Amritsar city is a scenic blend of history, culture, and religiosity, attracting tourists from all over the globe. Given the vibrance this city offers, I always wanted to visit Amritsar to enjoy the picturesque attractions. So during my Holi vacation, I decided to fly to Amritsar from Delhi with my friends.
Since we all were super excited to visit this city, we took the early morning flight and reached our hotel via a pre-booked airport taxi.
While many people know Amritsar for the famous Golden Temple and its spiritual vibes, there are many more attractions the city has to offer. Engrossing legends, historic folklores, religious structures, colourful festivals, bustling bazaars, and mouthwatering food all come together to mark this city as a lively tourist destination.
Since we visited the eminent Golden Temple during our last trip, we planned to explore other scenic attractions of Amritsar city this time.
Here is a brief overview of our Amritsar and some top tourist places we visited.
Jallianwala Bagh
Ever since I was a child, I used to hear the stories of the historic Jallianwala Bagh. So I started my Amritsar sightseeing tour by visiting this famous garden that depicts an emotional story of the Indian freedom struggle. Spread over an area of 6.5 acres, Jallianwala Bagh is a testimony for the most heinous general massacre that the British Army committed on innocent Indian citizens.
After taking a stroll at this public garden and reading about its history, we learned that the British forces under the authority of General Dyer brutally fired on a peaceful gathering of men, women, and children.
Even today, this place holds bullet marks on the walls that depict the dark history of this place. Also, to know more about the glory of the Indian freedom struggle, we attended the vibrant light and sound show that recreates the horrifying incident that happened at the Jallianwala Bagh.
- Location: Golden Temple Road, Amritsar
- Visit Timings: 06:30 am to 07:30 pm daily
Wagah Border
It was around 3 when we headed towards watching the Army parade at the Wagah Border. Situated approximately 30 km from Amritsar, Wagah Border is the only road passage between India and Pakistan. Every year, the Wagah Border turns into a patriotic ground before sunset, where soldiers from India and Pakistan engage in Change of Guard and drum beating ceremonies.
- Location: Wagah, Hardo Rattan, Amritsar
- Visit Timings: 5:15 pm to 06:00 pm (Summer Ceremony)/04:15 pm to 05:00 pm (Winter Ceremony)
Ram Tirath Ashram
The next stop on our Amritsar sightseeing checklist was the Ram Tirath Ashram. A blend of mythology and religion, Ram Tirath Ashram is likewise known as Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal. This place is a holy site where Lord Rama’s sons, Lav and Kush, were born.
Mythological tales mark Ram Tirath Ashram as the ashram of Valmiki, where he started writing the holy Ramayana. We further glimpsed the magnificent 800 kg gold-plated statue of the sage Valmiki that is indeed a treat to the eyes.
- Location: Ram Tirath Road, Kaler, Amritsar
- Visit Timings: 05:00 am to 09:00 pm; daily
Whether you want to know more about the glorious past of Amritsar or immerse in its modern flavour, the city has everything that will always have you come back for more. So why wait? Plan your trip to this beautiful city, take a car on rent in Amritsar with an experienced driver and get set to explore this vibrant land of heritage and culture.
