One of the most visited destinations in Punjab is Amritsar – a city that blends spirituality, history, culture and also food in a very beautiful way. This blog post will help you to plan 2 days in Amritsar without feeling any rush. It will help you to explore the city’s iconic landmarks, delve deeper into its history and also have a taste of authentic Punjabi food.
We all know Amritsar is popularly known all over the world as a spiritual destination and attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims all year round, as it is home to the Golden Temple. But beyond this spiritualism, Amritsar was the pivotal centre in India’s Freedom movement during the colonial era. The incident of 1919, known as the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, fueled the movement nationwide and intensified the resistance against British rule in India. There are so many factors that make Amritsar a very important city in the historical and cultural map of India. Before I start this guide on how to spend 2 days in Amritsar, let’s go through a little bit about the history of Amritsar.
A Brief History of Amritsar
One of the most important and prominent cultural and commercial hubs of Punjab is Amritsar. Amritsar was founded by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, in the year 1577. Amritsar is famous for the Golden Temple, which is a major religious site for those following Sikhism. The city derived its name from the sacred pool, also called ‘amrita raas’ (pool of nectar), that was excavated under the instruction of Guru Ram Das. As time passed by, and with the existence of the Golden Temple, Amritsar gained popularity as the main centre of the Sikh faith, and this in turn resulted in increased trade and commerce.
The city was annexed to British India in 1849. During the freedom movement in India, it was the resistance in Punjab which played a major role in shaping India’s struggle for independence. Then came the Rowlatt Act that allowed the British Colonial government to imprison any Indian, search homes without trials and curtail the freedom of the press without any trials for two years.
On 13th April 1919, the people of Amritsar gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to peacefully protest the arrest of two leaders, Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satyapal, as well as the repressive Rowlatt Act, when the British troops under Gen. Dyer fired bullets at unarmed and peaceful protesters that comprised men, women and innocent children. This was a major turning point in the freedom movement, and this incident propelled the resistance and turned it into a mass movement all over the country.
Thus, Amritsar is an important city in India with both spiritual and historical significance. Along with this, the early 19th century is also called the golden age of Amritsar, which was then ruled by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, also known as the ‘Lion of Punjab’. He was the person behind making Amritsar a high seat of Sikhism and also a prominent religious and commercial hub. This was the era of the city’s prosperity that saw the development of trade routes, forts and many more, leading to gaining much wider recognition.
Hope this brief history will give a good insight into the past and present of Amritsar. Now, let’s begin with my itinerary of spending 2 days in Amritsar.
How to reach Amritsar in Punjab
Well, I started my journey from Guwahati, a long overnight layover at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, and then I boarded a connecting flight to Amritsar. We reached around 7 am, and by 8 am, we had checked into our hotel. The Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport connects major airports in our city. Amritsar Junction railway station has great train connectivity. You can board the Vande Bharat Train from Delhi to reach Amritsar in approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.
We stayed in a very budget-friendly hotel in the Golden Avenue area, which is some 2 km away from the Golden Temple. There are many decent and budget-friendly hotels in this neighbourhood, and if you want, you can book a stay here. Otherwise, the majority of tourists opt to stay near the Golden Temple locality known as Katra Ahluwalia. It took us 15 minutes to reach the locality in an e-rickshaw that charged us Rs 50. The moment we checked into the hotel, the first thing I did was order some parathas for breakfast and tea. We were in Punjab after all.
The major spots to be covered in 2 days in Amritsar are the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Partition Museum, the Durgiana Temple, the Wagah Border ceremony, the Valmiki Temple, the Gobindgarh Fort, and Sadda Pindh Amritsar.
The best time to visit Amritsar is October to March, when the weather is cool and pleasant. We visited in mid-April, the weather was really hot, and the temperature was not comfortable at all. Still, we tried to cover as many spots as we could.
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Itinerary for Day 1 in Amritsar, Punjab,
The Golden Temple of Amritsar
After checking into the hotel, we took some rest, freshened up, and we left for the Golden Temple. We had hired a car that dropped us at the main chowk, and from there we had to walk for around 500 metres. The Golden Temple, also called Harmandir Sahib, is situated on a small island in the centre of the pool. In 1604, Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru, built the first Harmandir Sahib, but the temple was destroyed many times by Afghan invaders, and it was finally rebuilt in 1776. The temple is a marvellous blend of Mughal and Rajput architectural styles.
The main way to enter the temple premises is from the north side of the tank, and that is where the Clock Tower is also situated. You have to cover your heads with a cloth, both men, women and children and submit your shoes at one of the many counters, and they give you a token number for identifying them later.
There was a long queue to enter the sanctum sanctorum, where the sacred book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept in the main central room after resting all night. The doors open for the devotees early morning, and since it was a Sunday and also the next day was Baisakhi, there was a huge gathering of pilgrims, so we had to skip the visit inside. We offered our prayers from outside, and my husband took a dip in the holy waters of the pool. Everything is very well organised and systematic.
The Golden Temple is also famous for holding the largest Langar in the world, which means a free community kitchen. Just like the Golden Temple, the langar is open to anyone irrespective of caste, religion, race or creed. The langar feeds vegetarian meals to approximately one lakh pilgrims every day. This concept of Langar was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. He believed in equality, and everyone should share food without discrimination.
You must visit the Golden Temple in the evening when the temple is all lit up, and its golden reflection falls on the pool water. The view is spectacularly divine, and the ambience adds charm. The temple premises remain open 24 hours a day, but the main Sanctum Sanctorum opens early in the morning.
The Partition Museum
From the Golden Temple, we visited the Partition Museum, which was situated in the same vicinity; it was a walk of just 15 min. You need to get your tickets for Rs 10 per head to enter the museum. It is situated in the town hall of Amritsar. The museum houses a massive collection of many popular original newspapers and articles published during the Partition of India, photographs, original letters, documentation, and weapons.
There are documents and audio-visual records displays related to post-partition riots and incidents that led to the division of British India into two independent nations, India and Pakistan. The building where the museum is located in Amritsar was also the British headquarters and a jail during the colonial rule in India. It was around 12:30 p.m., and the sun was scorching.
The Durgiana Mandir
From the Partition Museum, our car driver Bhiayya picked us up, and then we visited the Durgiana Mandir. Built in the 16th century and reconstructed in 1921, it is a religious and famous Hindu pilgrimage in Amritsar dedicated to the goddess Durga. The temple looks similar to the Golden Temple in architecture and is situated in the centre of a water tank. The doors of this temple are made of silver, and the temple also worships Lakshmi-Naryana, Radha-Krishna and Ram Darbar.
Just outside the temple, we had mouth-watering fried moong dal fritters with fresh mint chutney at Rs50. If you too see a hawker selling it, don’t miss this. You will also find a lot of hawkers selling the same moong dal fritters near Jallianwala Bagh.
Attari-Wagah Border Ceremony
From the Durgiana Temple, we went to a restaurant to have lunch, and from there we started our journey to the Attari Border. To attend the Wagah Border ceremony, it’s better if you reach early so that you can get a good spot to watch the function. As I told it was a Sunday, so we went quite early. Still, there was a huge crowd at the entrance. They have a separate queue for Men and Women. You need to show your Aadhar Card or a valid Identity proof. Also, do not carry big handbags or any kind of luggage, as it is not allowed inside, and you will have to keep it outside in the place
The daily ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border begins at 4:30 pm and ends at 6 pm; it is also done by the Border Security Force. On the other side, the Pakistani Rangers does its ceremony at Wagah village. The ceremony blends patriotic fervour and human emotion in a beautiful way. It is a lifetime experience to attend the ceremony, and thus it remains a major highlight of the Amritsar trip.
The jawans performed a parade with dramatic high kicks and intense expressions, a dog show, and gymnastic shows. The chanting of slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ charged up the atmosphere with contagious energy and enthusiasm. Right at sunset, the symbolic lowering of flags on both sides of the border took place, thereby ending the ceremony with a great feeling of respect, love and devotion for our country, India. I went back with loads of memories and a sense of Pride.
We reached our hotel at around 8:00 pm, and after resting for some time, we again visited The Golden Temple to experience the night view and immerse ourselves in the divine atmosphere. We also did some shopping from the huge number of shops near the temple that mostly sold Phulkari Dupattas, Jutis, Mojaris, Salwar Suits, various accessories, etc. We reached our hotel at 11:00 pm.
Itinerary of Day 2 in Amritsar, Punjab.
Jallianwala Bagh
We woke up quite early in the morning after a good amount of sleep. It was 13 April, and what a coincidence. When I read about the tragic Jallianwala Bagh in my social studies classes, I never had I imagined that I could visit the place and exactly on that same date. The place made me really emotional. We visited early in the morning, so it was empty, but after a few minutes, it got really crowded. Preparations were going on to commemorate the day and those innocent lives that included women and also children. It’s a tragic reminder of the cruelty of British Colonialism and the power of peaceful resistance
Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal in Amritsar
Associated with the life of the great Indian sage Valmiki, this temple is quite an important religious site in Amritsar. It is believed by many that this is the place where Valmiki composed the epic Ramayana. Believers also say that while Sita was in exile, this is the place where she took refuge, and her sons Lava and Kusha were born and raised by her. The temple houses a 8 feet tall and 800 kg gold-plated idol of Sage Valmiki in the main section. The beautiful architecture and peaceful ambience of the temple also makes its a popular tourist spot in Amritsar.
The Godindgarh Fort
Spanning across 43 acres along the Grand Trunk Road in Amritsar is the majestic Govindgarh Fort. The 300-year-old is a living testimony to the era that extends from the Bhangi Misl (sovereign states of the Sikh confederacy) until the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 18th century and goes through all the transitions made during the supremacy of the East India Company and the Indian Army.
The fort tells many stories and legends of Punjab through shows and exhibitions. You can also witness laser shows that demonstrate the legendary life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The primary objective behind the construction of this fort in Govindgarh was to protect Amritsar and its religious shrines, mainly the Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple. The Fort is crafted entirely from brick and lime; it is an architectural marvel of our nation. You can book your tickets for the show and the Forst visit from this link HERE.
Information Collected from this website Here.
Sadda Pind
Sadda Pind is a popular tourist destination in Amritsar. You can get the rustic charm of the villages, the people and their lifestyle here. You can also experience the ancestral craftsmanship, churning of lassi, it’s like a Living Cultural Punjab Museum. It is an attempt to preserve the art, culture, traditions and heritage of rural Punjab.
You will also get to experience live demonstrations of Gatka (Martial Science), Bajigars, Potter, Fulkari, Bioscope, Magician, Thathera Art (UNESCO Heritage), pre-cinematic optical media & many more. It is situated 8 Km from Amritsar and 7 Km from the airport. But we skipped visiting Sadda Pind because that evening we left for Dalhousie from Amritsar via Pathankot. But this interesting place must be visited and enjoyed when in Amritsar, and can be easily included in a 2-day itinerary.
Where to eat in Amritsar
You have to try Amritsari Kulcha and Lassi when in Amritsar. The market area right next to the gate of Jallianwala Bagh is completely flooded with restaurants, street stalls, and small food outlets where you can have delicious Punjabi food.
Some of the Top food spots are Kesar da Dhaba for Dal Makhani, Bhai Kulwant Singh for Amritsari Kulcha and Brother’s Dhaba, all situated near the Golden Temple.
During our stay in Amritsar, we tried eating in a few restaurants, all situated here. There is also a restaurant named Haveli on the highway, where we had our lunch on the way to Amritsar while returning from Himachal Pradesh.
Shopping Destinations in Amritsar
As I mentioned above, the market area near the Golden Temple is a perfect place for shopping. But you might find the prices a bit higher when compared to the quality of the items. Still, I bought two phulkari dupattas from there. Hall Market, Katra Jaimal Singh market, Guru Bazar, and Lahore Gate market are also some of the popular shopping spots.
From Punjabi textiles, jutis, Phulkari embroidered Dupattas, embroidered dress materials, bangles, leather goods, and a lot more can be purchased. You can also visit Ranjit Avenue if you want to experience an urban lifestyle and shopping. There are many fine dining options and luxurious showrooms where you can indulge yourself according to your taste and wishes.
Finally, I have come to the end of this exhaustive blog post. I tried to share all the experiences I had with you all, my dear readers. Hope you like reading the post. Do share with your friends and loved ones.
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