District Amritsar

Amritsar also known as Ramdaspur and as Ambarsar, is a city in north-western part in India.the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district in the state of Punjab.

Amritsar is known as Holy City. If you are referring to the Sikh temple Harmandir Sahib (also know as the Golden Temple) in Amritsar, India, building started in December 1585. It was completed in August 1604.The Golden Temple was not built for anybody in particular; it welcomes people of all religions and backgrounds. Anybody can come, which is why it has four doors all facing different directions meaning anybody from anywhere can come whenever they want.

Shopping is a popular attraction with items such as carpets, fabrics and handicrafts. 

Sri Harmandir Sahib

The Harmandir Sahib, informally referred to as the Golden Temple, an important Sikh shrine which attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal. The temple houses the Guru Granth Sahib, the holiest text of Sihkism, and attracts over 100,000 worshippers daily. The Gurdwara, or place of worship, is surrounded by a large lake containing Amrit, or holy water. The temple is open to all people regardless of religion, race or sex and a visit to this beautiful and peaceful place is a must when in Amritsar.Restrictions to the Golden Temple include removing your shoes and washing feet in the small pool of water. Alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs are strictly prohibited.

 Dal roti ghar di, Diwali Amritsar di

A Punjabi adage eulogises the Diwali celebrations of Amritsar: Dal roti ghar di, Diwali Amritsar di (home cooked food and Amritsar’s Diwali have no parallels).Gigantic firecrackers are burst by specialists designated as aatishbazi. Golden temple is tasefully decorated with colorful lights. There is no holding back with the celebrations of Diwali at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The festival of lights lives true to its name at the Golden Temple as tens of thousands of devotees gather in and around the temple complex for one of India’s largest celebrations. The entire complex is draped in lights and it is quite a sight to behold when the lights came on.

Jallianwala Bagh

This public garden houses a memorial commemorating the April 13, 1919 massacre by British forces against peaceful celebrators on Punjabi New Year.Located very close to the Golden Temple, this lovely 6.5 acre garden is a great place to pay respects to the second largest mass murder not due to a war, after the Holocaust. Visitors can still see bullet marks in the walls.The museum runs a short film every hour providing details on the site's history. Light and sounds shows are offered but it is recommended to check with locals for show times. The garden is open every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wagah Border Closing Ceremony

The Wagah Border closing ceremony is a military practice to close the India-Pakistan border. The ceremony takes place every evening before sunset and has been taking place since 1959.The spectacle of the soldiers from both sides marching and then lowering the two nations flags is highly popular. Visitors should plan to arrive a little before 4 p.m. and be prepared for tight security. The entrance is open at 4 p.m. and the ceremony starts at 5 p.m.There is no fee for the ceremony but transportation between the city and border should be negotiated in advance.

Durgiana Temple

This premier Hindu temple of Punjab, Durgiana Temple, is a smaller replica of the Golden Temple and derives its name from the Goddess of Durga.The temple is located near the Railway Station and close to the bus stand. Less crowded and quieter than the Golden Temple, the Durgiana is a nice place to visit in the early morning or evening.

Famous Food in Amritsar

Amritsari Kulcha If you come to Amritsar, you have to try the tasty and filling Amritsari Kulcha. It is an Indian flatbread, popular in North India and Pakistan. Originated in Punjab, it is made with Maida (flour) dough with stuffing of boiled and mashed potato, onion and lots of complimentary spices. It is then rolled flat and baked in an earthen clay oven until golden brown. When baked, it is then smeared with dollops of butter and served with spicy Chole (chickpea curry) and a chutney of tamarind, jaggery and onion. Try the Kulchas at the legendary All India Fames Kulcha (yes, that is how it's named) which has been in business for the last 60 years and sell a plate at just INR 30. You could also go to Kulcha land ( opposite MK hotel and Chungi Maqbool Road) or Kulwant Kulche Wale(Near Golden Temple) to try this famous dish of Amritsar. Lassi This healthy and refreshing drink is made by blending yogurt with water, salt or sugar, and spices until frothy. Served at various street shops and halwai joints, it is usually served in tall steel tumblers topped typically with a oodles of thick and fresh Malai (cream). To taste the best Lassi in Amritsar (according to 'Highway On My Plate' and 'Zaika India Ka') go to Ahuja Lassi, near Hindu College which serves lip smacking Kesar Lassi (Saffron Lassi). S. Surjan Singh Milk Bhandar at Chowk Regent Cinema boasts of making the finest, lightest and frothiest lassi in Punjab. Another popular Lassi shop is Gyan Singh's Punjabi lassi, located in Hathi gate, which has been serving for the past 70 years and a glass of Lassi would cost you around INR 25. Lassi is not only popular in Amritsar but also in rest of the country, even foreign tourists keep in mind to relish this flavourful drink.  Sarson Da Saag and Makki di Roti An appetizing dish, it's a speciality of Punjab served at various Dhabas and restaurants in Amritsar. Sarson ka Saag is prepared from Mustard greens and Spinach greens while Makki ki Roti is rolled out of a dough of Makki ka Atta (corn flour). Loads of Makkhan (fresh butter) is added to both the Saag and the Roti which makes it rich and tasty. Do keep in mind that this scrumptious dish is seasonal and available in winters only, though you might find it in other seasons but it won't taste that great. Combine this dish with a tall glass of Lassi for a yummy hearty meal. Try Makke di Roti and Sarson da Saag at Bhrawan da Dhaba located in Town Hall for a wholesome experience. Amritsari fish This fried fish is truly a favorite among non-vegetarians and also one of Amritsar's most popular food items. It is prepared by coating fish fillets with a batter of Gram flour, egg, curd, ginger-garlic and spices and then deep fried. Savour this popular mouth watering fried fish at 'Makhan da Dhaba' on Majitha Road and Lawrence Road. The fish here is light and flavoured, uniquely, with Ajwain (Carom seeds). Pehalwan Fish shop is famous too for its delectable fried fish. If you want to try the simple recipe of Amritsari Fish at home, then you must buy the fish from Banarasi Lal Arora located in the old city as it is the oldest and biggest shop in Amritsar. You can also buy raw fish from Makhan fish shop in Macchi Mandi. Papad-Warian BazaarSpice up your meals with warian and roasted papad sold here. All papad (crispies or crackers) lovers must hit this bazaar that is laced with the rich aroma of papad and warian (made from pulses). Bags filled with fresh home-made papad and warian lures the tourists to buy and store them in their kitchens. Another good place to head out to buy Amritsari papads is Majith Mandi. Not just foodies, even other local people and tourists come here to check out the wide range of papads.So come to Hall Bazaar and take home a slice of Amritsar!

Go there now!!!!..to eat eat n eat some more!!!!!!

Amritsar is a food lover's delight, it offers both vegetarians and non vegetarians lots to offer!!

1. Gurudas Ram Jalebiwala - amazing jalebis (a type of sweet dish), at katra ahluwalia

2. Parkash Meat shop - wonderful chicken, behind choongi kulchewala shop at Lawrence road

3. Beera chicken - wonderful chicken

4. Crystal Restaurant - good non-veg delicacys at Lawrence road.

Khalsa College Amritsar

Khalsa College is a historic educational institution in the northern Indian city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab, India. Founded in 1892, the sprawling 300-acre (1.2 km²) campus is located about eight km outside of the city center on the Amritsar-Lahore highway (part of the Grand Trunk Road), adjoining Guru Nanak Dev University campus, to which Khalsa College is academically affiliated. Khalsa College was the Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Later the palace was rebuilt into College.

Rich Variety of Punjabi Culture Clothes

Phulkari

The origin of Phulkari can be traced back to the 15th Century AD. According to some people, Phulkari has its origins in the famous love story of Heer and Ranjha written by Waris Shah (1725-1790). Heer had many costumes which also included Phulkari items, many of them presented to her at her wedding according to legend.  Some believe that this craft migrated from Persia. The Persian embroidery form ‘Gulkari’ having similar literal meaning, ‘gul’ meaning flower and ‘kari’ meaning work, resembles Phulkari – ‘phul’ meaning flower and ‘kari’ meaning work. Another study shows that the Jat tribes of East Punjab, basically peasants who migrated from central Asia are the pioneers of this craft.

Tilla Jutti

Traditionally, the Mochi Jinngar community of Rajasthan, who have now been settled in Punjab for several generations,  made horse saddles and reigns (ghore ka jinn). They used to make and send reigns and footwears made of leather to Lahore.  The juttis were made in a wide area, from Udaipur to Hindumal Kot in Rajasthan.  After 1947, most of them came to Punjab.  Bhupendra Singh, a king patronised this tradition in Punjab. The craft of making juttis has been practiced in Patiala for the last 300 years by Raijer Mochis, who migrated from Sikal and Shikawat in Rajasthan. jutti making has been a family tradition for many years.

The Tilla jutti or the Punjabi jutti is common in North India and Pakistan. Tilla juttis are juttis with gold thread or zari work. There are three types of juttis – Lakhi, Milan and Khosa-differing in structural design.  The density of embroidery varies from region to region within Malwa, where most of the production clusters are located. The Tilla jutti from Abohar is multi coloured and is of light weight compared to other varieties of jutti produced in Malwa.  The Muslim embroiders of Malerkotla are renowned for their fine, dense embroidery of shakarpur (rhombus), sunahare (golden), laharia(waves) and jalli (trellis) motifs that cover the insole as well as the upper portions.

Travel Guide

Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport

is about 11km and a 15-20 minutes drive from the city centre. It's one of the modern airports in India and quite adequate if not exactly exciting. 

By train

Amritsar (IR station code: ASR) is an important railway station and is well connected to major cities in India through daily trains.It's advisable to book your return train ticket as soon as you arrive in Amritsar, or before if you know the exact date, as trains are often heavily booked.

When you are back to railway station make sure you're dropped on the right side of the station. Suppose you have a train from Platform No 1, then the rickshaw driver has to cross the bridge and come across the other part of station, otherwise they will drop you at their convenient place and you have to cross the footbridge with all your baggage.

By car

Long-distance taxis are available from most places. It takes around 6-7 hours from New Delhi via NH-1.

Amritsar is well-connected by bus to most major cities and the northern areas within a days drive. Pathankot is about 2.5 hours away and about 100km away, Jalandhar is about 80km from here, Kapurthala (royal city) is about 65km from here and there are daily direct buses to major cities

Stay Safe

The sectarian strife of the 1980s is just a bad memory and Amritsar is currently a safe and welcoming city, if a little polluted.

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