Hidden beneath the aroma of fresh parathas dripping with butter and the lively chatter of the locals of Amritsar, are many stunning gems. And if you’re planning on exploring these, then the best way to go about it is to take a walking tour of the city. Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend time making an itinerary for your tour because we already have one ready! Here’s what your 1-day walking tour of Amritsar would look like.
Places To Visit On A 1 Day Walking Tour Of Amritsar
Route: Ram Bagh – Partition Museum – Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara – Central Sikh Museum.
Amritsar Walking Tour Distance: 1.8 km.
Tour Duration: 4 to 5 hours.
1. Ram Bagh
Amritsar is home to numerous beautiful gardens, each with a rich history of its own. So, what better way to kick off our Amritsar walking tour than with a stunning garden? Ram Bagh is a wide and lush garden, which has been sitting on a part of Amritsar’s rich history.
It was Maharaja Ranjit Singh who constructed this garden in 1818 and named it ‘Ram Bagh’ after the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji. And in the middle of the garden, he built a summer palace for himself. It was later transformed into a museum on Amritsar’s 400th anniversary! The museum is a treasure trove of paintings, manuscripts, weapons, armors, and coins dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. They also preserve a replica of the famous Kohinoor diamond here!
There’s a huge, 12-meter-tall panorama of Maharaja Ranjit Singh overlooking the garden, which depicts the various battles he fought during his lifetime. The foreground diorama plays sound effects from the battlefield, which only adds to your viewing experience. You will also find a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on a horseback near the end of the garden.
Things To Do Here: Join the people on their morning walk around the garden. Check out the Maharaja Ranjit Singh museum and learn about the history of Amritsar and Ram Bagh in-depth. Don’t miss out on the panorama during your visit here.
How Much Time To Spend Here: 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Entry Fee: Entry to the garden remains free, but if you wish to visit the museum, you need to pay an entrance fee of INR 10 per adult and INR 5 per child.
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on Mondays.
2. Partition Museum
At the Partition Museum, you’ll find everything you need to know about the partition of British India. The museum is filled with art, memoirs, artifacts, and stories from before, during, and after the partition took place. What makes it even special, is that it houses exhibits that were actually donated by the people who witnessed and lived through the partition. This makes it more sentimental and worth a visit.
There’s no other monument that commemorates the formation of India and Pakistan, except for this one. The Partition Museum is truly one-of-a-kind, and on your visit here you will know and agree to it yourself!
Things To Do Here: Explore the various artifacts and memoirs displayed at the museum. One of the visit-worthy sections in the museum is the Gallery of Hope, where visitors can write messages on leaf-shaped paper and hang it on a barbed wire tree. There are also sections particularly reserved for prominent families who were affected during the partition, like that of Milkha Singh, Om Prakash Munjal, founder of Hero cycles, and others.
How Much Time To Spend Here: Approximately 2 hours.
Entry Fee: The entry fee for Indians is INR 10 and for foreigners is INR 250. However, there are no charges for the partition survivors and kids the age of 5 and below.
Timings: The museum remains open on all days from 10 am to 6 pm, except on Mondays.
In case you’re craving a sumptuous meal after walking around these prominent locations, stop by the must-try restaurants – Rang Punjabi, Bharawan Da Dhaba, and Ambarsari food street. Don’t forget to gulp down a chilled glass of lassi to top the mouth-watering meal you just had! Because, are you even in Amritsar if you didn’t have some sweet, ice-cold lassi?
3. Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara
Have you watched the movie Kesari? Then you don’t need an introduction to the next stop on our 1 day walking tour of Amritsar, the Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara. This magnificent Gurudwara is living evidence of Sikh courage and bravery.
If you have no clue about this brave historic event, let us take you back in time. On the 12th of September, 1897, around 10,000 Afghani tribesmen surrounded the 21 soldiers at Saragarhi. The tribesmen planned to take control of the outpost and interrupt the communications in the British Indian army. However, with the stupefying odds of 1 soldier against 500 tribesmen, the Sikh soldiers sacrificed their lives retaliating against the tribesmen from reaching the nearby forts. This bought enough time for the neighboring forts to prepare for the attack.
To date, it is one of the most significant events in the history of Amritsar, and commemorating the Battle of Saragarh is the Saragarhi Gurudwara. The Gurudwara was built in memory of these brave hearts. You can even find the names of the 21 soldiers engraved on the marble walls of the Gurudwara.
Things To Do Here: You can go around the Gurudwara, learn about its history, dive more into the details of the Battle of Saragarhi, and pay respects to the martyrs.
How Much Time To Spend Here: Approximately 1 hour.
Entry Fee: No entry fee required.
Timings: The gurudwara stays open on all days so you can visit anytime between 5 am to 10 pm.
4. Central Sikh Museum
This museum is a gold mine of Sikh history and cultural heritage. And since it is located so close to the much-talked-about Golden Temple, you can even get a quick glimpse of the holy shrine from the outside.
The museum is a tribute to all the prominent Sikh leaders who have contributed to propagating the Sikh religion. So when you enter the museum, you get to see several paintings, sketches, instruments, and weapons of those times. Do not miss out on the wooden comb (Kangha) of Guru Gobind Singh (10th Sikh Guru), weapons and turbans worn by Sikh warriors, and musical instruments like the Saranda of Late Baba Sham Singh (a hymn singer in the Golden temple).
The building is basically divided into two parts, one showcasing the lifestyle of Sikh Gurus, and the other showing the travels of Guru Nanak and other rare artworks. On your way to the museum, you can also take a quick glance at the Darshani Deori. It is a pair of historic doors displayed in a glass case at the entrance of the Central Sikh Museum.
Just in case you’re wondering what’s so special about this door, it was originally installed at the archway to the Golden temple by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. With a base of sandalwood and ivory carvings, it was truly the soul of the temple. However, over the years it has decayed and since restoration was not an option it is now displayed at the museum. A replica of the door was installed at the temple instead.
Things To Do Here: Walk around the museum and learn about Sikh history and culture, Sikh leaders, and their struggles over the years.
How Much Time To Spend Here: 1 hour.
Entry Fee: No entry fee required.
Timings: Monday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.
You can then end your walking tour by relishing some authentic Amritsari Punjabi cuisines and check out the Bartan Bazaar, a street specifically reserved for steel utensils. In case you need some essential house shopping done, then go ahead and shop your heart out!
Summing Up
These are some of the best and most feasible places to cover on a 1 day walking tour of Amritsar. In fact, most of these places are even a part of the city’s heritage street walks. During winters, the place is even more fascinating to visit due to the pleasant Punjab winters. Now that you have an idea of what your walking tour will be like, wear some comfy footwear and set out on the colorful streets of Amritsar.
FAQs
What Can I Do In 1 Day In Amritsar?
Here are some of the things you can include in your 1-day itinerary of Amritsar. Visit the Golden temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Partition Museum, Gobindgarh fort, and Wagah border. Shop from Haat Bazaar and eat authentic Amritsari cuisines from Ambarsari Zaika.
Is 1 Day Enough To Visit Amritsar?
To cover all the prominent attractions of Amritsar, you would need at least 2 to 3 days. However, if you’re running short of time, you could even manage to cover most of it in a day.
How Can I Travel Around Amritsar?
You can easily avail taxis/cabs, buses, or rickshaws to travel around Amritsar.
Is The Golden Temple Langar Open 24 Hours?
Yes. Just like how the Golden Temple remains open throughout the day, the Langar service is also provided 24*7.
Can I Wear Jeans In Golden Temple?
Although there’s no specific dress code mentioned to visit the Golden Temple, it is always better to wear modest clothes.
Can I Stay In Golden Temple For Free?
Absolutely. All you need to do is approach the information desk and they will point you to the dormitory accommodation, where you can stay for free for at least 3 days.
Is A Visit To The Wagah Border Free?
There are no entrance fees or passes required to visit the Wagah border.
What Is Famous Food In Amritsar?
Amritsar is well known for its lip-smacking cuisines like Amritsari kulcha, keema kulcha, paya, Sarson da saag with makke ki roti, mutton chaap, Shammi kebab, and mutton tikka.
