9 Incredible Places to Visit in Amritsar for First-Timers
Planning a trip and looking for the best places to visit in Amritsar? This guide features famous attractions like the Golden Temple, Wagah Border and more!
Amritsar is situated in north India in the state, Punjab. It’s right near the border with Pakistan and historically has played an important role in India’s history. That being said, there are a lot of places to visit in Amritsar that you have to see!
One of the most famous places to visit in Amritsar is the Golden Temple. You’ll also enjoy seeing the Wagah Border and the daily ceremony that is performed by both sides. There are various temples, gardens, monuments and museums to explore.
I went to Amritsar for a long weekend with another teacher I worked with during my first year of living in India. It really opened my eyes to the history of the country and what people went through. The middle school students from my school take a trip there every year to learn about the history!
This post is all about the best places to visit in Amritsar.
Places to Visit in Amritsar
#1 Partition Museum
The Partition Museum is an absolutely incredible place to learn about India’s history and independence. For a super brief history lesson, the partition happened when India gained independence from Britain and the country was divided. India and Pakistan became two separate countries which led to the displacement of millions of people and widespread violence.
The museum has artifacts and documents that showcase peoples’ experiences during the partition. It’s really shocking and tragic, but there are also stories of resilience and hope. There are a lot of personal stories featured which are very touching.
Prior to visiting the Partition Museum, I knew almost nothing about the partition in India. I really feel this is the best museum I have ever visited in all of India and the way they portray and preserve the history is something that you will never forget.
My personal suggestion is that if you only have time to see one of these places to visit in Amritsar, the Partition Museum should be your #1 choice. It’s really that memorable and impactful.
#2 The Golden Temple
The Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, is one of the most stunning sights in Amritsar. It’s an important Sikh temple covered in gold and everyone is welcome to visit. It’s probably the most famous of all places to visit in Amritsar!
The temple is surrounded by a sacred pool which is a beautiful place to sit and take in the views. It can get very busy, so it’s best to try to visit early in the morning when there’s a more calm atmosphere.
You can also eat “langar” which is a community kitchen that serves free meals to everyone. Many Sikh temples have these as tradition and it highlights the values of giving and devotion. Since the Golden Temple is one of the most popular attractions in India, there are literally tens of thousands of people who eat there each day. It’s the largest community kitchen in the world!
Another spot to see near the Golden Temple is the Akal Takht which is situated right on the water also. It’s the highest seat of Sikhs and is a central institution in Sikhism that helps govern religious affairs. It’s worth seeing if you are at the Golden Temple.
#3 Wagah Border
The Wagah Border is one of the most interesting places to visit in Amritsar! It’s the border crossing point with Pakistan and the main reason people go is to watch the daily ceremony where they lower the flags at sunset and close the border gate. It’s very theatrical and there is a huge stadium on both sides where people come to watch.
During the ceremony, soldiers march and have a drill performance. Both sides lower the flags at the same time and play patriotic chants. At the end, soldiers from both sides come face to face and they exchange salutes.
This was one of my favorite things to see in Amritsar (well, on the outskirts)! It’s really about taking pride in the country and a gesture of camaraderie and peace between the two countries.
#4 Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh is a memorial and garden in Amritsar which has a very dark history. It is where the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place during British rule. Hundreds of people had gathered at the park to peacefully protest and British officers responded by shooting at them without warning. Hundreds of people were killed and many more were injured.
It’s an interesting place to visit and pay homage to those who died there. They have preserved bullet marks on the walls and it’s a place that really makes you think about what people went through during that time. You can walk around the park and see the memorial when you’re there.
#5 Hall Bazar
Hall Bazar is one of the best places to visit in Amritsar for shopping! It’s a bustling area with tons of stalls and shops with a wide variety of things to buy. You can get traditional Punjabi handicrafts, jewelry, textiles and more. It’s also famous for the Amritsari juttis you can find there which are traditional footwear.
It’s a great place to shop for souvenirs and also you’ll find a ton of good street food too! Remember when you buy anything from the market, you should expect to bargain. You will especially get ripped off if you’re a foreigner. I hate bargaining and am not very good, plus it’s hard when you don’t really know what the price would typically be. My general rule is to barter 50% of whatever they first ask and then go from there.
There is also a famous gate at the entrance of Hall Bazar which is cool to just check out. It’s a huge structure that you walk through to get into the shopping area, although there are many ways to enter as well.
#6 Durgiana Temple
Unlike the Golden Temple which is a Sikh temple, the Durgiana Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to the goddess Durga. But surprisingly the temples look kind of similar because the Durgiana Temple also has a gold covering but also has silver too.
There’s also a pool surrounding the temple. So, it’s quite beautiful and can be a quick stop or a nice place to sit for a rest while soaking in all the views. The architecture is really pretty and if you enjoy seeing different temples, it’s definitely worth checking out!
#7 Gobindgarh Fort
Gobindgarh Fort is a great place to learn about the history and culture of Punjab! It’s an old military fort from the 1700s which has been under control of various rulers. Nowadays it’s restored for tourists and it is a seriously cool place to explore.
There is a museum and a theater at the fort. They show traditional Punjabi dances and they also play a 7D movie about the history of the fort. I honestly hadn’t even heard of 7D theaters before I went and it was fun, the seats move and it’s super dynamic!
#8 Kesar Da Dhaba – or at least any good dhaba for the food!
Dhabas are kind of like road-side food stops but are super popular for people to eat. They are usually very simple and not very decorative, but the food is absolutely amazing! When I first ate at a dhaba, I became obsessed with north Indian food and ate parathas like every other day.
Kesar Da Dhaba is a really famous and old dhaba in Amritsar. It’s a bit overwhelming because it’s always packed with people. We had to wait in line and then you will likely end up sharing a table with other guests. The food is seriously incredible though and it’s a total experience!
You should order a thali which is a full meal and will come with rice, bread, and several other dishes to enjoy. It’s really filling and cheap, plus you can try a lot of different things with it.
If you don’t make it to Kesar Da Dhaba, you should at least try to visit another Dhaba. Some other famous ones include Bharawan Da Dhaba by the Golden Temple and Brothers Dhaba which is a little more fancy inside compared to typical dhabas.
#9 Khalsa College
Khalsa College is honestly BEAUTIFUL! I’m not usually one to care about seeing college campuses when I travel, but the architecture is really stunning and the campus is definitely worth exploring.
The college was made in the late 1800s and was intended to be a premier education institution to especially promote higher learning among Sikhs and other communities in the region. It’s most famous for its architecture which has a blend of different styles and reddish domes that are eye-catching.
You can go to the college and walk around or sit and relax in the gardens. There is a lot of lush greenery all around the college and it’s not super crowded, so it’s a peaceful place to spend time.
This post was all about the best places to visit in Amritsar.
