Founded in the year 1577 by a Sikh Guru – Guru Ram Das Jee, Amritsar is home to the spectacular and world-famous Golden Temple. Due to this central Sikh shrine, the city has been given a Heritage stature due to which certain developments in and around Amritsar have taken place. To start from the graceful pedestrianized walkways to Golden Temple to reconstruction to developments of certain tourist attractions like Sadda Pind, Qila Gobindgarh Fort, War Memorial, etc. Besides this reconstruction, there are many other things related to this Holy City like its food, places to visit, hotels and last but not the least various shopping places in its frenetic old city bazaars – markets, sheltering a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells.
Amritsar has so much to do in its kit of products that attract tourists from around the world. But there are some guests who come to this city without taking any prior information about it. So we, as a part of City On Pedals take this initiative to give an educative travel guide to our guests from start till the end.
You will read:
- Commuting To Amritsar City
- Hotel In Amritsar
- Restaurants In Amritsar
- Places To Visit In Amritsar
- Things To Do In Amritsar
- Shopping In Amritsar
- Weekend Proximities Around Amritsar
1. Commuting To Amritsar City
How To Reach Amritsar
Amritsar is well connected to all the major cities of the country via rail, road, and air. The main and most used terminal that connects the city to other major cities of India is the Railway Station. Having frequent trains to different destinations like Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Lucknow, etc. The case is just the same in terms of flights. The city also has efficient connectivity through roads. A number of buses run to and from Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala, Jammu, etc. The air connectivity of Amritsar with other major cities nationally and internationally has also become stronger than before. Located around 11 kilometers away from the city-center the city has an International Airport: Shri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport that has approx. 70+ daily domestic and international flights with direct flights to Hyderabad, Goa, Srinagar, Lucknow, Dubai, Singapore, and many other destinations.
Commuting Within The City Of Amritsar
Once in Amritsar, the commuting here from one place to another is actually an easy task, with some private cab companies in the city. We have Ola and Uber cab services here which have turned into the most utilized and the simplest transportation choices. Being the most sensible that works for all-day starting from early mornings till late nights, this is basically a very convenient mode of transportation in the city.
When in the city, install the app in your smartphone and zip-zap-zoom to its various arenas. Other than this we do have tuk-tuks available along with e-rickshaws.
2. Hotel In Amritsar
Being a holder of a very special place in India’s psyche, the city attracts tourists from around the globe. So much so that various luxury hotels like Radisson Blu, Taj Swarna, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, and Ramada are the few that offer star facilities to their guests.
Midrange hotels like Clarks Inn, Sarovar Portico, MK Hotel, Humble Una are equivalently good for a stay and food. To name a few budget hotels Hotel Grand, City Castle, etc. are there to accommodate the guests. You may choose the one according to your requirements.
3. Restaurants In Amritsar
The city is well known as the Culinary Capital of Punjab. Therefore, it has a prolonged and rich heritage when it comes to food extensions. There are various authentic local places with food experts that will give you an experience of a lifetime. You may choose from a plethora of Vegetarian dishes, Non-vegetarian dishes, Street food items and various famous Punjabi food that you cannot miss being in the city. Certain world-famous restaurants and Dhabas – (small eating joints) like Kesar Da Dhaba, Crystal Restaurant, Charming Chicken, Surjit Chicken, etc. are certain places that serve the true flavor of the land.
On the other hand, street-side stalls like Makhan Fish Corner, Sunder Meat Shop, Giani Tea Stall, Novelty Sweets, etc. are there that will give you the taste of raw Amritsari flavor.
4. Places To Visit In Amritsar
Amritsar is famous for its many things and few among them are the places of religious and cultural importance. Since the city is world-famous as the center for Sikh religion, people from around the world visit much revered Golden Temple but various temples like Durgiana Temple, Mata Lal Devi Temple, and Ram Tirath are few temples that have a famous repository of Hindu scriptures. Truely called the Holy City the city has many Gurdwaras and temples registered on its name.
Apart from religious significance, the city is also a premier destination when it comes to the freedom struggle. To name a few, Jallianwala Bagh is a place of such importance where the very famous Amritsar massacre has taken place due to the orders of General Dyer’s open firing on a gathering of people celebrating Baisakhi on April 13, 1919. Then comes the significance of Wagah Border as an open Indo-Pak border where the daily flag-lowering ceremony takes place for both the nations. The valor and zeal of people highlighting their patriotism are quite evident there. Since the city has now got the stature of a Heritage city due to Golden temple other tourist destinations highlighting the importance of various chapters of history has come up like city attractions.
5. Things To Do In Amritsar
Regarded as the city of nectar, the place is really lively as far as the fun activities are concerned. Take a Heritage Walking Tour to the city, and take a stroll to the old alleys and bylanes that tells the stories of the city’s glorious past. it gives you an insight into its natives for the ones, who are shopaholics, the city has some traditional attires and dress-materials to offer like Phulkari, Punjabi Jutti, paranda, bangles, suits, and sarees which are peculiar to the fashion of the city.
A day off to enjoy the village life of Punjab with Amritsar Village Tour and to dress up like a village local and enjoying the daily activities of the people thereat will give you an experience of a lifetime where these activities can be performed mingling in with them. The vibrant color of Punjabi attire is a sign of cheerfulness among its people. Another activity to tie a turban being in the village would actually mean to mingle in the true essence of the land of Sikhism. Last but not least, a food trail in Amritsar is also a must-do for the foodies.
6. Shopping In Amritsar
Shopping here does not only mean clothes rather it also means to search for some most popular attributes that we associate Amritsar with and often looks for when it comes to souvenir hunt. One of the oldest Amritsar Bazaars or markets in the city is actually Hall Bazaar that holds a significant place when it comes to cloth shopping in Amritsar. In this place, you will get everything you want, from gadgets to trendy accessories, from daily use products to local handicrafts.
Another shopping hub, Guru Bazaar is particularly known for traditional jewelry and ornaments made out of precious and semi-precious stones. Katra Jaimal Singh Market, on the hand, is known for a rich collection of pashminas, saris, beaded dresses, wedding suits for men, designer shirts and ties, woodwork jewelry and handicraft items. Located near Guru Bazaar Road and opposite Kali Mata Mandir, Shastri Market is another very popular market area in Amritsar.
7. Weekend Proximities Around Amritsar
It is obvious that when we travel to a place we want to spend all our time in exploring our destination as a whole along with the places of its close proximity. So the same is applicable to Amritsar as well. Amritsar in itself has many places to offer to world tourism like The Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, and Wagah Border that you will feel overwhelmed after a visit to them. But there is always a chance to go for a refreshing weekend break to nearby destinations like Chandigarh, Jammu, Manali, Shimla, Dharamshala, and Palampur that people can spend their weekend at and can enjoy with their families.
Thus giving a 360-degree guide for the traveler would eventually make their trip easy to the city and would give them a proper preface to their obvious questions of where and how.