Home › Amritsar › Where to stay
Where to stay in Amritsar
Amritsar is the spiritual centre of the Sikh faith in Punjab, India, and almost everything visitors come for is near the Golden Temple in the walled old city. Staying close to the temple lets you visit at dawn and late at night, when it is most beautiful, while newer hotels near the station and on the ring roads offer more space and quieter rooms.
Golden Temple and Heritage Street
Hotels and guesthouses around the pedestrian Heritage Street put you a few minutes from the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum in the Town Hall. Early morning and evening visits are easy, and you are surrounded by famous food stalls, but the lanes are crowded and noisy.
Ranjit Avenue
This newer district north of the old city has wide roads, upmarket hotels, cafes and restaurants. It is quieter and more comfortable, and a short auto-rickshaw or taxi ride takes you to the Golden Temple. A good choice if you want rest after the busy old city.
Near Amritsar Junction railway station
There are many simple hotels around the railway station and Queens Road. It is convenient for arrivals and departures and for e-rickshaws into the old city, though the area itself is busy rather than attractive.
One thing to think about
Cheaper rooms deep inside the old city lanes can be very noisy and hard for taxis to reach with luggage. If you plan to watch the Wagah border ceremony, arrange transport in advance, as it is about 30 kilometres from the city.
Other places to stay in India: Oberoi · Trident · The Leela
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Amritsar are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Common questions
Can I stay at the Golden Temple itself?
The temple complex has free and low-cost pilgrim lodgings, run by the community, that are open to visitors of all faiths. Facilities are simple and rules must be respected. Most travellers stay in a nearby hotel and visit the temple and its free community kitchen, the langar, several times.
How far is the Wagah border ceremony?
The Wagah-Attari border, where the daily flag-lowering ceremony takes place, is about 30 kilometres west of Amritsar. Taxis and shared tours leave in the afternoon and return after the ceremony. Arrive early, as security queues are long and seating fills up.
Is one night in Amritsar enough?
One night lets you see the Golden Temple at night and at dawn and the border ceremony, but two nights is more relaxed. It gives time for Jallianwala Bagh, the Partition Museum, a food walk through the old city and a second, quieter visit to the temple.
Hotel links go to Booking.com. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.