When the title, “One-day trip to Amritsar from Pune”, popped on your search page, you thought I was crazy. Earlier, if someone suggested the same to me, I, too, would have thought they had lost their marbles.

Recently, I came across an account on Instagram. This person is my new role model. He travels to different cities across the globe every week. He takes the morning flight, spends the day exploring the city and takes the return flight in the evening.

Inspired by his remarkable but slightly crazy idea, I researched places one could travel to as a day trip from Pune. That eventually led to me planning a one-day trip to Amritsar from Pune.

Before you judge me for this absurd idea, hear me out. Here’s a summary of what your one-day trip will entail.

• Early morning flight to Amritsar
• Breakfast at Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale
• Golden Temple
• Jallianwallah Bagh
• Shopping at Hall Bazaar / Katra Jaimak Singh Market
• Lunch at Bade Bhai ka Brothers Dhaba
• Partition Museum
• Closing ceremony at Wagah Border
• Golden Temple at night
• Dinner at Golden Temple Langar
• Late night flight to Pune

EARLY MORNING FLIGHT TO AMRITSAR

I travelled to Amritsar a few years back. It was a spontaneous detour while returning after visiting the Char Dham in Uttrakhand.

From my experience, I knew it was possible to explore all the places of interest within a day. I wasn’t sure if flight timings would make this one-day trip feasible. Fortunately, they do.

To make this crazy but fun idea possible, take the early morning flight from Pune to Amritsar.

Arriving early in Amritsar will ensure you have ample time to explore the city leisurely.

While writing the blog post, I found a flight leaving Pune at 5:15 a.m. and arriving in Amritsar at 7:35 a.m. It is a direct 2-hour 20-minute flight. When I checked the prices on Skyscanner, it cost around Rs. 9,888 for a roundtrip.

P.S. The price and timings of the flight I mentioned can change. It is not absolute.

Upon arriving at Amritsar Airport, I propose taking a cab to Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale, the first stop on the itinerary.

After breakfast, hire an electric rickshaw for the day. They are cheaper and can navigate the narrow streets better than cabs.

The other attractions are within walking distance, but I would advocate against walking. That’s because you’ll be walking plenty when visiting the Attari-Wagah Border.

When I visited Amritsar, I hired an electric rickshaw for the day. If I recall correctly, he charged Rs.500 for five people for the entire day. He didn’t charge us extra because he had to wait 2 hours while we visited the Golden Temple.

AMRITSARI BREAKFAST AT 8:25 A.M.

Before embarking on the one-day Amritsar exploration tour, you’ll need nourishment. What better way to replenish your energy than a traditional Amritsari breakfast?

A Kulcha dripping with ghee and lassi. The best place to eat a Kulcha and have lassi is Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale.

TRAVEL TIP:- It is a 30-minute ride from the airport to the restaurant. You can forgo hiring a cab or electric rickshaw for the day because the next pit stop is a short walk from here. You can take a cab after that.

While not much to look at, the hole-in-the-wall restaurant has the best food. They offer other dishes, but their main menu is limited to Kulchas and lassi, making it the perfect breakfast joint.

The restaurant is small with limited seating, but the service is quick, so you won’t have to wait long, maybe 10 minutes or so.

The restaurant is close to the Golden Temple, making it a popular breakfast place among locals and tourists.

TIMINGS:- Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale is open daily from 8 a.m to 4 p.m.

THE GOLDEN TEMPLE AT 9:15 A.M.

After a fulfilling Amritsari breakfast, take a 5-minute walk to the next pit stop, the Golden Temple.

Upon reaching Sri Harmandir Sahib, or is it widely known as the Golden Temple, store your belongings in the lockers.

While the gurudwara doesn’t implement a strict dress code, men and women should cover their heads, shoulders and knees when entering the temple.

Don’t have a scarf or dupatta to cover your head? No worries, you’ll find vendors selling dupattas and scarves outside the entrance.

Once you enter the Gurudwara, the most mesmerizing sight will greet you.

The gold-covered structure in the middle of the kund sparkling in the morning sun is captivating.

Take it from someone who’s been there. You’ll want to take 50 or so photos. But refrain from doing that because as the sun rises higher in the sky, it will get crowded. So, join the darshan queue as soon as you get there.

I visited the Golden Temple on a weekday, and darshan took around two hours. However, if you’re travelling during the weekend, it can take longer.

After darshan, it’s time for Prasad. Sit outside for a few minutes and enjoy the peacefulness.

TRAVEL TIP:- No photos inside the main temple. You can, however, click photos near the Kund. Also, be respectful when taking pics. After all, it’s a place of worship.

TIMINGS:- The Golden Temple is open 24/7.

JALLIANWALA BAGH AT 11:30 A.M.

After standing in the darshan queue for a long time, you must be tired. So, you can either take a taxi or an electric rickshaw to the next pit stop, or you can walk.

The rickshaws don’t go all the way to the Jallianwallah Bagh entrance because it’s a walking street. You’ll end up walking anyway, so why not just walk the entire way?

After exiting, you have two options for getting to the next destination on the one-day Amritsar itinerary. You can either take an electric rickshaw to the next destination. If you’re up for it, it’s a 10-minute walk to the Jallianwallah Bagh.

The rickshaws will drop you off a few metres from the entrance, so you’ll have to walk the rest of the way. So, it’s better to forgo the electric rickshaw and walk there.

The entrance to the Jallianwallah Bagh is unnoticeable between the adjacent buildings.

Today, the Jallianwallah Bagh is a tribute to the innocent lives lost when British Officer General Dyer ordered his soldiers to massacre the people gathered there.

There are a couple of galleries, the Martyrs Well, where people jumped to escape the bullets, and you can also see the bullet holes in the walls from that day.

It takes 30-45 minutes to walk around the complex.

TIMINGS:- The Jallianwallah Bagh is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. TICKETS:- Entry to Jallianwallah Bagh is free.

SHOPPING AT TUE BAZAAR AT 12:15 P.M.

A visit to the Jallianwallah Bagh is sobering. So, up next is something that will cheer you up, especially the ladies. It’s time to go shopping.

Upon exiting the Jallianwallah Bagh, you’ll find shops selling souvenirs, Punjabi suits, juttis and more.

I highly recommend buying the juttis. They are the best.

My sister and I bought two pairs of juttis each at nominal prices. And they have survived long trips and walks over the past few years.

If I ever return to Amritsar, it would be for the juttis. After all, a girl can never have too many shoes.

If you have more time, you can browse other bazaars, the Hall Bazaar or Katra Jaimak Singh Market.

Also, don’t forget to bargain.

LUNCH AT AMRITSAR’S #1 DHABA AT 1:30 P.M.

While exploring the bazaar, head in the direction of the Partition Museum.

It’s lunchtime, and all the walking and exploring is bound to leave you famished.

It’s time for another delicious meal at Amritsar’s #1 dhaba, Bade Bhai ka Brothers Dhaba.

I chose the restaurant because of its reviews and closeness to your next stop, the Partition Museum.

The dhaba is similar to the breakfast joint you visited in the morning. You’ll notice that all the popular eateries in Amritsar are small and tucked away in markets and side streets.

Bade Bhai ka Brothers Dhaba is a vegetarian restaurant.

If you know me, you’ll know I rarely eat vegetarian food at restaurants. However, Amritsar is the only city where I would gladly eat vegetarian food.

TIMINGS:- The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day.

THE PARTITION MUSEUM AT 2:30 P.M.

After a delicious meal, you might feel lazy.

The next stop, the Partition Museum, is right next door, so you won’t have to walk far.

Interestingly, the museum previously served as the British headquarters and a jail.

Therefore, some aspects of the architect resemble the British architectural style.

Today, the Partition Museum is a museum dedicated to the families that suffered during India’s partition to form Pakistan.

The Partition Museum galleries portray various aspects of the partition of India.

Learn about the circumstances leading to the partition, the unrest and retaliation that followed, the actual partition, the consequences that followed and the lives of the refugees.

Exploring the museum’s numerous galleries takes one hour.

TIMINGS:- The Partition Museum in Amritsar is open from 10 am. To 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.

I travelled to Amritsar on a Monday and had to forgo visiting the museum.

TICKETS:- A single ticket costs Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 250 for foreigners.

ATTARI-WAGAH BORDER CLOSING CEREMONY AT 4:15 P.M.

Attari is India’s last village from the India-Pakistan border. It is where the border closing ceremony takes place.

After exploring the museum, it’s time to find a cab to take you to the next stop, the Attari-Wagah Border.

You can either negotiate the fare for the round trip with the drivers outside the museum. Or you can find a shared taxi. Many shared taxi drivers will approach you at tourist places.

The border is 30 km away and takes a while to reach.

Taxis and buses have to park a few kms away from the border. From there you can either walk (which I don’t recommend) or take a cycle rickshaw to the entrance.

You’re still far away from the border. Walk through the security check, which takes a while as the queues are long. If you have any luggage, deposit it at the storage facility. From there, continue walking till you see a tall structure with windows. That’s where you’ll be seated.

Since there’s no entry ticket, the seating arrangement is based on whoever arrives first.

The ceremony lasts for 45 minutes. It is fun and energetic and a must-do activity in Amritsar.

TRAVEL TIP:- Carry a sweater or jacket if you’re visiting during the winter. I was freezing by the time the ceremony ended.

TIMINGS:- The Attari-Wagah Border ceremony starts at 4:15 p.m. during the summer and at 5:15 p.m. during the winter.

THE GOLDEN TEMPLE AT 6:15 P.M.

The second last pit stop on the one-day trip to Amritsar from Pune is the Golden Temple.

You must be wondering why I’m adding the Golden Temple to the itinerary again. That’s because the Golden Temple at night is unmissable.

If you thought the Golden Temple looked stunning in the morning, you’re going to be speechless at night.

When I visited Amritsar, I hadn’t intended to visit the Gurudwara at night. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I didn’t like the photos I took in the morning and since I was leaving early the next day, I wouldn’t get another opportunity.

So, that’s why I returned in the evening. And now, I’m glad I did.

At night the kund is a deep black and the golden structure in the middle shimmers. It is truly mesmerizing.

You can stay for a while and enjoy the atmosphere or even volunteer in the kitchen for a while.

TIMINGS:- The Golden Temple is open 24 hours.

DINNER AT KESAR DA DHABA AT 7 P.M.

If I had to recommend eating at only one place in Amritsar, I would say Kesar Da Dhaba. This small and compact restaurant has the best vegetarian food.

It is on a narrow street. You can get here by an electric rickshaw and then walk the rest of the way. It is busy at all times. So, expect to wait for a while.

If you arrive before the dinner rush at 8 p.m. you won’t have to wait for long. But, after 8 p.m. you’ll be waiting for a while.

I remember eating their lip-smacking baingan bharta, shahi paneer, roti topped with butter, and the mandatory lassi. And don’t forget to try their hot gulab jamun, sweet ras malai and firni.

TIMINGS:- Kesar Da Dhaba is open daily from noon (12 p.m.) to 11 p.m.

LATE NIGHT FLIGHT TO PUNE

That brings us to the end of an exciting and busy one-day trip to Amritsar from Pune. It’s time to head back home.

So, after another fulfilling and delectable meal, it’s time to head to the airport. You’ll have to walk to the nearest main street to hail a cab or an electric rickshaw.

The drive to the airport takes 30 minutes, so ensure you plan for any delays when booking a return flight.

At the time of writing this blog post, I found a flight departing from Amritsar at 10:20 p.m. and arriving in Pune at 1 a.m. However, if you find a different flight, you’ll have to make some changes to the itinerary.

CONCLUSION

That concludes the One-day trip to Amritsar from Pune blog post.

I have travelled to Amritsar, just not like this. Now that I have planned this crazy but exciting day, I’m eager to make it a reality.

Anyway, I hope the blog post was helpful and encouraging. If you have any queries or suggestions, let me know in the comments.

I hope this crazy idea ignites your wanderlust because, as Bunny would say,

Waqt kisi ke liye nahi rukta. Beetata waqt hai lekin kharch hum hum ho jate hain.

Bunny