Things to do in Amritsar

Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion. It is not surprising then that the main attractions of Amritsar are the temples, and that visitors come primarily to experience the spiritual power of the city. The Golden Temple is considered one of the most beautiful places of worship in the world, and it is one of India's top tourist attractions. Other wonderful temples in Amritsar popular with tourists include Harmandir Sahib (best visited at sunrise) and the Durgiana Temple. The political seat of the Sikhs, Akal Takht, is also a lovely and moving place to visit.

Aside from the inspiringly friendly and humble people, probably the best attraction a city can have, Amritsar is famous in the history books for being the site of the terrible Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. This tragedy is memorialised at the original site of the massacre, in the Jallianwala Bagh Garden, and is an interesting attraction to add to any visitors' itinerary in this holy city in order to gain some historical perspective, particularly as the people killed were gathered to worship at a religious festival.

Golden Temple of Amritsar photo

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Considered one of the most beautiful temples in the world and the veritable heart of the Sikh religion, it's no wonder tourists come from all over the globe to see the Golden Templ…

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Considered one of the most beautiful temples in the world and the veritable heart of the Sikh religion, it's no wonder tourists come from all over the globe to see the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Situated in the middle of a sacred lake fed by an underground spring, the golden structure is a unique blend of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. Within the temple is the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, which is displayed on a jewel-studded platform. Visitors to the Golden Temple can enjoy the serene and spiritual atmosphere, which includes the sound of Sikh hymns accompanied by flutes, drums and stringed instruments.

Website www.goldentempleamritsar.org/

Dharamsala photo

Dharamsala

The state of Himachal Pradesh's largest hill station, Dharamsala, is a gorgeous and deeply spiritual place. With a large Tibetan population, the community centres around the teachi…

Dharamsala

The state of Himachal Pradesh's largest hill station, Dharamsala, is a gorgeous and deeply spiritual place. With a large Tibetan population, the community centres around the teachings and activities of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama, who resides in Dharamsala for a large portion of the year. Cool, alpine Dharamsala has been attracting hordes of tourists for years. Some are drawn by its staunch and inspiring Buddhist culture; others by the meditation, yoga, reiki and cooking classes on offer in the area known as McLeod Ganj; and yet others simply come to enjoy its considerable natural beauty.

Jallianwala Bagh photo

Jallianwala Bagh

Jallianwala Bagh is a sombre historical attraction; it is the site of the April 13, 1919 Amritsar massacre, when hundreds of innocents were gunned down by British troops. Thousands…

Jallianwala Bagh

Jallianwala Bagh is a sombre historical attraction; it is the site of the April 13, 1919 Amritsar massacre, when hundreds of innocents were gunned down by British troops. Thousands of men, women and children had gathered peacefully in the Jallianwala Bagh garden to celebrate the festival of Vaisakhi but, as public gatherings were illegal at the time, the British decided to make an example of them. Between 379 and 1,000 people were killed, and more than 1,000 wounded in this tragedy. The massacre was a turning point for British colonial rule in India and, ultimately, a step towards the country's independence.