Amritsar is a charming, historic city that offers numerous attractions. To fully explore Amritsar, one would ideally need two days, but if time constraints leave you with just one day to explore the city, this blog is for you.
You can start at 8 am with the beautiful and sacred Golden Temple, the most prominent Sikh pilgrimage site globally. The sprawling complex consists of a sacred lake, called the Amrit Sarovar, which surrounds the gilded temple. You can spend about an hour here, also paying respects to the Akal Takht and the ber trees of spiritual significance.
Jallianwala Bagh is a short walk from the Golden Temple complex. You can get here by 9:30 am. The historical Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred in 1919 when the British Indian Army, under the orders of General Dyer, opened fire on unarmed protestors gathered in the park on the day of Baisakhi. Thousands died that day and many jumped into a well at the park (Martyrs’ Well). You can see the bullet holes embedded in the walls and the Well to this day.
The Heritage Street in Amritsar is home to the oldest and beloved restaurants of Punjab, such as Brothers Dhaba, Bharawan Da Dhaba and Kesar Da Dhaba. After a morning of spiritual and historical learning, you can treat yourself to a hearty Punjabi meal and lassi at any restaurant here. After lunch, you can take a stroll down the street and shop for Punjabi juttis, phulkari, papad, and an abundance of other Punjabi items to take back home.
By 3 pm, you should get to Wagah, at the India-Pakistan border, to be part of the exhilarating and resounding Beating Retreat Ceremony conducted by the Border Security Force. One cannot help but feel a rush of patriotic love, oneness with the audience, and respect for our armed forces while watching the Ceremony.
After Wagah, make your way to Sadda Pind, the perfect tourist destination in Punjab. Not only can you relish traditional and authentic Punjabi food here, you can also immerse yourself in the culture of Punjab. Here are some of the activities that you can enjoy at Sadda Pind:
Sadda Pind welcomes guests from all over the country and the world all year and all day. Between the months of October and March, when the weather is cool, you can also visit Sadda Pind for lunch and easily spend 3-4 hours here enjoying the activities.
Just like no visit to Amritsar is complete without a trip to the Golden Temple, one cannot leave the city without getting a glimpse of all of Punjabi heritage and culture under one roof. This can only happen at Sadda Pind. This itinerary will leave you exuberant and satisfied, and we cannot wait to welcome you to the Holy City.
