You can also enjoy delectable dishes in one of the food outlets of Katra Jaimal Singh market. Once you are here, do not forget to eat Amritsari Tandoori Chicken and paratha.
Shastri Market
Situated near the Guru Bazaar, Shastri Market is also one of the busiest markets in Amritsar. This place offers you a wide collection of jewellery. Thus, most shoppers here are women who are seen wandering here and there in the market. Shastri Market is close to the Golden Temple. Hence, the footfall of tourists is huge. The market has a variety of shops that offer the best quality textiles, ethnic wear, and other items.
Lawrence Road
This market offers shawls, woollen wear, carpets, and traditional clothing at the best rates. If you are looking for these things, you must visit this market once during your Amritsar tour. Apart from carpets and woollen wear, this market is also the best choice for the foodies. You can enjoy the best food in this market. This area is full of branded eating joints, coffee parlours, and restaurants. You can also enjoy desi desserts at one of the sweet shops here.
How to Reach Amritsar?
Here is how you can reach Amritsar from your city:
How to Reach Amritsar by Air?
The nearest airport is approximately 11 km from the city. You can catch a flight from any city to this airport. After arriving here, you can hire a taxi, car, or an auto-rickshaw.
How to Reach Amritsar by Train?
Tourists can reach Amritsar by train without any difficulty, as direct trains run from major cities of the country to Amritsar.
How to Reach Amritsar by Road?
You can also reach Amritsar by road. Many buses run from most cities in India to this city. If you are coming to Amritsar from Delhi, you can easily find many buses that offer you a comfortable journey to this place.
Getting Around Amritsar
By Taxi
If you want to commute within Amritsar comfortably, booking a cab is easy here. However, you need to spend heavily to get these services. Thus, if you have enough funds for your Amritsar trip, you must book a cab to get around Amritsar. The taxi drivers offer you pick and drop facilities, which is a big relief for the travellers.
By Rickshaw
Cycle and auto-rickshaws remain an important public transport in the city. They are easy to find here and are affordable for you. The rickshaw pullers here are seen wearing the Sikh attire. They take you through the narrow lanes of the city without any difficulty.
By Bus
Not many people prefer catching a bus, as Amritsar city is extremely overcrowded. The buses cover all parts of the city. However, people catch the free bus that takes the pilgrims to the Golden Temple.
