Amritsar

Culture & History

At 9:00 AM your driver and guide will pick up you from your hotel and you will proceed to the city of Amritsar by an air-conditioned vehicle. Your first visit: the beautiful Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib. The temple is a holy place for the Sikh community, but it's open to all people. The golden layer surrounding the top of the temple and its reflection on the lake makes this place unique. Afterwards, your driver will take you to Jallianwala Bagh, a garden and the site of the 1919 massacre, responsible for the killing of around 1000 innocent and unarmed Indians by the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer. After Jallianwala Bagh, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in town.  Next, Wagah Border Post. About 29 kilometers from Amritsar on the Grand Trunk, it has become famous for the ceremonial closing of gates and lowering of flags of India and Pakistan. Watch BSF and Pakistani soldiers march towards the gates from their respective sides. After the gate is thrown open, the soldiers salute each other and start lowering the flags. The flags are carefully folded and carried back. The ceremony reaches a crescendo with the soldiers return to the border line for the final handshake. Once done, no glance is exchanged and the gates are slammed close. Blowing of the trumpet marks the end of the ceremony. The flag down ceremony often starts before sunset time (around 4:30 PM in winter and 5:30 PM in summer).  After the ceremony, your driver will take you to Sadda Pind, a Punjabi village resort located around 24 kilometers from Wagah Border. Experience authentic Punjabi life. Watch a Gatka performance (a traditional Sikh martial art), a rope dancer, a magician, a traditional puppet show and lassi being churned. Enjoy fun games and a horse ride, see mud houses, browse handmade items, cool down with misting technology and more. Finish the tour with a traditional Punjabi dinner at Sadda Pind.

At 3:00 PM your driver will pick up you from your hotel and proceed to Wagah Border for the evening of the Indo-Pak parade ceremony, also called Beating the Retreat. Watch the ceremony from the foreigner gallery. Please note: Indian passport holders are not eligible for foreigner gallery entry and have to sit in the common gallery. Wagah Border Post is about 29km from Amritsar on the Grand Trunk, and it has become famous for the ceremonial closing of gates and lowering of flags of India and Pakistan. BSF and Pakistani Rangers march towards the gates from their respective sides. After the gate is thrown open, the soldiers salute each other and start lowering the flags. The flags are carefully folded and carried back. The ceremony reaches a crescendo with the soldiers return to the border line for the final handshake. Once done, no glance is exchanged and the gates are slammed close. Blowing of the bugle marks the end of the ceremony.  After the parade ceremony, return to Amritsar around 7:30 PM for a buffet or set menu dinner at an excellent hotel restaurant. After dinner, your driver will drop you back at your hotel.

Explore the magnificent sights in Amritsar under the guidance of an expert local guide. From your hotel, head first to the famous Golden Temple, one of the most vital structures and key landmarks in the city. After you offer prayers at the Golden Temple, you'll visit the Langar Hall (Community Kitchen) and witness how food is made for thousands of pilgrims who arrive daily at this sacred location. This is followed by a trip to Jallianwala Bagh where the infamous massacre took place under the troops of the British Indian Army. Afterwards, visit the only Museum dedicated to the horrific Partition of India in 1947. You will explore the different exhibitions, with both video and photographic displays providing you with the stories behind the events. Expressive paintings depicting these harrowing times are also on display in the museum. Finally, head out to the Wagah Border and visit the historic Grand Trunk Road, the only link between India and Pakistan in 1999. During the ceremony, you will watch the soldiers of India and Pakistan put on a show of sorts, with the lowering of both flags and a handshake between two nations. At the end of the ceremony, you will be dropped back to your hotel.

You will start the day with a visit to Harmandir Sahib, informally known as the Golden Temple, with an English speaking tour guide.  The Golden Temple is the holiest Sikh Gurdwara (temple) and was built in the 16th Century by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan.  Its outstanding size and beauty make it a must-see during your time in India.   After the Golden Temple you will visit Jallianwala Bagh, a public garden which houses a memorial of national importance, established in 1951 to commemorate the massacre by British occupying forces. Next, you will explore the famous Hall Bazaar.  Here you can find local handicrafts, clothes, shoes and more.  It's the perfect place to pick up some souvenirs from your trip.  After the bazaar, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant or hotel and spend some time relaxing in the hotel afterwards. After this you will drive to Wagah border for the evening Indo – Pak parade ceremony.  Wagah border post, about 29 kilometers from Amritsar on the Grand Trunk, has become famous for the ceremonial closing of gates and lowering of flags of India and Pakistan. Border Security Force and Pakistani Rangers march towards the gates from their respective sides. After the gate is thrown open, the soldiers salute each other and start lowering the flags. The flags are carefully folded and carried back. The ceremony reaches a crescendo with the soldiers return to the border line for the final handshake. Once done, no glance is exchanged and the gates are slammed close. The blowing of the bugle marks the end of the ceremony. As the ceremony climbs to its apogee, cries of Jai Hind and Pakistan Zindabad render in the air. You will watch ceremony from the VIP gallery and you will be dropped of at your hotel after the ceremony.

The Sadda Pind tour package starts around 4:00 PM and lasts about 4-5 hours. Your chauffeur, along with our guide, will pick you up from your Amritsar hotel and drive you to Sadda Pind, located around 8 kilometers from the city. As a Punjabi village resort, this place is adorned in authentic Punjabi style, including mud houses, charpais, and Punjabi cultural activities, such as: gidda, Bhangra, womens’ sangeet, the making of handicraft items and churning lassi. You can also enjoy a magic show, the Sikh Martial Art known as Gatka, a variety of games, and a fun ride on a camel or horse. Punjabi are well known for their tasty and tangy food. In Sadda Pind, you can try authentic Punjabi food, like Kadhi Chawal, Amritsari Naan, Makki Di Roti, Sarso ka saag, kulfi, and rabri. After dinner, your tour will end, and your driver will take you back to your hotel.  

Enjoy 2 days in the magnificent city of Amritsar, where you will visit its famous Golden Temple. Head out to the Wagah border to view the unique Beating Retreat Ceremony. Learn from your local guides about the historical and cultural importance of the sites you visit throughout your tour.  Day 1: Delhi – Amritsar Get picked up in New Delhi, early in the morning, and leave for Amritsar either via train or air, depending on the option you have chosen. Upon arrival at Amritsar, your driver will take you to hotel, where you will have the opportunity to freshen up before your professional guide arrives to take you to the Wagah border. Wagah is where India and Pakistan were divided in 1947, and today you will witness a patriotic and theatrical flagging ceremony performed by both Indian and Pakistani border guards as the border formally closes for the day.  Day 2: Amritsar – Delhi After breakfast at the hotel get ready to visit the Golden Temple with your guide. On your way, pass by a market, where you can admire traditional Sikh arts and crafts. Marvel at the beautiful architecture of the 16th century Golden Temple complex, also known as Harmandir Sahib, which is the Sikhs' most important pilgrimage site. Observe the daily ritual of preparing and distributing food to 1000 visitors regardless of faith and background.  Then, go with your guide to Jallianwala Bagh, a historic garden, but more known as the site of a horrific massacre in 1919. Learn from your guide what lead to this tragic event taking place and its context in the time of British rule in India. After, your guide will take you to the train station or airport for departure back to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be met by a driver, who will drop you at your hotel or any desired location in Delhi.

At 3:00 PM, your driver and guide will pick up you from your hotel and proceed to Wagah Border for the evening of the Indo-Pak parade ceremony, also called Beating the Retreat. Watch ceremony from the VIP or foreigner gallery. Wagah Border Post is about 29 kilometers from Amritsar on the Grand Trunk, and it has become famous for the ceremonial closing of gates and lowering of flags of India and Pakistan. Watch BSF and Pakistani Rangers march towards the gates from their respective sides. After the gate is thrown open, the soldiers salute each other and start lowering the flags. The flags are carefully folded and carried back. The ceremony reaches a crescendo with the soldiers return to the border line for the final handshake. Once done, no glance is exchanged and the gates are slammed close. Blowing of the trumpet marks the end of the ceremony. The flag down ceremony often starts before sunset time (around 4:30 PM in winter and 5:30 PM in summer).  After the ceremony, your driver will take you to Sadda Pind, a Punjabi village resort located around 24 kilometers from Wagah Border. Experience authentic Punjabi life. Watch a Gatka performance (a traditional Sikh martial art), a rope dancer, a magician, a traditional puppet show and lassi being churned. Enjoy fun games and a horse ride, see mud houses, browse handmade items, cool down with misting technology and more.  For dinner, indulge in delicious Punjabi foods, like kadhi chawal (a popular rice-based dish), makki di roti (traditional flatbread), Amritsari naan, pindi chole (a chickpea dish), kulfi (a frozen dairy dessert), rabri (a condensed-milk-based dessert) and more. Afterwards, your driver will drop you back to your hotel around 9:00 PM.

Walk the historic and spiritual streets of Amritsar with your local guide. Start your tour with a hotel pick-up to reach the starting point. Visit the Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara, Learn about the Battle of Saragarhi that was fought between the British Indian Army and Afghan Orakzai tribesmen. Let your guide explain about the Battle of Saragarhi that has last gone down in history as one of the most fierce last-stands executed in battle. Next walk the streets of Amritsar while your guide briefs you about the local culture of Amritsar. Enjoy the local street snacks like Jalebi’s, Amritsari Kulcha and lassi. Next Visit the Jallianwala Bagh to witness the massacre created by General Dyer. Then walk to our final destination, The Golden Temple. It is the holiest Gurudwara of Sikhism, located in the city of Amritsar. Amritsar (literally, the tank of nectar of immortality) was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das. The present-day Gurudwara was rebuilt in 1764 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the help of other Sikh Misls. In the early nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab region from outside attack and covered the upper floors of the Gurudwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive appearance and its English name. Your guide will give you more knowledge about Sikh religion, its history and people. After your visit to the The Golden Temple, your tour ends.

Start your tour with pick-up from your hotel. After your guide briefs you on your tour, you will ride a tuk-tuk or rickshaw to your first destination, Jallianwala Bagh, a memorial for the massacre by General Dyer that killed more than 1000 people back in 1919. Next, visit the Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara and learn about the Battle of Saragarhi that was fought between the British Indian Army and Afghan Orakzai tribesmen. Let your guide tell you about the Battle of Saragarhi that has gone down in history as one of the most fierce last-stands executed in battle. Walk through the local streets of Amritsar to visit the Golden Temple. It is the holiest Gurudwara of Sikhism, located in the city of Amritsar. Amritsar (literally, the tank of nectar of immortality) was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das. The present-day gurdwara was rebuilt in 1764 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the help of other Sikh Misls. In the early nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab region from outside attack and covered the upper floors of the gurdwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive appearance and its English name. Afterwards, visit the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, who was the founder of the Sikh Empire. Prior to his rise, the Punjab region had numerous warring misls (confederacies), twelve of which were under Sikh rulers and one ruled by a Muslim. Ranjit Singh successfully absorbed and united the Sikh misls and took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire. He repeatedly defeated the invasions by Muslim armies, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan and established friendly relations with the British. You will learn more about the Maharaja’s life by visiting the museum. End your tour with famous Amritsari kulcha and chilled lassi at a local eating spot, famous for its snacks. You will head back to the Golden Temple where your tour ends, from where you are free to explore the city on your own.

Start your journey with a hotel pick-up at 09:30 to explore the cultural streets of heritage city that is older than 400 years. Visit the Golden Temple, one of the most sacred places for Sikhs in the world. Let your guide explain to you all about the temple and later on visit the temple’s museum to learn about its history and establishment in India. Next, walk to the Langar (mass dinner) Hall to witness the devotion and compassion of people working there. Have some food at the Langar to enjoy the real experience. Then, visit the kitchen section to learn how the food is prepared and how to roll chapattis. Later on, proceed for lunch in a local restaurant of Amritsar. Now, drive to the Wagah Border at 15:00 and prepare to witness the flag ceremony performed at the border between Indian and Pakistan, also known as the Beating ceremony that starts at 17:00. It showcases border policemen marching to the beat of the drum. After the end of your ceremony, get dropped off at your hotel.