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The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Your First Trip To Amritsar

Blog Featured Image of Amritsar Cheat Sheet

Planning a short trip to Amritsar and want to make the most of your holiday? Well, you are on the right page. We at City On Pedals make sure that our guests to our Holy city should be fully contented and satisfied with their tours. At various times, people ask us what are the key places that will make our trip most fun-loving and knowledgeable at the same time.  To guide them further on this point we have formulated a perfect itinerary – can be called a cheat sheet to take a 360-degree view of the city, its history, world-famous temple, the shopping alleys and not to miss its food, that will give you a quick view of the place and its rich culture and heritage. Starting from the much revered Partition Museum to Golden Temple and ending it to a very important political and patriotic place – Wagah Border, let us take a ride to these places.

1. Start Your Road Trip From Partition Museum

Amritsar Heritage Walking Tour Leader explaining the impact of Partition on Punjab
Tour Leader explaining the impact of Partition on Punjab on Our Heritage Walking Tour

Organized in chronological order of events that took place during India’s partition, it is a museum that depicts the gestures, emotions, and plight of people during that phase. People were forced to migrate from one place to another. Being the largest mass migration in history, apart from losing their wealth and homes, many lost their families and separated from them. So the World’s first memorial in remembrance of all those families was constructed at Town Hall in Amritsar and is open for public viewing. Since then, it continues to build its collections and archives and welcomes support in its continued quest to document and remember the history of the millions impacted at the time of the Partition.

Amritsar Wagah Border Tour
Amritsar Wagah Border Tour

2. Shop For Famous Phulkari and Punjabi Juttis

Traditional Phulkari
Guests to Punjab admiring the traditional wear of the State
Punjabi Jutti
Traditional Footwear – Punjabi Jutti

After Partition Museum you can head towards the Heritage Walking Street, which has the statues of Punjab’s War Heroes, Kings and the traditional folk dances of the state. On your way of admiring them, you can also give a boost to your shopping spree with the traditional embroidered dupattas of Punjab – Phulkari and the traditional footwear – Punjabi Juttis. You will find many vendors or shopkeepers selling these traditional items on your walk on this street. Being world-famous the things are regarded as the true souvenirs of Punjab, which are taken by various world travelers during their visit to the city.

3. Jallianwala Bagh

Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh Centenary, Source: The Hindustan times

Another memorial of national importance can be visited here where the Amritsar massacre took place after the orders of acting Brigadier of 1919 – General Reginald Dyer – to the troops of the British Indian Army to fire a crowd of unarmed civilians on the day of Baisakhi 13th April 1919. It is not certain how many died in the bloodbath, but, according to one official report, an estimated 379 people were killed, and about 1,200 more were wounded. This 7-acres of historical garden depicts the predicament of all those people and houses a museum, gallery and a number of memorial structures. The Jallianwala Bagh site in Amritsar is now a national monument.

4. Golden Temple

Mixed group of travelers at the Golden Temple
Group of Guests amidst the sanctity of Golden Temple

The one place which everyone is familiar with and wants to visit when in Amritsar is the most revered Golden Temple. Arguably referred to as the World Headquarter for Sikhism, the place attracts many tourists from around the globe. Apart from being the central religious place of the Sikhs, it is also a symbol of human brotherhood and equality. Everybody, irrespective of caste, creed or race can seek spiritual solace and religious fulfillment without any hindrance. It also represents the distinct identity, glory, and heritage of the Sikhs. To pen-down, the philosophy, ideology, the inner and outer beauty, as well as the historical legacy of Sri Harmandir Sahib is a momentous task. It is a matter of experience rather than a description. Since the Temple hosts the Biggest Community Kitchen of the World, one can enjoy the Satvik food of the place which is served and cooked by a cadre of volunteers including senior citizens, youngsters, and kids at times. The place is even much visited by our guests with our very own Golden Temple Walking Tour.

One of the volunteer stirring food inside the community kitchen
Volunteers cooking food in the Biggest Communal Kitchen in Golden Temple

Read more about the Biggest Community Kitchen

5. Stroll Through The Narrow Bylanes Of The City

Exploring the by-lanes of Amritsar city
Exploring the unexplored bylanes of our Heritage City

Preserving the rich Heritage of our age-old customs and traditions are these bylanes that swirl through the twists and turns of the city. You can have a view of our generations-old Big Bazaars – (Big Markets) of Utensils, Wedding ornaments, and Jewelry. Adding to it are stories of certain temples, the oldest Banyan Tree and how it makes its way through the buildings, the idol of Lord Hanuman emerging out of the ground itself and many narratives related to Sikh Community, the bravery of the Sikh Gurus are depicted in every nuke and corner of our old-city. A sight to behold is the amazingly chaotic place with history and glimpses of Punjab’s royal past is evident in these narrow lanes.

Amritsar Heritage Walking Tour
Amritsar Heritage Walking Tour

6. Kesar Da Dhaba

Kesar Da Dhaba
A glimpse of the technique of Tandoor from the famous Kesar Da Dhaba

Amidst these narrow lanes, you would find a place that is indeed a heaven for the foodies. Devoid of pomp and pageantry, Kesar Da Dhaba – (Old Restaurant) is World famous because of its Dal Makhni, Saag Paneer and Lachha Parantha – the ultimate vegetarian dishes of the land. Sure to captivate your taste-buds the place is situated in the old-city but sees a lot of travelers from around the world.

7. Wagah Border

Wagah Border
Amidst the patriotic celebrations, the enthusiasm is at its zenith

Food is done, shopping is done, religious observances did, now is the time to witness the much-talked-about beating retreat ceremony at Indo-Pak border – The Wagah Border. Experiencing the valor of India’s First Line of Defence, the open border between India and Pakistan is an avid example of patriotism combined with entertainment. Every day of the year, just before sunset, a flag-lowering ceremony takes place there as the border is closed for the day. The spectators shout the Slogans of Jai Hind during the ceremony. The ceremony aims to evoke patriotic fervor among the crowd. Some Indians wave the Tricolour, while others dance to Bollywood songs that blare through speakers. This side trip from Amritsar in Punjab has always been a favorite tourist attraction be it National or International.

Most of these places are interlinked with each other as far as travel is concerned. You may hire an electric e-rickshaws or tuk-tuk for the same or can enjoy a walk even. Wagah Border can be a little far from the inside city but we can have a Hop On Hop Off bus from the Golden Temple Heritage Street.

Several other attractions are famous for Amritsar like its Vegetarian Food, Non-vegetarian food for the non-veg lovers, people who want to enjoy the Street Food of the city can go to various eating joints and explore the city themselves or can book our top-rated tours like Heritage Walking Tour, Street Food Tour. If anyhow, you want to enjoy the biggest festival of India – Diwali in the land of Golden Temple then allow us to be your host with our famous Amritsar Special Diwali Tour 2020 and take the richest of the memories along. After all, “Time does flies but Memories Stay.”