Amritsar City Guide
Image by Shubhashish via wikipedia

India

Amritsar City Guide

Punjab

Amritsar is a historic city in Punjab, India, famous for the Golden Temple. It blends traditional culture with modern amenities but has some limits in infrastructure compared to big metros. The city offers rich food, busy markets, and spiritual sites.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
9

Local dishes like Amritsari Kulcha and Sarson da Saag are must-tries. Vegetarian and vegan options are excellent. International cuisines appear mostly in hotels and upscale places. Late-night food is available near the Golden Temple.

Local Dishes:
Amritsari Kulcha, Makki di Roti and Sarson da Saag, Lassi, Punjabi Curries
International Cuisine:
Chinese, Italian, Continental
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Limited
4

Nightlife is quiet, focused on family-friendly restaurants and small lounges. Few bars and no major club scene.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Coffee culture is growing, mostly traditional cafes and some modern spots. Specialty coffee is still rare.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is optional but appreciated. Restaurants: around 5-10%. Taxis and auto-rickshaws: round up or ₹10-20. Hotel staff and porters: small tips of ₹20-₹100.

Top Attractions
Golden Temple
Culture
The holiest Sikh shrine and main attraction.
Jallianwala Bagh
History
Historic park and memorial of the 1919 massacre.
Partition Museum
History
Museum documenting the partition of India.
Gobindgarh Fort
History
Historic fort with cultural events.
Wagah Border
Nearby
Daily flag ceremony at the India-Pakistan border.
SIM Cards

Buy SIM cards at the airport or authorized stores like Airtel, Jio, and Vi. Airtel and Jio offer best coverage and eSIM options. ID and passport copies plus a photo are needed to activate.

Available at:
Airtel Store
Jio Store
Vodafone Idea (Vi) Store
Recommended Apps
Ola/Uber(Transport)
Zomato/Swiggy(Food)
Google Maps(Navigation)
Paytm/Google Pay(Finance)
MakeMyTrip/Goibibo(Travel)
WhatsApp(Communication)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
6

Cleanliness varies; main tourist areas are cleaner than some local neighborhoods. Waste management exists but can be inconsistent.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Some late-night pharmacies and minimarts have extended hours. Night clinics are rare, emergency hospitals open all day. Few food options after hours mainly near the Golden Temple.

Groceries
Easyday
Reliance Fresh
More Supermarket

Supermarkets like Easyday, Reliance Fresh, and More sell groceries including some international products. Local markets offer fresh produce and spices. Shops open roughly 10 AM to 9 PM and many close on Sundays. Bargaining is normal in local markets.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Cards work well in bigger shops and hotels. Smaller stalls usually take cash. UPI apps like Google Pay and Paytm are widely used here.

ATMs

ATMs from major banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis are common. International withdrawal fees vary by bank; check before traveling.

Schools
Local only

Schools like Spring Dale Senior School and Delhi Public School teach mainly in English and Punjabi. Few international schools; check each school for curriculum and admission details.

Available Schools:
Spring Dale Senior School
Delhi Public School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
3
Available Spaces:
Regus
Professional co-working space with meeting rooms.
Local shared offices
Various smaller co-working spots with variable hours.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Starbucks
Reliable Wi-Fi and seating for work.
Barista
Good Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Cafe Coffee Day
Casual work-friendly cafes.
Alternatives:
Hotel lobbies
Quiet spaces with Wi-Fi in larger hotels.
Public libraries
Quiet, but Wi-Fi may be limited.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
3

Small digital nomad presence. Some cafes have Wi-Fi and a work-friendly vibe but no large communities or co-living spaces.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
7

Parks like Company Bagh and Rose Garden offer green space and walking areas.

Running
Good
6

Good running routes in parks like Company Bagh and along GT Road, generally safe in populated areas.

Gyms
Available

Gyms and fitness centers of popular chains and local places are available.

Available Gyms:
Gold's Gym
Anytime Fitness
Tennis
Limited
4

Tennis courts available at some clubs.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel is not common in Amritsar.

Yoga
Limited
5

Yoga studios and wellness centers offer classes and services.

Martial Arts
Limited
4

Dojo and gyms teach Karate, Taekwondo, and Boxing. BJJ and Muay Thai gyms are rare but emerging.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing options in Amritsar.

Water Sports
Poor
2

Limited water sports, mainly recreational boating in parks or lakes.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing as Amritsar is landlocked.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving or snorkeling, city is inland.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
7

Private hospitals like Fortis Escorts and Amandeep offer good care with some English-speaking staff. Pharmacies are common and some open 24/7. Emergency numbers are Police 100, Fire 101, Ambulance 102.

Hospitals:
Fortis Escorts Hospital
Amandeep Hospital
Pharmacies:
Local pharmacies
24/7 pharmacies
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water is not safe to drink. Use bottled or filtered water.

Common Scams
Overcharging for auto-rickshaws, always agree on price or use apps., Fake guides at tourist sites like Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh., Wagah Border fake VIP ticket offers; tickets are free., Fake donation and prasad scams inside Golden Temple., Picture scam where a local pretends accident with your camera., Bird poop scam involving distraction to pickpocket., ATM helper scam to steal card info., Bar scam where locals overcharge tourists.

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Good parks and family attractions like the Golden Temple and Wagah Border ceremony. Some kid-friendly cafés and ample baby supplies are available.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Limited
4

Social acceptance is limited and conservative. Legal protections exist, but safe spaces and venues are few.

Pet Friendly
Limited
5

Pet-friendly places vary. Some accommodations accept pets. Veterinary services exist. Pet parks are limited, and import rules apply.

Communities
Amritsar Foodies (Food)
Amritsar Tourism (Travel)
Local WhatsApp groups (Social)
TripAdvisor Amritsar Forum (Travel)
Instagram hashtags (Social)

Quick Facts

Population
1,132,383
Power Reliability
Good
7/10

Power is mostly stable with occasional short outages in summer. Many places have backup generators.

Languages
Punjabi(90%)
Hindi(70%)
English(30%)
Emergency
100
Police
101
Fire
102
Ambulance
112
Police
1091
Women and Child Helpline
14567
Senior Citizens Helpline

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Moderate Risk
5

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
May, June, July
Temperatures often rise above 40°C (104°F).
Monsoon rains
July, August, September
Heavy rain can cause flooding in some areas.
Fog and smog
December, January, February
Air quality and visibility drop in winter months.

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