A serene and beautiful city

The spectacular waterfront city of Amritsar is known for outstanding landmarks like the Golden Temple, the holiest site in the Sikh religion.

Best time to plan a holiday in Amritsar

Summer is very hot in Amritsar with temperatures reaching 42 degree centigrade so the best time to visit is during winter from October till March.

The city celebrates the major Sikh and Hindu festivals including the harvest and New Year Festival of Vaisakhi in April. Other notable celebrations are Guru Nanak Gurpurab in November, Deepavali normally around late October to early November and the Holi spring festival at the full moon in the Phalgun month.

Handy information for your trip 

British visitors will need a visa for travel to Amritsar and these can be obtained from the Indian High Commission. Passports should be valid for at least 180 days and have a minimum of two blank pages.

Make sure that all vaccinations and boosters are up to date. It's recommended that visitors are vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Tetanus and typhoid and some travellers may also wish to think about Cholera, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies if they are going to be travelling to other parts of India. Malaria is prevalent in some regions of the country. 

Tips for getting around Amritsar

Visitors should show respect for the Sikh religion and both men and women should cover their heads in and around the Golden Temple. Smoking and drinking alcohol are not permitted inside the complex and no photographs should be taken inside the temple.

Prices are far lower than in the UK and a basic meal should cost cost about 200 rupees.

Flights arrive at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, which is about 11 km from the centre of Amritsar. It takes approximately 25 minutes to travel by city bus from the airport to the central bus station. Visitors should drive a hard bargain for taxi fares and should expect to pay about 300 rupees.

Visitors to Amritsar will find accommodation in the city to suit all price ranges. A shared room in budget accommodation is approximately 200 rupees per night while luxury hotel rates start from around 2000 rupees per night.

Visitors can take buses, taxis, auto rickshaws or cycle rickshaws for sightseeing trips in Amritsar However, no motorised vehicles are permitted in the vicinity of the Golden Temple.