How long in Amritsar?

unclelach

A friend can make a one week (not less) hotel booking in Amritsar for next February. My friend suggests I come along.

I see from travel blogs that some tourists make a day trip to Amritsar, visit the Golden Temple and then move on. This is rather like people who visit Agra for the day to see the Taj Mahal. Having been to Agra, I think that area is well worth a three day visit.

We are ordinary tourists without particular interests in Sikhism and would like to see many other places in North India should we go. How many days are needed to enjoy a visit to Amritsar and also see the nearby border crossing?

Karan321

I think a week would be too long. A couple of days should be enough for Amritsar.

unclelach

Thank you Karan321. I would have liked to visit Lahore as well but the Australian government warns against visits to Pakistan at the moment. I wonder if people are making land crossings freely between India and Pakistan these days eg for tourist travel between Amritsar and Lahore.

machadinha

I think I'm mistaken but I thought Lahore is connected to Sufi saint Lal Shabaz Qalandar, quite a rowdy fellow. Read up on him and see what you can find should you visit. His sect (the Qalandari[s]) still exists in India and Pakistan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qalandari

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

JayBee

Visit the temple and visit the Jallianwalla Bagh (i can't remember how to spell it now!) The boarder ceremony is an interesting experience too. We spent three nights in Amritsar (last one in the temple accommodation) and I think we got it about right.

I enjoyed amritsar, the people we met at the temple and other places were very friendly and very keen to talk to you about their religion in a very non-threatening way. I found this generally in India but Amritsar had a very special atmostphere i thought. Don't miss the temple by night!

manreet_16

Three Nights and four days will be comfortable and enough for u..ur visit to Darbar Sahib(golden temple)near( i mean walking distance) Jallianwalla Bagh..for the evening Wagah parade @ wagah Border of India and Pakistan. and for eating Bharava Da Dhaba(Brothers Dhaba)best eating jointits also near Golden temple).and amritsar's popular market Lawrence road for shoping and eating..u can find Barista and many more on that road..so this is the best i can share with u ..Thank u

regrds
manreet_16

unclelach

Thanks to manreet 16, JayBee, machadinha and Karan321 for your advice and tips.

This week I booked my flight to Delhi for 1/2/2007. Curiously, my friend who thought she had a one week booking in Amritsar actually had the reservation in Hyderabad???? We shall stay in Amritsar in any case.

himadventures

You can get SHATABDI train for AMRITSAR. But this train journey is not as short as going to AGRA from DELHI. This is longer one but you will be going through one of the richest state in INDIA. plains and plains of agriculture and you can see most expesnive cars...and lot of them !

Almost everyone has guided fine..there is no use of staying one week in AMRITSAR and certainly I do not suggest to visit LAHAORE.

Do not miss visiting GOLDEN TEMPLE in night, if possible. border ceremony is also worth a visit...do not miss it. Take care of your belongings...you will be in a crowd of thousands !!

SANJAY_DEL

The Wagah Border Change of Guards Ceremony takes place just before sunset when the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers lower their flags and shut the gates - its all like a stage show. Very recently BSF decided to tone down the aggression but our friends across did not seem to agree so the show goes on.
Good for half a day.
A local train to Attari, a cab to the border complex.

mmike56

pers.

I LOVED Amritsar having now been to the place 3 times and spent more than a week each occasion, great place just love the Sikh's wryness and overall GENUINELY helpfulness [can the men swallow the "nectar"]though.

Another place to visit would be Tam Taran where there's another "Golden Temple".

Love the place, the people ...


Peace n love

mmike56

SANJAY_DEL

Within the Golden Temple complex, on the periphery is another Gurudwara.
This is a tower where you can climb upstairs to the top and have great views of the cityscape.
A place where the pigeons dare !

unclelach

I have just noticed several new posts with really useful suggestions for a visitor to Amritsar. Thank you everybody.

kiwi_razz

I don't see why you don't consider a short trip to Lahore whilst in Amritsar. I considered a it on my last trip to North India, but it seemed a little problematic getting a Pakistan Visa whilst I was working in Bangalore.

The Wagah ceremony is pretty great, but being on the Indian side, I longed to be on the Pakistan side to watch with less crowd, a better amphitheatre, and more importantly the sun behind you, ie for photos.

If you do go, then don't forget to have a multiple entry Indian Visa.

himadventures

Thats right but to get VISA-you have to apply much in advance in INDIA. It could have been easier if you could apply from your home country.

Yes-PAK side there is less crowd but they do not allow you to come that closer as you can go on INDIA side. Before the start of ceremoney- if you request to shoot some images ....you can go little more closer to gate.

I did that !!