Amritsar in 2 days from Delhi: Golden Temple, Wagah border and food

Amritsar is one of the most moving places in India. The Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith, is open to everyone, day and night, and its kitchen feeds anyone who comes. Two days is the right amount of time.

Getting there from Delhi

• By Shatabdi Express — about 6 hours from New Delhi station. Comfortable, with meals served at your seat. Your driver meets you on the platform in Amritsar.
• By car — about 7–8 hours on the national highway, with lunch at a Punjabi dhaba on the way.

Day 1: arrival, Wagah and the temple at night

• Arrive by midday and check in near the old city.
• Late afternoon: the Wagah–Attari border ceremony. It takes place every evening shortly before sunset, so the time changes through the year. We leave early so you get a good seat.
• Night: the Golden Temple. Lit up over its pool, with hymns playing — the most beautiful time to see it for the first time.

Day 2: dawn at the temple, langar and the old city

• Dawn at the Golden Temple — cool marble, few crowds and the morning prayers.
• Langar — sit on the floor with pilgrims to share the free meal, or help in the kitchen.
• Jallianwala Bagh — the memorial garden next to the temple.
• The old city — the lanes around the temple, and Amritsari kulcha and lassi.
• Afternoon Shatabdi or drive back to Delhi, or continue to Dharamshala in the mountains.

Temple etiquette

Cover your head (scarves are provided free at the entrance), remove your shoes and wash your feet before entering. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. There is no entry fee, and no alcohol or tobacco anywhere in the complex.

Make it longer

Add Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj (about 5 hours away), the rest of Himachal Pradesh, or fit Amritsar around a Golden Triangle tour with the train from Delhi.

See our Amritsar and Punjab tours, Amritsar by Shatabdi and the langar at the Golden Temple.