Top Tourist Destinations to Visit in Amritsar

Last updated on Sep 9th, 2024 by Priyanka Jadhav

Amritsar is one of the 13 cities that have been selected as the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojna (HRIDAY) for its rich heritage with respect to the legacy of the North Indian culture. The beautiful city functions as the spiritual capital of the Sikh community and hosts the Harmandir Sahib, which is popularly called ‘the Golden Temple.’ Apart from the spiritual significance, the Capital city of Punjab has also witnessed acts of brutality by the British Forces and the historical significance of the freedom struggle and is the ideal tourist destination for history buffs. 

It is not just history that makes Amritsar a popular tourist destination. The city is also known for its mouth-watering delicacies like Amritsari Kulcha, Keema Kulcha, Tandoori Chicken, and much more. Despite such variety among all the food available in Amritsar, the most popular food comes at absolutely zero cost. Yes, you read that right and it is none other than Guru ka Langar and Kara Prasad, which is offered daily at the famous Gurudwara of India, i.e, at the Golden Temple. Isn’t Amritsar exciting? Book your book a flight from Australia to Amritsar and start exploring major tourist attractions:

Places To Visit In Amritsar

Golden Temple:

The temple is the spiritual site of Sikhism. The Golden Temple is also called the Harmandir Sahib (abode of God) or Darbar Sahib by the locals. The gurdwara was built around a man-made pool built by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. The Adi Granth (Granth Sahib) was written by Guru Arjan Dev and placed at the temple. The Gurdwara was repeatedly rebuilt by the Sikhs and the significance of the popular temple is that it is one of the renowned architectural marvels of Amritsar. After the Mughals invaded and destroyed the gurdwara, Maharaja Ranjit Singh overlaid the sanctum with gold foil, and thus the Harmandir Sahib was named the Golden Temple. Another specialty of this temple is the langar served here which feeds up to 40,000 people on the weekdays and above 100,000 people on the weekend, free of cost. Henceforth, Golden Temple is a popular tourist destination to feed your mind, body, and soul.

Wagah Border:

The Wagah-Attari border is situated in the Wagah village, the last Indian region before the commencement of the mainland, Pakistan. Wagah Border is famous for the Wagah Border Ceremony conducted at the border gate. It is a must-visit place for tourists wishing to get a glimpse of the marching soldiers of the two neighboring countries (India and Pakistan) and taste the patriotic feeling amongst the people of these nations. It is no wonder why Wagah Border is one of the most visited places of Amritsar.

Jallianwala Bagh

One of the popular historical attractions of Amritsar was used for celebrating the harvesting festival of Baisakhi until tragedy struck in the spring of 1919. The 7-acre historic public garden was a site of the massacre of 15,000 Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians of all ages, led by the British Forces. The walls of the Jallianwala Bagh have a number of bullet marks that have been preserved. If the history buff in you wishes to learn of the freedom struggle of India against British Rule, they should pay a visit to Jallianwala Bagh, one of the popular historical sites.

Gobindgarh Fort:

Popularly called the ‘Bhangian da Killa’ (fort of the Bhangis) has a glorious history associated with it. The Gobindgarh Fort was called Bhangian da Killa after its founder belonged to Bhangi Misl in the 18th Century. Maharaja Ranji Singh renamed the fort after Guru Gobind Singh in the 19th Century. The fort treasures historical military artifacts that include the five cannons it is surrounded by, out of which two are the famous Zamzama cannons. In 2017 the historic military fort was opened for the public and developed as a museum and a theme park that narrates the history of Punjab. While visiting the Gobindgarh Fort, one can also explore the places around like Toshakhana (Coin Museum); the world’s first-ever museum, Partition Museum; Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum (situated amidst a beautiful garden called the Ram Bagh Garden); Haat Bazaar (shopping complex), and many more historical and cultural attractions.

Durgiana Temple:

The Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is popularly called the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. The temple is often also called the Silver Temple for its large and intricately designed silver doors. The style of architecture of the temple is quite similar to the Golden Temple and is a holy site where locals and tourists alike come to pray to the Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Vishnu. People flock to this temple during Hindu festivities like Dussehra, Janmashtami, and Diwali. It is believed that Hanuman had rested at this temple during his journey to the Himalayas. 

These are the famous tourist attractions of Amritsar that one must pay a visit to while exploring the holy city of Punjab. From the authentic flavors of North India to the historical significance, Amritsar is a magnificent Indian city.

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About Priyanka | View Posts

Priyanka Jadhav is a travel writer, who is inclined to explore different cultures and countries. When she is not writing, she is either reading fiction novels or surfing the internet for the next best place to add to her bucket list. Her interests piqued at a young age when she traveled across India and witnessed a variety of cultures, languages, foods, and people. If you're craving for an adrenaline rush, or need an instant travel update - Priyanka has a way with words to help you in every aspect possible. Bring quirky articles and the latest travel updates your way through MyTicketsToIndia, she aims to provide travelers with the necessary information possible.