Sep
02

24 hours in: Amritsar

September 02, 2015
Urban Adventures

Looking for the perfect day in Amritsar? We’ve got you covered! From the best places to grab lunch, to the sites you can’t leave the city without seeing, here’s our guide to making the most of a mere 24 hours in Amritsar.

Early morning: 7 – 9am

Start your day with a leisurely heritage walk through the city. Morning is the best time to explore the ancient streets of Amritsar, as there won’t be many crowds and you can easily walk past all the monuments without having to battle through throngs of tourists. Take in 400 years of history as you walk from Qila Ahluwalia to the Jalebiwala Chowk, and from Chitta Akharas to the Taksal Chowk. Clear some space on my camera, as you’ll want to snap pics the entire time.

Morning: 9am – 12pm

Visit the Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib, famously known as the Golden Temple, the most sacred place for Sikhs in the world. The Gurudwara, or Gateway to the Guru, sits on a sacred pool of placid water, believed to wash away pain and grant health and happiness to all.

Midday: 12 – 2pm

Grab some lunch at a local restaurant to get a real taste of Punjabi cuisine. The best options are Crystal Restaurant and Brothers’ Dhaba, both of famous within the city for offering excellent Amritsari food. Crystal restaurant, located near the railway station, is a 50-year-old authentic Punjabi food joint, and Brothers Dhaba is renowned for its mouthwatering vegetarian dishes.

Afternoon: 2 – 6pm

Hire a taxi and head 29 kilometres out of the city to watch the Wagah Border Parade ceremony, or flag lowering ceremony. The ceremony starts at 5pm, and it takes about 45 minutes to reach the border, so we suggest you leave right after finishing your lunch.

The only road border crossing between India and Pakistan, Wagah lies between Amritsar in India and Lahore in Pakistan. The highly choreographed ceremony at Wagah Border commences every day at sunset and lasts for nearly 45 minutes, showing off an aggressive display of athleticism and speed marching.

Evening: 6pm until late

Close off the day with a visit to Durgayana Temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga. The architecture of this Hindu temple is very similar to the Golden temple, and was built on the 16th century; it is often referred to as the Silver Temple for its exquisitely engraved silver doors. In the evening, soothing Bhajanas are sung in the temple arena, making it the perfect, calming end to your day in Amritsar.