Last Updated on: 18th February 2026, 01:03 pm
The stunning Golden Temple, the spiritual heart of Sikhism, is typically what draws visitors to Amritsar, a city of 1.1 million people situated at the edge of the country. But there are a surprising amount of other things to do around Amritsar, including museums, quirky temples, and the spectacle-like Wagah Border Ceremony.
To see everything Amritsar has to offer (including multiple Golden Temple visits), it would be wise to give yourself at least four days here. While we’ve already covered the Golden Temple in detail in a separate guide, this guide focuses on what else you can expect to find.
For more info on reaching Amritsar and the best places to stay, be sure to check the end of the article.
Around the Center
Central Amritsar is easily one of India’s most walkable and charming urban districts. And there are plenty of landmarks to explore here as well.
One of the area’s architectural highlights is the Gandhi Gate, built by the British in 1873 (it was then called the Hall Gate).
It leads to what’s still known as the Hall Bazaar, an outdoor eating and shopping area. It’s home to a relatively rare Starbucks, along with some reasonably priced local restaurants.
And it’s right in Hall Bazaar that you’ll find Amritsar’s most-visited museum, the Partition Museum.
The Partition Museum
The Partition Museum is well worth a visit during your time in Amritsar, as it focuses on an event (well, series of events) that has greatly impacted Amritsar – and South Asia as a whole – into the present.
At the time of writing, tickets cost Rs 250 for foreigners and no photos are allowed at all. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-17:30. But what exactly was the Partition?
While it’s a complex and convoluted topic, with increasing resentment and uprisings against British rule, not to mention Britain’s exhaustion after World War II, the British Empire began to come up with an exit plan.
Rather than leave the former British India as a single independent entity, two countries would be formed at once: India and Pakistan.
Borders were hastily drawn up in both Punjab and Bengal by a man named Cyril Radcliffe. While the Partition was announced a few months in advance, the Radcliffe Line wasn’t even revealed until just after both nations achieved independence.
As such, there was a sudden rush of millions of people in either direction. Given both the logistical chaos and religious tensions, mass violence ensued on both sides, resulting in countless deaths.
A basic understanding of the Partition is also vital to making sense of one of Amritsar’s main attractions, the Wagah Border Ceremony (more below).
Maharaja Ranjit Singh & Heritage Street
Elsewhere in the center, you’ll encounter a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the founder and first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. He expelled Afghan forces and consolidated power in Punjab, forming an empire that would ultimately last until 1849.
Another highlight, meanwhile, is Heritage Street, which takes you all the way to the Golden Temple. Opened in 2016, it’s possibly the only motorbike-free pedestrian avenue in any major Indian city. And it’s also where you’ll find the next destination in this guide.
Jallianwala Bagh
On April 13, 1919, a crowd had gathered to protest the Rowlatt Act, which allowed indefinite detention without trial. At the time, a ban on public gatherings had been put in place, and British troops led by General Dyer came to disperse the crowd.
But his troops did so by simply firing at people without warning. Over the course of about fifteen minutes, several hundred people were killed, while other estimates suggest the number could’ve been a thousand.
Today, this public garden now serves as a memorial to those killed. And in memory of the incident, various bullet holes have been preserved and highlighted in some of the surrounding walls.
You can also see The Martyrs’ Well, where some demonstrators jumped in an attempt to escape the gunfire.
Jallianwala Bagh also contains a free on-site museum which provides details about the incident along with general information on Punjabi history.
The park is just a couple of minutes on foot from the entrance to the Golden Temple, making it easy to combine the two.
The Bus Tour
One of the easiest ways to see Amritsar is on the city’s so-called ‘Hop On, Hop Off’ bus tour. Despite the name, this operates more like a standard guided bus tour rather than a true hop-on, hop-off service, in which multiple buses run continuously along a route. But you will ride in a double-decker bus.
No reservations are required to book, and you can simply show up near the Statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh before departure at 10:00 am.
The whole day tour costs a mere Rs 535 per person. But where does it take you? We’ll briefly be describing each stop below.
Durgiana Temple
Our first stop of the day was Durgiana Temple, located just outside of central Amritsar.
Established in 1921 (though some sources suggest an earlier construction), the Durgiana Temple will immediately look familiar for those who’ve already been to the Golden Temple, Amritsar’s main attraction.
Just like the Harmandir Sahib, the main structure here is plated in gold, while it’s also surrounded by a large lake. But interestingly, this is actually a Hindu temple and not a Sikh one.
As such, you’ll see various sculptures of Hindu deities around the complex, while the central shrine features an idol of the Goddess Durga (idol worship is prohibited in Sikhism).
But to make matters more confusing, Harsai Mal Kapoor, a Sikh, is credited with establishing the temple in its current form. And he was descended from Prithi Chand, the excommunicated son of Guru Ram Das (1534-1581), the fourth of the ten Sikh Gurus.
Gobindgarh Fort
Our next stop was the nearby Gobindgarh Fort. Entry costs Rs 200 for foreigners, while they will also encourage you to pay extra for some type of ‘7D Show,’ whatever that is. Nobody in my group was interested.
The fort has long been controlled by the Indian army, and it was only opened up to the public in 2017. Cameras are forbidden inside, but they do allow cellphone photography.
Originally built by a local chieftain in the 18th century, in the 19th century it was taken over by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire.
Despite its historical significance, it fails to impress as a tourist destination, especially when compared with India’s other spectacular forts.
Perhaps that’s why management are pushing modern digital shows and live dance performances. After watching some dancers perform, we were then brought over to witness a magic show.
We were also given ample time to order some light food at the on-site cafe. Considering how I’d been told numerous times we’d stop for a proper meal near the Wagah Border, I decided to pass.
While I would end up eating near the border, it was a very rushed meal, and I regretted not just eating here instead.
But all in all, for such a cheap tour, I couldn’t complain.
Additional Landmarks
Some of the landmarks advertised as ‘attractions’ on the tour are simply things that you’ll see from the double-decker bus. But given all the stops we were making throughout the day, that was fine with me.
We proceeded along Grand Trunk Road, an ancient road that links parts of modern-day Bangladesh all the way to Kabul.
We first passed by Khalsa College. Established in 1892, its beautiful main building was built in the Indo-Sarcenic style, and was influenced by both traditional Indian and Mughal architecture.
At some point during the journey, our driver inexplicably shifted to the opposite side of the highway, taking us right into oncoming traffic for several minutes!
India’s complete lack of enforcement of traffic laws has always been astounding to me, but this experience made me feel like I was in a real-life GTA game.
I’m still not sure what the driver was trying to do, but fortunately, the other vehicles swerved around us without incident.
The next landmark we passed from the bus was the India Gate, a monument built in honor of Punjabi soldiers throughout history.
Appropriately, it was situated near our next stop, the Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial & Museum.
The Punjab State War Heroes' Memorial & Museum
The Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial & Museum is a massive museum that I had little expectation for, but it turned out to be rather interesting.
With only 40 minutes allotted for this stop, we had to rush through many of the exhibits. But what I did take time for was rather interesting.
The first hall largely focuses on weaponry and military strategies used by Punjabi and Sikh fighters. Fortunately, the museum features ample English signage.
Not everything in the museum is focused purely on the military, as later exhibits gave a comprehensive rundown of the history of Sikhism, along with biographies of each guru.
The remaining exhibits, meanwhile, were focused on the Kashmir conflict. Both India and Pakistan claim the entirety of Kashmir (well, with some caveats), but in reality, each side only controls half of the region.
While we were in a rush to get back to the bus, those with a special interest in that conflict might want to make a special stop here independently without a tour.
Despite rushing to be back at the bus at the designated meeting time, we nevertheless had to sit in the hot bus for another 30 minutes. We were waiting for another bus to arrive, so that we could combine passengers for the final stop of the day, the Wagah Border Ceremony.
The wait left us little time for a meal there, so, as mentioned, it would be wise to bring plenty of snacks for this tour or to eat at Gobindgarh Fort’s cafe.
The Wagah Border Ceremony
Not everyone who visits Amritsar joins a Hop On Hop Off bus tour, but few visitors come to the city without witnessing the Wagah Border Crossing ceremony. If you’re coming without a tour, there are plenty of tuk tuk drivers around Amritsar with whom you can negotiate roundtrip transport.
The ceremony itself is completely free, but there are a few key things to know in advance.
You can’t bring any type of bag to the stadium, but you can bring a camera. And luckily, there’s a storage place near the restaurant area for Rs 100.
As mentioned earlier, the Partition of 1947 resulted in the formation of two independent states: India and Pakistan. The two countries have been arch rivals ever since, and this ceremony occurs right at the border.
Also known as the Beating Retreat ceremony, it’s been going on since 1959. It takes place every evening at sunset and is largely for entertainment purposes. Well, that and to bolster nationalistic sentiment on both sides. Perhaps that’s why it’s free.
You’ll likely find the stands, which are first come first serve, already full before the actual ceremony starts. First, the Indian side plays loud patriotic music and videos, with VIPs even gathering in the center for a brief dance session.
And then come the soldiers, complete with choreographed moves and lots of high kicks. As you’ll quickly notice, the moves on both sides mirror one another.
It’s clear that the participants regularly practice and cooperate with one another, and near the end, there’s even a brief handshake between the two sides!
The Pakistani stadium was still under construction at the time of my visit, and they only had a fraction of the crowds. They also lacked a sound system, so if the ceremony were a competition, it would be very one-sided.
With that said, writing this later after having already been to Pakistan, the rivalry as a whole seems somewhat one-sided to me.
Throughout my travels, it wasn’t uncommon for Indians I’d meet to bring up and badmouth Pakistan unprompted, even when our discussions had nothing to do with politics. Pakistanis, on the other hand, rarely badmouthed India in my presence, and they seemed genuinely interested in my experiences there.
It seems like India, a massive country divided by religion, caste and regional differences, desperately needs a boogeyman to maintain some sense of national unity.
The ceremony wouldn’t be my last trip to the Wagah-Attari border, as I would cross it a few days later. I was originally under the impression that this stadium was purely for the ceremony, and that the actual crossing was along a normal road.
But as I’d soon find out, you do indeed walk right through this stadium!
With that said, to cross the border, you can’t have your driver take you right there. You’ll first stop at a border control office where the Indian side will check your papers and make sure you actually have permission to enter Pakistan. After that, you’ll take a designated bus up to the stadium and then walk across.
Though I had no way of knowing at the time, I crossed the border just a week or so before it closed on May 1, 2025. And it remains closed at the time of writing. (Though the ceremony itself is still taking place.)
Mata Lal Devi Mandir
One of Amritsar’s more obscure and quirky attractions is the Mata Lal Devi Mandir, a Hindu temple. But it’s unlike any other temple you’ll find in India.
As a whole, the temple is dedicated to the female saint Lal Devi. Born in 1923, she was known for consuming nothing but fruits and milk, and she emphasized the bhakti, or devotional path.
The temple pays homage to various spiritual traditions of India. In addition to numerous Hindu deities, certain areas are also dedicated to the Buddha and Jain tirthankaras.
Upon entry, you’ll encounter a large prayer hall that’s not too different from your typical Indian temple. But a passageway to the side takes visitors along a designated route through various elaborately decorated rooms.
And sometimes, you’ll even need to crawl on your hands and knees to get from one space to the next!
All in all, it’s much less like your typical temple experience and more akin to traversing some kind of funhouse! The art and sculptures could be described as a bit kitsch, but they do have their charm.
The aesthetic – and overall spirit – sort of reminded me of Bunleua Sulilat’s sculpture parks in Thailand and Laos.
With that said, basic rules still apply, and visitors must remove their shoes upon entry. Fortunately, you’ll find a well-organized shoe rack just outside.
The temple is located to the northwest of central Amritsar, and the best way to get there would be with an Uber.
Ram Tirath
Located about 12 km west of Amritsar, Ram Tirath is a beautiful temple in Amritsar that hardly gets any visitors, making for an interesting contrast with the bustling Golden Temple.
Also known as Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, it’s said to be the location of the legendary poet Valmiki’s hermitage, who’s credited with writing the Ramayana epic.
As with Vyasa, the author of The Mahabharata, Valmiki himself is also a character within the Ramayana.
According to legend, Valmiki was a revered sage, and he began composing the Ramayana at this site when Sita, Rama’s queen, came to stay with him. But why was she sent here?
A large part of the epic focuses on Rama’s fight to take Sita back from the demon Ravana who had kidnapped her. Though he’s eventually successful, rumors begin to circulate in Rama’s kingdom of Ayodhya about what Sita may have been up to alone with Ravana.
Though Rama himself believes that she’s pure, he nevertheless feels a duty to win back public trust. And so he sadly decides to send her into exile indefinitely, even knowing she was pregnant with twins.
The main temple belongs to a relatively small Hindu sect known as Balmikism, which reveres Valmiki himself as an avatar. (The Ramayana, of course, focuses on Rama, an avatar of Vishnu.)
The central shrine is rather new, but it features an 8 ft-tall gold-plated idol of Valmiki in its center.
The central temple sits in the midst of a large lake – not unlike the Golden Temple or the Durgiana Mandir mentioned above. But there’s still a lot more to explore throughout the complex.
Upon entry to the temple, a cleaner approached me and started guiding me around. I knew from the beginning that he’d eventually want a tip, but he also seemed friendly and looking for an excuse to take a break from sweeping.
And after the main temple, he guided me to various other highlights of Ram Tirath, including the location believed to be where Sita gave birth to the twins Lava and Kusha.
One part of the shrine was filled with baby toys, as it’s where local women come to pray for fertility. My guide also took me to a nearby shrine where a priest blessed me with a peacock feather.
Eventually, we separated and I explored the rest of the complex on my own. The various temples seem to be under different management, with different levels of pushiness regarding donation requests.
One temple was even created by the devotees of Mata Lal Devi mentioned above. The decoration and idols were created in the same style, but don’t think of it as a substitute for visiting the Mata Lal Devi Mandir.
GETTING THERE: While technically possible to reach by bus, buses leave infrequently and you’d likely have to do a lot of waiting around under the hot sun. And while you may be able to take an Uber there, the return journey could be a challenge.
In my case, I organized tuk tuk transport with my hotel, and I paid Rs 600 for the roundtrip journey including wait time.
Note that some variations of the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours make a stop here, but only on certain days. In any case, most visitors should enjoy being able to explore the temple complex independently at a relaxed pace.
Additional Info
In regards to location, as long as you’re within 15-20 minutes on foot from the Golden Temple, you should be fine.
As a budget traveler, I had a great stay at Seth Residency. The location was perfect, the staff were kind, and it was overall one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at in India at this price range.
Other popular options for a reasonable price include Hotel MJ Marriots and Hotel The Casa Grand. And those fine with splurging might want to look into the Ranjit’s Svaasa Amritsar.
For those coming by train, Amritsar can be reached from Chandigarh in about 4-5 hours, from Kurukshetra in about 5-6 hours, and from Delhi in about 6-7 hours.
If you’d rather fly, frequent domestic flights from Delhi last about one hour.
Amritsar, of course, lies just 30 km from the Wagah–Attari border, the only land crossing between India and Pakistan. Travelers coming overland from Lahore would normally start their India travels in Amritsar, but the border is closed at the time of writing.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.