2 days Amritsar itinerary with gluten-free food options

 

Golden temple, Amritsar (Glutenfreewhisk)

Amritsar is incomplete without Harmandir sahib gurudwara, one of the akal takht out of the five in Sikh religion. The serenity, the peace and blessed feeling that you feel when you are here cannot be explained in words. You have to be here to feel that. And if you have been here, you will understand what I mean about it. Amritsar will always be my first actual solo trips that I planned for myself. I have travelled alone before, but a proper solo travel was Amritsar for me and as much as I was scared, I always has the feeling that I am going to a religious site, and everything will be perfect. The trip was perfect and whatever I planned I explored that except for a few famous, Instagram suggested eating places that were left but overall, I explored Amritsar well.

I also believe that you cannot explore a place in just one visit. Something will be left out. Something until the next time.

So here are the top 4 places that I visited and recommended you visit in your next trip to Amritsar. Here is my 2 days itinerary to explore Amritsar with gluten-free food options to enjoy without missing out much-

1. Golden temple or Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara

This was my second time visiting this holy place and yes, the sense of calmness that you experience from within cannot be explained. The history of this place, the healing properties of the water here and the Langar served will enrich you. I visited during the month of March, and it was bustling with people. I think it is always this crowded but yes, you should visit Golden temple at least once in your life. The darshan of the main gurudwara has a long queue but it is worth it. You just have to manage your itinerary accordingly. 

Golden temple at night

I was recommended by my cab driver to visit Golden temple both during night and day and I have that planned already because the beauty of this place changes at night. The lights at night just make this place magical. You can do Sewa here as well which is encouraged in Sikhism or make donations, both of these are optional, but I will encourage them.

Golden temple day view

There are other small gurudwaras around the main gurudwara vicinity and you should visit them all. Take a complete circle of gurudwara and you can't miss them. There is a museum as well which I visited if you are into history and stories. There is a museum on the outside near the entrance as well. You can ask for the timings and visit accordingly. There is queue for both Langar (food is available 24 hours) and gurudwara darshan (closed at night after sukhasan, opens early morning for prakash) so plan accordingly.

I visited the temple at night on the day I landed in Amritsar. Ate langar the same night and visited all the gurudwaras in the vicinity, sat under Beri ka ped and went back to my hostel around 11 pm. Started my day1 the next day visiting the gurudwara again standing in the queue before 6 am, after 4 hours long queue I finally get to enter the main temple. Visited the museum on the inside that I missed at night and went ahead with exploring the city.

2.  Jallianwala bagh Partition Museum

The next stop was this place that will make you in aww and will bring tears to your eyes while listening and reading the stories in the museum. Be respectful when it comes to taking pictures. Do not take pictures where it is not allowed. 

Jallianwala Bagh Partition Museum

If you are looking to eat, then Brothers Dhaba which is very famous, but I opted to have even better and famous peda lassi at the famous, ages old shop, Gaini punjabi Lassi which the tuk tuk wala will know and will take you after you finish your museum visit. This lassi is hand churned in front of you and there is no wait as such. Just a few minutes and you are served with malai overed glass of fresh cold lassi. I ordered a small serving because of lactose, and I didn't want to over stuff myself with lactose. Have a tall, big glass and indulge because it is worth it.

Gaini punjabi lassi, Amritsar

The famous pede wali lassi in Amritsar

3. Durgiana Temple, Amritsar

After having brunch and having that lassi, it's time to explore the city of Amritsar more. Take the same tuk tuk and head to Durgiana temple. Some tuk tuk driver might not understand but you can open the maps or you can tell them about the temple in water that looks like golden temple gurudwara, and they will take you there.

Durgiana temple, Amritsar

There is another temple here that you can visit. It is hard to miss. These both temples are in the same compound. There is a proper shoe collection zone so you can roam here a little.

A temple next to durgiana temple, Amritsar

3. Govindgarh fort 

A 10 to 15 minutes' walk from Durgiana temple is this amazing Govindgarh fort. There is an entry ticket because there is a museum, a light show area, some eating and shopping shops, cultural programs going one and you can buy yourself the ticket for the things you want to see.

The walk towards the fort is amazing, green, floral with flags and all. The fort is not very huge but big enough so carry your umbrella/caps. Visit the small turban museum and watch the 3D show about Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was really fun. It was short though but real fun.

Govindgarh fort, Amritsar

Walk towards Govindgarh fort

You can call it a day and head back to your hotel/hostel. Rest a little and plan your next eating adventure because something great is coming up. I wanted to visit this mutton shop, although I am not a mutton eater and I don't even like it, but Chef Ranveer Brar visited this small family run Mohan meat shop in some show that I have watched so I wanted to try but it was a non-working day for them sue to Tuesday/Thursday something. There are two days in the week that they keep off. Hard luck. Also, they have mixed reviews online. So, I didn't mind it that much.

Then, I went to three best places you can eat in Amritsar. So here the timing really matters. The first place I went to is Bubby's Chicken Corner. They open after 1:30 p.m. I was their first customer because I reached Around 1 when they were prepping for the day, but they made me wait for the least and came with my order of chicken. Their bater or quail is famous and their keema naan. But I was in no mood to try bater for the first time and I was hungry and naan is out of option because I don't eat gluten.

Bubby Chicken Corner, Amritsar

Just a little walk and you can see Brijwasi Chat. The sweetest uncle preparing everything himself, A cute little shop but never free. People come in daily, have a quick regular and that's it. I had the famous aloo tikki and dahi bhalla and man it was the best. Trust me. His bun tikki is famous but I had only aloo tikki. The chutneys were exceptional. I mean I don't even eat the green chutney anywhere but here I did and oh my god it was perfectly tangy and just enough spicy to not run it. Great consistency and just Woah. I mean this place is something because Chef Vikas Khanna has recommended this place in some interview and I always wanted to try. It was worth every bite.

Inside Brijwasi Chat Shop, Amritsar

Aloo tikki with chutney at Brijwasi, Amritsar

Dahi Bhalla at Brijwasi, Amritsar

And the third place is for something sweet. They open after 2:30 p.m. so plan accordingly. This is A-one kulfa. Famous for Kulfi faluda and as soon as they open people rush in. Locals and regulars. Office goers, students, families and they are busy. I don't like faluda and I can't eat faluda so I indulged in their phirni with rabdi for which I had to wait as it was still fresh and warm and was chilling in their chiller. And I was so full that I had no space left in my stomach to try something else. But there are some drinks that people were having so you can have one of everything.

A-one Kulfa, Amritsar

Phirni with rabdi at A-one Kulfa, Amritsar

For dinner visit Kesar da dhaba or Makhana fish corner. I skipped both for this trip and decided to go to Subway for a light salad which is on the way to Golden temple. The market that you cross to reach Golden temple entrance gate. 

Fawara Chowk or golden temple chowk, Amritsar

Heritage walk, Amritsar

Buy some papad and vadi from this heritage walk market. I did and they were really good. I also purchased some papad and vadi from a shop just next to Bubby's and they were also good.

4.  Wagah Attari border

Next, I booked a cab and went straight to Wagah Attari Border. Book a cab and not an auto because the charges are almost the same and the auto drop you at a point and you have to walk the rest of the way. Whereas the cab takes you till the inside. The parked is included as I both for both ways in one go. And I got the nicest person who was a student at Khalsa College, and he told me a place to visit, a temple, a birthplace of Luv and Kush which is nearer from the border but unfortunately, I had eaten non-veg and I didn't want to visit a temple after it. I wanted to badly because when will I return right? But as I said earlier there is always a next time.

Wagah Attari Border, Amritsar

Wagah Attari Border gate entrance, Amritsar

There are no charges, tickets or anything. A lot of places to just sit and watch the parade and the fun banter that happens that I cannot explain in words, and you will feel proud being an Indian. A must visit when in Amritsar. Also, reading the milestones and boards with Pakistan's place names is super different feeling.

I returned back to my hostel and I was tired. I walked to Subway for a salad (only veg options available) and visited the Golden temple one last time from the outside thanking God for making me do this trip solo and making me come to visit him.

Subway, Amritsar

The next morning was my last few hours in Amritsar, had a late morning flight back. So, I woke up early, got ready and walked to Pehalwan Kulcha. Even though I cannot eat kulcha, I wanted to visit the place. So, I was the first to reach there, the shop was not even open. They opened and I ordered just Chole, they were plain and they were the sweetest as they refused to charge me, but I still paid and was happy that I decided to visit. And on this lane, I went to this sweet shop and had a tall glass of thick sweet lassi, hoping the lactose will not run the day. I didn't click the picture as I was lost in its sweetness, and the kulcha shop suggested me this sweet shop. 

Pehalwan Kulcha, Amritsar

Chole at Pehalwan Kulcha, Amritsar

I walked to pehalwan kulcha from my hostel and it took me less than an hour for this round trip back to my hostel. Went to airport for my return journey.

There are more places to explore in Amritsar as well like Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Jama Masjib Jaan Mohammed Mosque, Tarn Taran Gurudwara, and visit bazaars for phulkari and jutti shopping. This is my gluten-free food guide to Amritsar, a 2-day itinerary that I followed as a solo traveler.