How to Spend 3 Days in Amritsar

Amritsar is full of great things to discover, beyond the world-famous Golden Temple. With three days in the city, you’ll have time to explore its temples and forts, experience rural settings, and sample different varieties of Punjabi food—you can even try your hand at cooking some yourself. Here’s how to arrange your time.

Day 1: The Best of Amritsar

Devote your first day to Amritsar’s best-known attractions. Start with the Golden Temple, one of the most important Sikh places of worship on Earth. Most city tours stop here, and while it’s easy to visit independently, going with a guide is a great way to deepen your knowledge of the Sikh faith. After your visit, sample the city’s famous street food, especially local favorite chole kulcha (soft flatbread served with spiced chickpeas). Join a food tour if you’re worried about picking out the best, safest, cleanest places to eat. Finally, make your way to Wagah at the border with Pakistan to witness the famous border-closing ceremony, then have dinner at Sadda Pind, a reproduction Punjabi village attraction.

Day 2: A Deeper Dive

Although Tarn Taran isn't as famous as the Golden Temple, this gurdwara (Sikh temple) is nevertheless worth visiting for its striking, 16th-century architecture. Make this your first stop in the morning; some tours combine a trip to the temple with visits to nearby rural villages. In the afternoon, head out for some shopping and people watching in the markets of Old Amritsar, either independently or with a guide who can lead you to the best deals. Here you'll see fabrics, jewelry, housewares, and religious items, and it's a great place to pick up low-cost souvenirs. In the evening, make your way back to the Golden Temple, where you can watch the ceremonial procession storing the Sikh holy book for the evening.

Day 3: Local Life

On your last morning, join a tour to visit a local farm and see how crops are raised, cows are milked, and bread is baked, the Punjabi way. Continue your immersive experience in the afternoon with a cooking class in the home of a local, where you’ll prepare lunch and learn the art of Indian cooking along the way. Alternatively, head to a local spa for a traditional Ayurvedic massage treatment. In the evening, wrap up your stay with a 7D sound-and-light show at Gobindgarh Fort.