Things to Do in Amritsar: Golden Temple, Wagah, Food

Quick answer

In Amritsar, visit the Golden Temple at least twice, at dawn and after dark, eat at the free langar, then see Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum nearby. Spend one evening at the Attari-Wagah Beating Retreat, about 30 km away, and save time for kulchas, lassi and Amritsari fish. Two days covers it well.

13 things worth your time in Amritsar

01
Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)
Landmark
The holiest gurdwara of the Sikhs. The gilded sanctum sits in the Amrit Sarovar, with gurbani kirtan playing from before dawn until late at night.
2–4 hoursFree
Cover your head, remove your shoes and wash your feet. The sanctum queue is shortest before 6 am and after 10 pm.
02
Langar at Guru Ram Das Langar Hall
Experience
One of the largest community kitchens in the world, serving tens of thousands of free meals a day, with everyone seated together on the floor.
1 hourFree
Volunteer for an hour chopping vegetables or washing plates; nobody needs permission.
03
Palki Sahib ceremony
Experience
The Guru Granth Sahib is carried in a palanquin from the Akal Takht to the sanctum before dawn and back at night, with devotees taking turns to shoulder it.
1 hourFree
The night ceremony is usually around 10–11 pm and the morning one around 4–5 am; times shift with the season.
04
Jallianwala Bagh
Landmark
The memorial garden to the 1919 massacre, a short walk from the Golden Temple, with bullet marks still on the walls and the Martyrs' Well.
45 minutesFree
An evening light-and-sound show runs on most days; check the timing at the gate.
05
Partition Museum
Landmark
In the old Town Hall on Heritage Street, built around oral histories of 1947. For many Punjabi families it is personal.
1.5–2 hoursSmall entry fee for Indians
Closed on Mondays.
06
Attari-Wagah Beating Retreat
Experience
BSF and Pakistan Rangers lower their flags in a high-kicking, choreographed ceremony; the crowd's energy is half the show.
3–4 hours including travelFree; private taxi about ₹1,200–2,000 return
From 16 October 2026 it ran at 5–5:30 pm. Carry photo ID and leave bags in the car.
07
Heritage Street and Town Hall
Experience
The pedestrianised approach to the Golden Temple, with statues, Punjabi music and food stalls, lit up at night.
1 hourFree
Walk it after your night visit to the temple, when it's cooler and quieter.
08
Gobindgarh Fort
Landmark
An 18th-century fort reworked as a heritage park, with a 7D show, live bhangra and Punjabi food stalls in the evenings.
2–3 hoursAbout ₹200–500 depending on shows
Best with children; go after 5 pm for the shows.
09
Amritsari food crawl
Food
Stuffed kulchas with chole, lassi topped with malai, Amritsari fish and tandoori chicken in the old city and on Lawrence Road.
2–3 hours₹400–800 in food
Kulchas are a breakfast and lunch food; fish and chicken are for the evening.
10
Durgiana Temple
Landmark
A Hindu temple built in the style of the Golden Temple, with silver doors, set on its own sacred tank and far less crowded.
45 minutesFree
Ten minutes by auto from the Golden Temple.
11
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama, Ram Bagh
Landmark
A panoramic museum of Ranjit Singh's battles and court in the garden where he spent his summers.
1 hourSmall entry fee
Good for history-minded teenagers; combine with Hall Bazaar.
12
Hall Bazaar for phulkari and juttis
Shopping
Punjabi juttis, phulkari embroidery, papad, wadiyan and pickles in the lanes between Hall Gate and the Golden Temple.
1.5 hoursJuttis from about ₹500; phulkari dupattas ₹800–5,000 or more
Hand-embroidered phulkari takes weeks and costs more; cheaper pieces are machine-made.
13
Harike Wetland
Day trip
One of north India's largest wetlands, about 60 km away where the Beas and Sutlej meet, with migratory birds from November to February.
Half daySmall entry fee; boats extra
Go early; carry binoculars and water.

How many days do you need in Amritsar?

Two days is right for most travellers. That gives you the Golden Temple at least twice, a langar meal, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum, one evening at the Attari-Wagah border, and a proper food crawl. Add a third day for Harike wetland or a slower pace with elders.

Golden Temple etiquette

Cover your head. Scarves are handed out free at the entrances, and bandanas are sold outside.
Leave shoes and socks at the free shoe counter (jora ghar) and wash your feet in the shallow channel at the gate.
No tobacco or alcohol anywhere near the complex. Photography is allowed around the sarovar but not inside the sanctum.
Sit cross-legged in the langar hall and accept rotis with both hands cupped.

The complex is open 24 hours. Rooms in the sarais are meant for pilgrims and fill up on festival days.

Wagah logistics

Attari is about 30 km west of the city, 45–60 minutes by taxi. Seating is in open stands and is first come, first served. Leave by 2:30 pm in winter, carry photo ID, and leave bags in the car, because there is no reliable cloakroom.

Shared taxis to Wagah are cheaper, but a private cab lets you leave the moment the ceremony ends, which avoids an hour in the parking jam.

Plan the rest

Check the best time to visit Amritsar for Gurpurab dates, eat your way through the Amritsar food guide, and compare old-city hotels with Ranjit Avenue in where to stay in Amritsar. Amritsar pairs well with Delhi, about six hours away by Shatabdi or an hour by air.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Golden Temple open at night?

Yes. The complex is open 24 hours, and the sanctum is open from before dawn until the night ceremony, after which the parikrama stays open. Night is one of the best times to visit: the gold glows over the water and queues are shorter. The Palki Sahib procession usually takes place around 10–11 pm.

Do I need to book the Wagah border ceremony?

General seating is free and first come, first served, so no booking is needed. Arrive about two hours before the ceremony with government photo ID. Bags, food and large cameras may be refused, so travel light. On weekends, holidays, 15 August and 26 January, the stands fill much earlier.

Can non-Sikhs eat at the Golden Temple langar?

Yes. Langar is open to everyone regardless of religion, caste or nationality, and it is free. You sit on mats in rows while volunteers serve dal, sabzi, rotis, rice and kheer. Cover your head, accept food with cupped hands, and try not to waste any. Donations are welcome but never asked for.

How far is the Wagah border from the Golden Temple?

About 30 km. By taxi it takes 45–60 minutes each way, plus a walk from the parking area to the stands. A private cab for the return trip typically costs ₹1,200–2,000, while shared taxis from the old city cost less. Leave about two hours before the ceremony starts.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.