Holidaymakers discover Amritsar's combination of traditional and cultural fare. Known as the Jewel of Punjab, the city delights visitors with religious and historical sites. Amritsar enthrals globetrotters with its magnificent past and its promising future. The impressive Golden Temple and other attractions captivate tourists in Amritsar's old city. While in the contemporary part of the metropolis, sightseers take advantage of Amritsar's sleek malls and high-end hotels.
Amritsar has extreme weather seasons. The city has a semi-arid climate with very hot summers when the temperatures start to climb from April to June (42°C). The monsoon season lasts from July to September. Travellers enjoy the best travel time from October through March with milder weather. Major Sikh and Hindu festivals occur throughout the year in Amritsar. The harvest festival of Vaisakhi, which celebrates the Punjab New Year, takes place in April. The Sikh celebration of Guru Nanak Gurpurab occurs in November. Another grand festival celebrated is Deepavali (Diwali) or the Festival of Lights, which is India's grandest festival. Celebrations take place at the end of October or the beginning of November. Hindu devotees mark Holi or the festival of colours occurring in February/March or the Phalgun month (spring festival).
Tourists in and around the Golden Temple should show respect to the Sikh religion by covering their head (women as well as men). Sightseers visiting the site should refrain from taking photographs inside the temple. Visitors cannot smoke or drink alcohol inside the complex. In Amritsar, prices for groceries are generally lower than in Delhi or Kolkata. Eating out in the city can be more expensive than in Kolkata and Delhi, however. Expect to pay about 200 rupees for a basic meal at an inexpensive restaurant.
Amritsar's Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is located 11 km from central Amritsar. City buses take approximately 24 minutes to reach the central bus station. For taxi service, visitors should bargain hard to pay around 300 rupees. Budget accommodation in shared rooms starts at around 200 rupees. Luxury hotel rooms begin from approximately 2000 Rs per night. A variety of public transport services including cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, buses and taxis are available. No motorised vehicles are allowed in the area around the Golden Temple.
| Flight duration | min. 03:05 / max. 04:20 |
|---|---|
| Return flight duration | min. 03:00/ max. 04:20 |
| Distance | 2081 km |
| Flights per week | 29 |
| Departure airport | Airport Bengaluru (Bangalore) (BLR) |
| Arrival airport | Airport Amritsar (ATQ) |
| Destination country | Flights to India |