Amritsar
Amritsar– one and only city of India which has lots of nicknames few I want to mention here: a city of Golden Temple, home to the famous Harminder Sahib, the culinary capital of India, largest city of Punjab, etc.
So, this time we decided to visit Amritsar and Yes it was a memorable trip we had! “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.”- Virginia Woolf. This is absolutely true in the case of the people of Punjab.
Places to Visit in Amritsar
- The Golden Temple
Also known as Sri Harminder Sahib is a popular religious place for Sikhs. On a daily basis, thousands of people visit this place and whenever they entered this holy place, peace inside the heart arises and the thing which strikes your mind and soul is Guruvani. People devote themselves over there to doing Sewa in different forms.
We went there on the 2nd day of our trip which was our Annievarsary date so we thought to start the day with the blessing. The moment we enter the Gurudwara means the view we got there is just wow. Words seem less to describe the beauty of this place. The floor was so clean and covered with carpets which did not make you feel the temperature of the marbles. People came and sit in various places inside it and spent hours.
Outside walls of the main gurudwara are gold plated and it is in the center and is surrounded by clear water. Fishes of different colors increase the beauty of water. Few devotees were taking a bath in it and there is a separate place for females to take a bath. At each corner, people serve water to the visitor.
We took Prasad and join the queue to reach the gurudwara. It took about 45 mins to reach and inside the gurudwara photography is strictly prohibited. We went to the top of the gurudwara and pray over there. Inside it also, people were chanting their prayers in different forms.
Kada Prasad, we got at the last when we were returning. It is made with semolina, sugar, and lots of ghee. By having each bite of it, my heart screams Once more! If you are not planning to visit the main gurudwara then also you can get this Kada Prasad. We completed our full round, clicked some pictures, and then move towards the Langar.
The thing which attracts the most and makes this place different from other holy places is the discipline of the people especially the discipline of Sewadaars. They warn you immediately if they find something unusual. This is the reason for the high level of cleanliness and peace over there.
If you are planning to visit at the weekend, make sure to have at least 4-5 hours as the rush just got doubled at weekends. On weekdays also, you can easily about 3 hours there including visiting the main gurudwara and Langar.
We visited gurudwara at night also on our 3rd day and we got totally mesmerized by the lights and by the brightness of the Golden Temple. It looks so beautiful seems like ” ek jagah beth jao aur gurudwara hi niharte raho”
- Durgiana Temple
We started our third day trip with this temple. The architecture of this temple is a copy of The Golden Temple. If I say copy here, that means the outside architecture is the same but from inside it is Laxmi- Narayan, Radha- Krishna temple. You will find this temple close to the Railway Station.
- Gobindgarh Fort
Gobindgarh Fort is another amazing place in Amritsar. When we hear to visit any fort, the first strikes to our mind are old walls with a huge crowd and no maintenance. But this fort proves everything wrong. When I visit over there, even it was unbelievable for me that and I was like” kya koi fort itna behatreen bhi ho sakta hai”, I just love that fort.
When you enter the main gate of the fort, there is a ticket counter and the person over there will describe to you about the different kinds of packages they have which includes several amusements like, horse riding, camel riding, 7- D show, food, etc. But all this not mandatory, if you don’t want you can simply visit the fort with normal ticket charges.
It was such a neat and clean place. And most importantly, the essence of Punjab you will find in each corner of the fort. There is a stage on which several programs were held, and we are also allowed to participate and enjoy those programs. Food stalls were amazing and the taste of the food was also nice.
2-3 museums are also there inside the fort which includes knowledge about different things like different types of swords etc. You have to pay an extra charge to visit these museums.
To visit the full fort with no rush, you require a minimum of 4 hours.
- Siddh Shakti Peeth Temple
This is another popular temple we find during our 3rd-day visit. When you visit this temple, it seems like a small temple but the moment you enter, you will realize all the dignities from all over India are present in this. There are 2-3 caves interlinked with each other and in it, there are deities with their names and place which is quite interesting as per the knowledge pint of view.
If you are planning to have langar then it will take about 1 hour to visit this place, otherwise 1/2 an hour is sufficient.
The most interesting thing in every gurudwara and temple is Langar. and people are having it with proper patience and no hassle which is not disturbing for others.
- Wagah Border
Wagah Border is another popular place in Amritsar which is a must-visit place. It makes you feel proud when you are enjoying the Retreat Ceremony performed by the BSF soldiers. During summers it starts by 4;45 pm and during winter it gets started by 4;15 pm. From The Golden Temple, it took about 40-45 minutes to reach Wagah Border
Daily, around 2000-3000 people visit there and enjoy it. It is free of cost for everyone. People start gathering in the hall by 3 pm and as soon as they can so that they can occupy the front seat to enjoy the ceremony.
Once we reach there, we found security check-in at different places which is necessary for the safety of the Nation. We are allowed to take water bottles, light snacks, and mobile phones only inside the hall. Even Bags are not allowed.
After getting assemble over there, they gear up the audience by having dance performances of female audiences on patriotic songs.
Retreat Ceremony gets started at 4:45 pm on both sides (India and Pakistan) and in between the gate of the border get open for some time from both sides and as the ceremony gets over it gets closed. A great feeling of pride is there while watching it.
- Jallianwala Bagh
It is one of the most visited historical places in Amritsar. Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden where hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children were massacred by the British Army in the year 1919. It is situated nearby to the Golden Temple. Now, this Amritsar massacre is transformed into a beautiful park where some of the memorial signs are there like;
- signs of bullet are clearly visible on few walls found inside
- Martyrs Well, a well in which hundreds of people jump just to escape from firing.
- a semi-circular veranda from where the soldiers fired bullets.
a museum
- Partition Museum
Partition Museum is the world’s first museum on Partition. This place shows the full story of the sacrifices of people during the India Free Movement.
In this museum, a different medium of communication is there which attracts the visitor. This includes oral histories playing on video by different people, a soundscape in each gallery, original newspapers, and magazines, photographs showing the migration and camps, letters written by refugees, government documents, etc.
Story of sacrifices is there in the form of videos and then we feel how much the people suffered just save our Nation or just to make India Free. It really feels great to be part of this country when we go through such amazing places. All the things are maintained in a unique.
You can easily spend about 3-4 hours at this place. IF you are a history lover then this place is a must-visit place for you!
- Hall Bazaar
Hall Bazaar is a very popular market in Amritsar. Few shops are selling things on wholesale rates. Basically, this is a cloth and shoe market. Traditional Punjabi clothes and shoes you will find there at reasonable prices. This market is 10-1 5 minutes away from the Golden Temple. Punjabi jutti, Phulkari dupatta, Patiala Suits, etc, easily you can get here. As a memento, shop for at least one thing. I purchased Patiala Suit with Phulkari Dupatta, Punjabi Jutti, and Pathani Suit as well.
Food We have In Amritsar
- Langar (Guru ka Prasad)
The largest community kitchen in the world opens 24x 7and serves food o about 80,000 people daily. The people used to sit in a row and the volunteers serve the food which is known as Prasad.
Every day they have a different menu depending upon the availability. The meal serves here is quite simple yet full of taste and love of God. It includes roti, dal, sabzi, kadi, rice, kheer, etc. They have several rules of feeding like you don’t have to leave anything on your plate, it should be clean. You can also some kind of sewa if you ish like can serve food, cut vegetables or wash utensils. Feeding thousands of people daily is proud in itself.
We have lunch there and another day we had dinner. The food was satisfying. Planning to visit Amritsar, then keep it on the top of the list.
- Bharawan Da Dhaba
This place is known for serving the best Sarson ka Saag and Makke di Roti. This winter special food- ghee soaked saag topped with cream and cornmeal chapati topped with ghee. We herd a lot about this place and ordered the same there.
The saag is so smooth, chunks of green chili and ginger are enhancing its flavors. The rotis are crack-free and soft which is an important part of any cornmeal chapati. Taste-wise it is a perfect plate for a single person. Along with this, they serve pickle and salad which I don’t have because I indulged in the traditional flavors of makke di roti and Sarson da saag.
If you are planning to travel to Amritsar in winter then you must try this dish.
Where: Near Town Hall
Price: Rs. 250/-
- Bade Bhai Ka Dhaba
Bade Bhai Ka Dhaba is one of the renowned names of Amritsar. They have multiple outlets and one of them is nearby Golden Temple. They have a specialty in the traditional food of Punjab along with the different kinds of Thali. Interestingly, it serves North Indian, South Indian, and Chinese food as well. So, if you have a craving for having something different from Punjabi food then this restaurant serves you best. Talking about the interior, it is a combination of restaurant and Dhaba with attracts the visitors.
We ordered a Mini Thali there. It includes Tandoori Aloo Kulcha with chole, achaar, and raita. Kulcha is quite crispy with a dense stuffing of spicy potatoes. Tate of chole is plain which balances the spicy flavor of Kulcha.
Where: Near Town Hall
Price: Rs. 200/-
- Kesar Da Dhaba
We reached this place by crossing narrow streets which is about a 10-minute walk from the Golden Temple. They serve vegetarian food to their customers for more than 100 years and from then till now the management does not compromise with the flavors.
I remember it was Thursday and the restaurant is packed during their lunch hours. You have to wait for some time to get your seat. Finally, we got a seat and ordered a Thali. The thali includes Ghee wali Tandoori Roti, Chole full of Punjabi flavors, Salad, Raita, and Maah ki dal.
The food was delicious but the maah ki dal was super delicious means it got melted in your mouth. The reason behind this they cook this dal on a slow flame for more than 12 hours which enhances the flavors to the next level. Simple daal with chunks of ginger and green chilies and cooked in the butter, “maza hi aa gya kha kar“.
They are also popular for their Smoky Biagan ka Bharta and after trying all these yummy things if you have some space in your tummy and go for the Phirni which they serve in an earthen bowl. You will definitely demand some more, they serve this ultimate level of taste in phirni.
Where: Chowk Passion, Near Telephone Exchange, Amritsar
Price: Rs 200/-
- Gurudas Ram Jalebi Wala
This place is serving jalebis for more than 60 years and their jalebis are so famous that people named this place Jalebiwala Chowk. You can get fresh jalebis at any time of the day. Round coils get cooked in pure ghee and dipped in saffron sugar syrup. Hot and crispy jalebis leave stunned with the taste.
We went for 2 days to have their hot jalebis. You can also try their Gulab Jamun. If you are in Amritsar, then you must visit this place at least once which is nearby to the Golden Temple.
Where: Jalebiwala Chowk, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar
Price: Rs. 250/-kg
- Rajasthani Chat Bhandar
A small chaat shop which gives you the feel of Delhi Chaat. They serve various Delhi Chaat like gol gappe, Dahi Bada, Dahi Bhalla, Papdi Chaat, etc.
You have to tell in advance about what flavors you want to like spicier, less spicy. This shop is on the opposite side of Gurudas Ram Jalebi Wala. We ordered Dahi Bhalla there, Bhallas re very soft and the flavor of both the chutneys is amazing. Tamarind Chutney is a bit tangy in taste which balances the overall flavors of the dish. Green chutney is spicy one so if you have spicy taste buds then ask them to reduce the quantity of Tamarind Chutney or to increase the quantity of Green Chutney.
IF you want to have a light chaat type dinner, then this place is beat to explore.
Where: Jalebiwala Chowk, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar
Price: Rs 60/- per plate
- Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale
This is the place where you will find “Amritsar’s best kulcha”.
Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale is near to the main entrance of the Golden Temple. A small shop on the main road serves you with the perfect breakfast meal. This 50-year-old shop serves crispy kulchas with different varieties of stuffing topped with a thick piece of butter. Although the kulchas are of crispy texture yet it is too soft. It is served with chickpea (chole) which they cook in their own way to balance the flavors of Kulcha, with the spicy pickle and a mouth-watering mix salad. One plate of Kulcha is a complete meal in itself for a person.
We had our breakfast there for 2 days as we loved those kulchas. The shop which is on road is having a small space of sitting so they open a new outlet which solves the sitting problem. The few best things about this place are they treat their customers like God, they personally ask with customers about the taste, they take very less serving time and many more. We had Mix Kulcha and Paneer Kulcha and then didn’t have anything for the whole day.
Place: Bazar Bikaneria, Near Golden Temple, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar
Mix Kulcha- Rs. 70/- per plate
Paneer Kulcha- Rs. 70/- per plate
- Balle Balle Dhaba
Balle Balle Dhaba we found on the way to Wagah Border- popular food place as per the information.
Talking about the place- it is good, they maintain cleanliness but the gathering is on the higher side and the service boys are less in number so the customer has to wait for some time.
Most people ordered Balle Balle Thali there which includes- Sarson Da Saag, Dal Makhni, Shahi Paneer, Tandoori Roti, Missi roti, Rice, Curd, Lassi, Papad, and Salad. We also ordered this and it took about 15-20 minutes. The thali was looking quite simple not much attractive and so the taste is!
If you are much hungry and did not find any good place nearby while traveling to Wagah Border, then you can opt for this otherwise I suggest finding any better place because not even a single thing which is wow in taste.
Hope you liked this blog. Please share your reviews with us in the comments below. Your suggestions are always welcome. Do not forget to share your food pictures with us on our Instagram page using @aromaofk or #aromaofk
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