Gastronomy
An interesting experience can be having a modest meal with the pilgrims at Guru ka Langar by the Golden Temple. The dishes are free, however, free donations apply. There are several inexpensive dhabas in front of the temple clock tower. Amrit Yaishno Dhaba is famous for its delicious dishes (opposite the information office). The restaurant's specialty is spicy chickpeas served with baked Indian Bread (ana bhatura) for 6 INR. There are some not very expensive restaurants near Ram Bagh Gardens on Mall Rd. For main courses in Kwality Restaurant you have to pay approx. 60 INR; cheaper snacks are served at Salads Plus and South Land – the masala dosas costs here 12 INR. Opposite the Ram Bagh is the Sindhi Coffee House. You can order a meal here at a price not higher than at Kwality, the menu also includes snacks and French toasts with cheese (21 INR).
One of the cheaper premises, popular with the locals, is, among others. Kasar de Dhawa, near the Temple of Durga and the telephone exchange in the old city. Paratha and other vegetarian dishes for approx. 25 INR will satisfy even the greatest hunger.
Homemade English dishes are served at Mrs Bhandari's Guest House. Lunch or dinner (only meat dishes) it costs 150 INR. Tourists not staying at the guesthouse should book their meals in advance.
Shopping
Wool blankets purchased in Amritsar, shawls and sweaters are much cheaper than in other cities. The fact is also an advantage, that they are produced on site. For shopping, it's best to go to Katra Jaymal Shingh, shopping district located near the telephone exchange in the old town.
Connections
Aircraft Bureau of Indian Airlines (22-5321) located north of Mail Rd, at Green Ave 367. Indian Airlines planes depart to Delhi three times a week (52 $) i Śrinagaru (45 $). Modiflut has two flights to Mumbai (152 $), with a stopover in Delhi. The Archana line planes run to Delhi three times a week (65-150).
Buses Travel by bus to Delhi (111 INR, 10 time.) it is much less comfortable than traveling by train. Buses to Dehra Dun depart from Amritsar early in the morning (108 INR, 10 time.), Śimli (104 INR, 10 time.), Dalhousie i Dharamsali.
Many different buses run daily to Pathankot (28 INR, 3 time.), Chandigarh (42 INR, 6 time.) and Jammu (46 INR, 5 time.). Private buses run to Jammu and Chandigarhu (160 INR), however, they have a separate stop. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the kiosk near the train station.
Without a change in Delhi, it is difficult to get from Amritsar to Rajasthan. Do Gan-ganagaru (just across the border with Rajasthan) can be reached by direct bus; the journey takes approx 10 Hours.
Trains Direct trains to Delhi (94 i 352 INR respectively for 2. i 1. class) travel the distance 447 km within 8-10 Hours. The daily Shatabdi Express journey is shorter, because ok. 7 time. Tickets included 370 i 740 INR for 2. i 1. class. Thanks to Amritsar-Howrali Mail trains, Amritsar is connected to Lucknow (Lucknow; 850 Km, 17 time.), Warranty (1251 Km, 23 time.) i Calcutta (1829 Km, 38 time.).
Pakistan
The railway line crosses the border with Pakistan at Attari, away at 26 km from Amritsar. Every day at 9.30 the train is leaving Amritsar 4607 Indo-Pak Express. Arrival in Lahore in Pakistan is planned for 13.45, however, there are often hours of delays due to a stop at the border. Not all trains from Pakistan stop in Amritsar.
Customs clearance at the W-gahu crossing is much faster, 32 km za Amritsarem. The border is open from 9.00 do 4.00. Buses run daily from Amritsar (9 INR, 1 time.). You already have to pay for a taxi from 200 do 300 INR. The Punjab Tourism office runs Neem Chameli Tourist Complex hostels in Wa-gahu. You can stay overnight in a large dormitory or rent a double room.
For more information, see the Traveling chapter at the beginning of this guide.
Communication
The airport is located 15 km outside the city center. There are auto rickshaws there (ok. 50 INR). The taxi ride costs money 80 INR, usually you have to pay two, and even three times more.
A rickshaw ride from the train station to the Golden Temple costs approx. 20 INR, if you cover the same distance with a bicycle rickshaw, the price drops to 10 INR.
PATHANKOT
Pathankot, located in the northernmost part of the Punjab, distant from Amritsar about 107 Km. The city itself is known mainly as a town lying at the crossroads of important tourist routes. From here you can get to the Pradesh Dalhouse and Dharamsala in Himacal. There is also a road through the city to Jammu and Srinaga-ru. Besides, Pathankot doesn't stand out with anything special. The only exception is the picturesque fort Szahpur Kandi, located on the river Rawi, 13 km north of the city.
Accommodation
The Tourist Hotel is right to the right of the train station (ct20-660). Apart from the modest rooms with a private bathroom too 50-125 INR, there is also a not very expensive restaurant on site. Similar conditions are offered by the nearby Green Hotel.
Clean, albeit a bit gloomy Airlines hotel (20-505) it is located near the post office. All rooms have a bathroom and TV (100-150 INR).
Connections
Bus stop, very dusty, is just away 300 m from the train station. Buses run from here to Dalho-usie (34 INR, 4 time.), Dharamsali (35 INR, 4 time. 30 min.), Camby (Work, 49 INR, 5 time. 30 min.) and Jammu. There are also taxis that park at the bus stop to all these places. A two-hour drive to Dalhousie or Dharamsala costs approx. 660 INR, however, you can bargain with the driver for a lower price.
PATIALA
Former capital of the independent Sikh territory, Patiala, it is located south of the car and rail route connecting Delhi with Amritsar. In the Maharaja's Motibagh Palace, in the gardens of Baradari, houses a museum.
Maharajas of Patiall
About the Maharajas of Patiali, spicy stories about their turbulent lives have been preserved to this day. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh had 365 wifes, each for one night of the year. In the evening, An equal number of kerosene lamps with the names of Maharaja's wives engraved on them were placed around the pool. Area, whose name was on the first of the lamps set up, she was spending the next night with the Maharaja. Once every four years, when the leap year was approaching, Bhupinder spent one night alone. In his old age he suffered from troublesome back pains.
SIRHIND
Formerly an important city, it was the capital of the Pathan Sur dynasty. W 1555 R. Humayun who came here defeated Shah Sikandar, and a year later his son Akbar brought the final fall of the Sur dynasty in Panipat. From 1556 do 1709 R. Sirhind was a thriving city ruled by the Mughals. Later, more and more clashes between the slowly losing power Moguls and the Sikhs replacing them led to 1763 R. until the city is completely destroyed.
During your stay in Sirhinda, it is worth seeing the Mir Mirana tomb from the Pathan dynasty. The later Mughal tomb of Pir-bandi Nakszwali is also noteworthy. Both buildings are decorated with blue tiles. The most magnificent house from the times of the Great Mogul dynasty, surviving to this day, is Salabat Beg Haveli. In the southeastern part of the city there is a Mughal Seraglio.