When one thinks of Amritsar, one normally just thinks of the Golden Temple. The city, however, has much more to offer. And fortunately, with the summer retreating, it’ll soon be the ideal weather to visit Amritsar. So, today we bring to you 5 things that you must do when in the Punjabi city.
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Sightseeing
There are a number of monuments and historical sites that one must visit in Amritsar: Partition Museum, Jallianwala Bagh, Gobindgarh Fort, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Akal Takht and of course, the Golden Temple. Make sure you check the distance between these monuments before planning your itinerary because some of these are a stone’s throw away from each other.
Eat Yummy Food
The one thing that you can explore regardless of the weather is the delicious food in Amritsar. Some unmissable delicacies to relish are the famous kulchas, poori-chana, tandoori chicken and fish tikkas. Everything is extremely pocket-friendly as well. Need a light snack? Head to any local dhaba and gulp down some thick lassi, which will cost you just Rs. 50–60. There are numerous food joints that are very well-known and must be tried out: Kulcha Land, Beera Chicken House, Kanha Sweets, Bharawan da Dhaba, Kesar da Dhaba, Ahuja Milk Bhandar and Surjit Food Plaza.
Shopping
Located only a kilometre away from the railway station, Hall Bazaar is probably the most popular market in the city. You can find anything and everything here, ranging from electronics, books, clothes, jewellery, Chinese lanterns, Phulkari embroidery to Amritsari juttis and handicraft items. If you’re more of a mall person, you can find plenty of commercial shopping centres as well. Trillium Mall, Mall of Amritsar and Alpha One have great selections and stores in all categories.
Go to Wagah Border
A must do for everyone is to see the parade at Wagah Border. This item in the Amritsar To Do list is famous for a reason: it’s an incredible experience. The parade has been a daily practice since 1959 for the military on both sides of the border (Attari, India and Wagah, Pakistan). The seats cannot be pre-booked and are only available on a first come, first serve basis. There is no entry fee but you’ll need to book a cab (two-way fare is approximately Rs. 1300) to get to the venue as it’s about 30 kms away from the main city.
Tip: Make sure you reach 1–2 hours before the start of the parade to get good seats. If possible, go on a weekday so you don’t have to encounter large crowds.
Explore Punjabi Culture
On your way to or from Wagah Border, you must make a stop at Sadda Pind, which is a Punjabi culture living village museum. Spread across 12 acres, visiting Sadda Pind can be a filler for your itinerary as well as be an entire weekend getaway. You can learn about the traditional arts, like Phulkari, enjoy the cultural performances and of course, eat to your heart’s content.
Are you packing your bags already for Amritsar? We won’t blame you for wanting to do that. 😀
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