Away With The Steiners

Plan the ultimate 2-Day Amritsar Itinerary: Everything you need to know. 

Sarah Steiner

If you are planning your first visit to Punjab in India, this Amritsar itinerary is perfect for you.  With two days in Amritsar, you have enough time to visit the highlights of this famous Punjabi city.  Visit the Golden Temple, see the world’s largest community kitchen, enjoy the energy of the unique Wagah Border Ceremony and stroll the Heritage Walk of the old city of Amritsar.  

In this guide, learn how to plan the perfect two-day visit to Amritsar.  We cover the top sights to visit, how to get around Amritsar, where to stay, where to eat and of course how to plan your time. 

So far, we’ve visited Amritsar four times! It is one of our favourite cities in north India and the kind of place that we keep returning too. 

About Amritsar 

Amritsar is a small city by Indian standards with a population of around 2.5 million.  But it is one of the largest cities in the state of Punjab and the population swells with pilgrims from across the world visiting Amritsar as the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion.

It is a city with a rich history.  In 1577, Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, founded Amritsar. The legend has it that he excavated a sacred pool known as the Amrit Sarovar, later to become the Golden Temple, and based on which the city was named, Amritsar. 

Amritsar and Punjab are like much of travel in India, starkly different to the cities of Rajasthan or Uttar Pradesh.  

For travellers, the good news is that Amritsar is a fascinating – and delicious – destination choice!

The Heritage Street Walk in Amritsar best time to visit.
Welcome to Amritsar, Punjab by the way. 

Best things to do with two days in Amritsar 

Below is a list of the places to visit if you have 2 days in Amritsar.  

All of these are included on this Amritsar itinerary.

Shops and brightly coloured turbans on Heritage Street.

How long do you need? Is a 2-Day Amritsar itinerary enough? 

I would say yes, absolutely.  For a first time visit, two days in Amritsar is a good amount of time to see the highlights. 

With one night and one day in Amritsar you have time to see the Golden Temple and Heritage Street in the inner city.  This is the main attraction in Amritsar.  

However, with a two day Amritsar itinerary you can visit the famous Golden Temple and Langar plus see the historic sites of the city and experience the unusual Wagah Border ceremony of India with Pakistan.  

Punjab and the Golden Temple adds a whole new dimension to travel in North India.

What is the best time of year for this Amritsar itinerary? 

Like much of northern India, the best time to visit Amritsar is over the winter months from October to March.  

Although it’s renowned for being the best time of year to visit and thus it can be more crowded, this time of the year has perfect weather for exploring during the longer, sunny days.

A pilgrim bathing in the sacred waters of Amrit Sarovar at the Golden Temple.

Summary – 2-Day Amritsar Itinerary 

First up here is a summary of what to see with two days in Amritsar. 

DAY 1 – Amritsar

DAY 2 – Amritsar 

The moment the soldiers from each side are poised to lower the flag for the end of the Wagah Border ceremony.

Detailed 2-Day Amritsar Itinerary

Here is the complete Amritsar itinerary with details for each day, sites and stops to see. 

This itinerary fits well with a North India itinerary or a first time Punjab India and Punjab Pakistan itinerary.

DAY 1 – 2-Day Amritsar Itinerary 

Stop 1 – Amritsar Heritage Street Walk 

Head first today into the centre of Amritsar starting Day 1 of your Amritsar itinerary on Heritage Street near the City Hall.

Heritage Street is one of the oldest streets in the city and was historically a bustling marketplace.  It is now a mainly pedestrian street located between the City Hall and main entrance of the Golden Temple. 

The street was reconstructed and opened in 2016 as a tourist attraction and open walk-street between some of the key sites of the city. 

The Heritage Street makes it an interesting entrance to the Golden Temple area with over 170 shops. There are many cultural sites, statues and memorials.  As well as traditional food, cafes and many souvenir shops specialising in Punjabi handcrafts. 

It is easy to walk independently.  But many of the smaller things to see along the Heritage Street are better with a guide as they can point out things to note.  

Look out for Prachin Shri Shani Dev Ji Mandir, a Hindu temple with a vibrant blue front just before the start of the main entrance to the Golden Temple.  Or the famous Lal Pagri Turban House and the only vegetarian McDonalds in the world! 

The vibrant blue of the historic Prachin Shri Shani Dev Ji Mandir, a Hindu temple on Heritage Street.

Stop 2 – Golden Temple / Sri Harmandir Sahib

Amritsar is home to the holiest temple in Sikhism, Harmandir Sahib which literally translates as ‘the abode of God’.  But informally and most commonly this famous Sikh temple is known as the Golden Temple. 

Start your Amritsar itinerary this morning with the a first stop at the city’s spiritual centre, the Sri Harmandir Sahib.

This is a huge site of pilgrimage for Sikhs from all around the world.   Though even as non-Sikh visitors, it really is a stunning place to visit.  The temple itself is strikingly beautiful and literally glittering with gold in the centre of the sacred pool of water. 

Allow yourself at least an hour to walk the whole way around the temple site with the last stop being at the Langar (next).  

Welcome to the incredible Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib.
Queues behind the yellow-gold fence waiting to pass through the gate onto the causeway to Harmandir Sahib.

Stop 3 – Guru Ka Langar 

Not only is the Golden Temple the most holy place for Sikhism but it also houses the largest community kitchen in the world serving somewhere around 100,000 people free meals daily! 

The community kitchen is called Guru Ka Langar and it is located within the site of the Golden Temple.  

The Langar is one of the highlights of this Amritsar itinerary.  Although it only takes an hour to walk around the Golden Temple this next stop at the Langar is an interactive one where you are welcomed to join in and volunteer in the community kitchen to help prepare the food, roll chapati or even have a turn to chip in and wash some dishes! 

It is amazing to see behind the scenes of how this huge kitchen operates.  

Visitors lining up to eat in one of the large dining halls of the Langar. 
Volunteers hand out chapati and plates of dal and rice in the Langar. 

Stop 4 – Lunch at Langar 

The third stop on today’s Amritsar itinerary is for an early lunch at the Langar. 

On the first and second floor there are large dining halls where all are welcome to eat.  There is no charge although you can make a donation (there is a separate area within the complex for donations).  

As you enter the dining hall you’ll be handed a large silver tray for your food.  Join the crowds in a lined row seated on the ground and you will be served by volunteers and staff from the Langar. 

It is a cool way to experience first-hand the process and philosophy of the Sikh religion where the Langar was established to embrace ethics of sharing, community and oneness of all people. 

Stop 5 – Amritsar Partition Museum and Town Hall 

After a fulfilling lunch – emotionally and physically – at the Langar head out into the streets of the surrounding city.  

It is a short walk to the next stop at the Partition Museum and Town Hall. 

The Partition Museum is a public museum located in the historic and beautifully restored 19th-century Town Hall.  It is one of the things to do in Amritsar that really explains the history of India’s independence and the traumatic events that led to the country’s partition in 1947.  

The museum gives a moving and informative experience of what is one of the most pivotal periods in India’s history.  

The exhibition with photographs, personal accounts and artefacts really offers a poignant insight telling the tumultuous story from the point of view of survivors of the largest forced migration in human history. 

The Amritsar Partition Museum is open to visitors from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Mondays and national holidays. 

The Partition Museum gives a moving and informative experience of India’s history.  
The imposing entrance arch to the historic Town Hall.

Stop 6 – Darshani Deori and Guru Bazar 

From the Partition Museum it is just a short walk (5 mins) to the bustling Guru Bazar and Darshani Deori.  These are the historic market areas leading outwards in a network of small streets and pedestrian lanes from the Golden Temple.  

Guru Bazar is the oldest jewellery market in the city and is well-known for its gold and silver ornaments, as well as traditional Indian jewellery known as ‘Jadau.’

A wander through the bazars can take as little or long as you like.  And like anywhere in India, the bazars of Amritsar are full of surprises! 

Bangles and more bangles on a bangle-street in the bazar. 
These men are making the prints for stamps chiselled by hand.

Stop 7 – Dinner at Punjab Province in the Hyatt Regency 

Finish this busy first day on your Amritsar itinerary with a fittingly delicious Punjabi meal.  

We highly recommend the Punjab Province restaurant in the Hyatt Regency.  They have options for a buffet dinner or a-la-carte.  

We always look forward to the Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken) as we don’t otherwise eat much meat in India but this restaurant is one we recommend! 

DAY 2 – 2-Day Amritsar Itinerary 

Today is another busy day visiting sites in the city.  However we have planned Day 2 of the Amritsar itinerary with time to return to your accommodation in the mid-afternoon before heading out to the Attari-Wagah Border Ceremony. 

Stop 1 – Jallianwala Bagh Memorial

Today starts with one of the poignant commemorations to the tumultuous past of Punjab.  

The Jalliawala Bagh Memorial Park site is the place of the horrific 1919 massacre of unarmed Indians by British troops where 1500 Indians were killed or wounded.  The site memorialises an important – albeit deeply tragic – moment in India’s independence movement.

Start Day 2 here before the crowds arrive.  This is one of the most popular other sites in Amritsar. 

Stop 2 – Ahuja Milk Bhandar Lassi 

Go next to Ahuja Milk Bhandar from The Jalliawala Bagh Memorial Park.   

Amritsar is famous for the Golden Temple but it is also renowned for its mouthwatering street food.  

Ahuja Milk Bhandar is one of the oldest and longest-running Lassi and milk bars in Amritsar.  We recommend to try the Lassi or Badam Milk!

The famous and decades old Ahuja Milk Bhandar.
Creamy Lassi being served up.

Stop 3 – Durgiana Temple 

The Shree Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar is a Hindu pilgrimage site.  

However, it is almost identical in architecture and the style of the golden exterior to that of the Sikh Golden Temple.  It is a bit like a smaller copycat version of the Golden Temple! 

The chief deity in the temple is Goddess Durga, however, it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laksmi as well.

It is very peaceful and calm, clean and easy to walk around.

Does it remind you of one of the other things to do in Amritsar?!
Inside Durgiana Mandir. 

Stop 3 – Mata Lal Devi Temple

Get a taxi from Durgiana Temple to the bizarre Mata Lal Devi Temple (also known as Param Pujya Mata Lal Devi Mandir).  This is a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to a female saint, Lal Devi – and a unique addition to your Amritsar itinerary!

The temple is revered for its miraculous fertility-improving powers and in a country that values children and family highly, this makes it a sought-after destination of fertility pilgrimage.  It is believed that women who pray here will have children shortly after, thus attracting devotees from all over India. 

We’ve seen our share of temples.  But Lal Devi is the wackiest temple we’ve ever been into!  There are different levels and shrines with psychedelic colours and mirrors.  There are small doorways and arches leading from shrine to shrine with caves and tunnel-like rooms decorated with hundreds of statues of deities.  

It is a uniquely fascinating visit (to say the least!). 

Snakes, statues and all sorts of shrines inside. 
Devotees giving offerings and prayer.

Stop 4 – Kale Da Dhaba

It will likely be past lunchtime by now so if you haven’t paused already we highly recommend trying some more of Amritsar’s famous street food. 

This was a highlight of our day tour with @FeelMyCityTours and the chance to experience a small, local food place that is seriously popular in Amritsar. 

Kale Da Dhaba is a small but popular eatery in the back streets of Guru Bazar not far from the Golden Temple.  They serve delicious Laccha paratha and vegetarian dishes that were the best we tried in the city! 

A lineup of Laccha paratha at Kali Da Dhaba.
Paratha being cooked in a traditional clay tandoor oven.
Fresh onions, Dal and paneer curries to go with the hot fresh Laccha Paratha. 

Stop 5 – Ram Bagh Mahal /  Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panaroma 

Ram Bagh is a garden that was built during the reign of Maharaja Rajit Singh.  The garden and the palace, Ram Bagh Mahal, in the centre of the garden was named after the fourth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who founded the city of Amritsar. 

Ram Bagh Mahal was used as the summer residence of Ranjit Singh. 

It is a beautiful and peaceful (comparatively) garden and perfect for a short after-lunch stroll.

Stop 6 – Hotel 

Depending on how fast Day 2 of your Amritsar itinerary is panning out there should be time to return to your accommodation here.  

This is scheduled for a bit of down time and to freshen up before heading out again around 4:00pm.  

Stop 7 – Attari-Wagah Border Ceremony 

With two days in Amritsar, experiencing the evening Attari-Wagah Border Ceremony is a must for your Amritsar itinerary. 

The India-Pakistan border is undoubtedly one of the most unusual borders in the world.  

Every evening at sunset, both country’s militaries go to great lengths to outdo each other in their parades at the nightly closing of the border ceremony in an atmosphere that is oddly carnivalesque!  

There is a huge grandstand on both sides of the border where in the middle the soldiers of the Indian and Pakistani military march towards each other, kicking their legs as high as they can in intimidation before finally shaking hands and lowering each country’s flag.  

It really is an incredibly energetic and one-of-a-kind experience in India. 

The Attari-Wagah border is the only crossing-point open to travel by land between India and Pakistan.

Have more than two days in Amritsar? 

If you have more than two days in Amritsar there is more to see and plenty more to taste! 

A busy food stall beneath the historic and sacred Banyan trees of Guru Bazar.

Planning where to go next?

For the last four trips to India, each time we have visited Punjab we have spent two days in Amritsar before crossing the Wagah Border from India to Pakistan. 

Amritsar is a great introduction to Punjab in both India and Lahore and sets a base for understanding the independence of both nations. 

What is the best way of getting to Amritsar? 

Amritsar is well connected by road, rail and air.  

There is an international airport in Amritsar with daily flights to Dubai, Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur.  

But if you are already in India, it is easy to get to Amritsar directly from Delhi by fast train. 

How to get to Amritsar from Delhi 

There are daily trains from Delhi to Amritsar. 

The fastest and simplest way to get from Delhi to Amritsar is on the Vande Bharat train.  These trains are the fastest in India and you can make the journey in around six hours. 

On board the Vande Bharat super-fast train from Delhi to Amritsar. 

How to get to Amritsar from Bikaner (and Jaisalmer)

We last took a bit of a roundabout way to get to Amritsar traveling through Rajasthan first.  

From Jaisalmer we took a train to Bikaner and then onwards from Bikaner to Amritsar. 

Beautiful green views crossing in to the state of Punjab from Rajasthan in the late afternoon and golden hour. 

How to get to Amritsar from Lahore 

If you have your India e-Visa already stamped in and are travelling in Pakistan it is easy to cross the Wagah Border as a pedestrian from Lahore to Amritsar. 

Officially over the Zero Line and entering India from Pakistan. 

Transport in and getting around in Amritsar

The easiest way to get to around for your Amritsar itinerary and to visit the Golden Temple and other things to do in Amritsar once you are already here is by taxi or auto rickshaw.

We always stay at Hyatt Regency which is just a short taxi ride to the Heritage Street and Golden Temple in the centre of town.  

Do you recommend a guide for things to see in Amritsar?  

A guide isn’t a requirement.  But for most of the things to do in Amritsar, going with a guide makes the whole experience far more informative.   

It is a more relaxing way of getting around from site to site.  Plus, a guide can point out the small things you might not have noticed which is what makes travel most interesting! 

We have visited Amritsar four times over the last two years and the first time we ventured out from our very nearby hotel to visit the Golden Temple on our own.  It was magnificent (of course).  It was stunning to witness in the late afternoon golden sun.  But on that first visit we didn’t even see the Langar!  

If you are wanting the full experience of Amritsar and to really understand the significance of Sikhism, a tour guide for a day makes a big difference. 

We recommend Anil Sharma, a registered tour guide with @FeelMyCityTours.  

His prices for a tour of the city or the Golden Temple and Langar are very reasonable and his passion and knowledge for his city of birth is worth every cent.  

Anil can arrange a rickshaw or driver to pick you up from the train station and meet you on arrival in Amritsar.  Just give him a call or message on WhatsApp. 

Anil and Oscar trying Kesar Badam at the famous Ahuja Milk Bar on our food tour in Amritsar. 

Where to eat / Restaurants and cafes in Amritsar

Punjabi ‘Dhaba’s’ (restaurants) are popular all over India for their tasty food so there are plenty of cafes and street food eateries to choose from in Amritsar.  

Amazing service and truly great food at the Punjab Province.

Accommodation and where to stay in Amritsar 

These are the hotels we use regularly and can recommend as a great base for your Amritsar itinerary.   

We highly recommend the Hyatt Regency in Amritsar for its comfortable, immaculately clean rooms and the fabulous buffet breakfast and delicious restaurant meals.  The Hotel Sapphire is a budget option if you are backpacking and looking for location over comfort.   

A friendly welcome to the Hyatt Regency Amritsar.

Read more about travel in North India

More about planning for travel in India and beyond

These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel. 

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