After completing my 6 months internship, I decided to go on a trip with my father. We went during July, the weather was hot and humid, although it rained on one of the days. There are multiple ways to reach Amritsar. You can take a bus/train/taxi to Amritsar from Delhi. Buses are available for overnight journeys from Delhi. I would suggest taking the Shatabdi train from Delhi which departs at 7:20 in the morning which is one of the fastest means to reach Amritsar and you will reach by afternoon.
Early morning, we visited Golden Temple again, this time we went inside the temple. There is a huge line for visitors to enter the temple, but the wait is worth what you get to witness. You will get the KADA prasad after leaving the temple. After the temple, we visited the kitchens which serve food to millions and I was overwhelmed to see everyone’s contribution and efforts. It is necessary to cover your head before entering the Golden Temple premises. To completely soak myself into the rich Sikh culture, I had put on a Pagdi(Turban).
We started our trip from Delhi towards Chandigarh, from Chandigarh we went to Amritsar. After check-in, we decided to rest in the afternoon. In the evening we visited Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). The temple complex is huge and spreads across a large area.
The complex is very clean with plenty of options to eat, from exquisite Punjabi delicacies at Dhabas to burgers at McDonald's. There are a lot of shops which sell local items like - Turban, Jooti (Sandals), a good place to buy souvenirs. It is a little crowded as the temple attracts visitors from all over the world. After getting the warmth of Punjabi culture walking down the market, we entered the Golden Temple Complex. I shouldn’t be comparing the Taj Mahal and Golden temple but the Golden Temple is as beautiful as the Taj Mahal. I was speechless after seeing the gold shining so bright in the night light. It felt like I had found my spiritual treasure. We spent around 2-3 hours just sitting near the holy Sarovar(Pond). It was stress relieving.
This is how we ended our Day 1.
After this, we continued our journey to visit other tourist places. Jallianwala Bagh is close to Golden Temple so while returning we decided to visit it first. The bullet marks on the wall will make you feel numb. There is a well where lots of people jumped to save themselves from being massacred. One can literally feel that dreaded situation while visiting this place.
After this, we visited the Gobindgarh fort. This fort is a must if you want to learn about the Sikh culture. There are a lot of shows organized here. From Bhangra to Sikh Martial arts, you can learn a lot of things here. The fort is also very picturesque so there are a lot of Instagram worthy spots where you can get your picture clicked. It is converted into a museum from inside and you get to see the Sikh weapons, different types of turbans, and different attires depicting their culture. There are a lot of options to eat. You can enjoy the street food in the fort premises.
After having punjabi delicacies we decided to head for our last and the best part of our trip, Wagah Border. The beating retreat ceremony happens every day before sunset since 1959. It is alternatively a symbol of the two countries’ rivalry, as well as brotherhood and cooperation between the two nations. This is an hour-long show. I have been to a cricket match, and I have seen people cheering for their country but the atmosphere here can be compared to an India-Pakistan world cup match. People shouting their hearts out - “Vande Mataram”, “Jai Hind”. I was surprised to see so much enthusiasm among the crowd. I have never felt so patriotic in my whole life.
After getting completely energized, it was time for us to say goodbye to one of the best trips of my life. We went straight to the railway station for our journey back to Delhi. This trip was one of the most culturally enriching trips I have ever been on. There are a lot of other places in Punjab which you can add in your itinerary - Ludhiana, Mohali. Since we didn’t have much time so we could not cover the other parts, if we get an opportunity sometime later we will definitely cover the rest of Punjab.
Perfect Itinerary (2 days/1 night):-
Day 1: Reach Amritsar by morning or afternoon. Check-In and take some rest. In the Evening plan for a stroll in Harmandir Sahib complex and enjoy the Night View of Golden Temple. Sit near the Holy Lake and just absorb the beauty of the Golden temple.
Day 2: Start early in the morning and go to Durgiana temple, and do some local sightseeing during the day time - Gobindgarh fort, Valmiki Tirath Sthal, Golden temple, JallianWala Bagh. Go for Lunch at Brother’s Dhaba. After enjoying Punjabi Delicacies head to Wagha Border to enjoy the Beating Retreat which takes place at 5:15 PM in summer and 4:15 PM in the winter season. Take a return Bus/Taxi/Train to Delhi.
Must-See places -
Golden Temple
JallianWala Bagh
Wagah Border
Durgiana temple
Gobindgarh Fort
Valmiki Sthal
Best Places to eat -
Brothers Da Dhaba
Kesar Da Dhaba
Friends Dhaba
PS - Amritsar is pretty hot during the summer months. Plan your vacation during November to March as the weather is very pleasant. Do carry essentials like - Sunglasses, Sunscreen.
What I learnt from this trip - “I learnt about the importance of Turban - It’s an identity, a promise, and an honor”.
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