Sacred Sikh pilgrimage and patriotic journey! Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), Sikhism's holiest shrine, features stunning gold-plated dome reflecting in sacred Amrit Sarovar pool. Experience 24/7 kirtan (devotional music), world's largest community kitchen serving free meals to 100,000 daily regardless of religion/caste, and peaceful atmosphere despite crowds. Walk marble causeway to sanctum sanctorum housing Guru Granth Sahib. Witness lowering of Sikh flag ceremony, evening palki sahib (holy book carried ceremonially). Visit Jallianwala Bagh memorial where British General Dyer massacred 379 people in 1919, bullet marks preserved in walls. Experience patriotic Wagah Border beating retreat ceremony with Indian-Pakistani soldiers, high-kicking march, flag lowering drama, and crowd chanting. Explore Partition Museum documenting 1947 India-Pakistan partition trauma. Visit Gobindgarh Fort with cultural shows, museums, and Sikh martial arts.
Day 1:
Arrive Amritsar - Arrive Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport or Amritsar Railway Station, transfer to hotel near Golden Temple, check-in, afternoon first visit to Golden Temple complex (Harmandir Sahib, remove shoes, cover head, deposit shoes at free cloak room), walk around sacred Amrit Sarovar (pool of nectar), take holy dip if desired, enter main temple via causeway (Guru's Bridge), listen to continuous kirtan, visit Akal Takht (temporal seat of Sikhs), evening Palki Sahib ceremony (Guru Granth Sahib carried to rest for night, starts around 9-10 PM in summer, 8-9 PM winter), overnight Amritsar|
Day 2:
Golden Temple Langar & Jallianwala Bagh - Early morning return to Golden Temple for sunrise (4am), participate in or observe langar (community kitchen serving free meals to all, volunteers welcome to help cook, serve, clean utensils - world's largest kitchen feeding 100000+ daily, operates 24/7), breakfast at langar hall (simple dal, roti, rice, chai, sweets - simple vegetarian food, sit on floor), visit Sikh Museum inside complex (paintings depicting Sikh gurus, history, martyrdom), afternoon visit Jallianwala Bagh (5-min walk from Golden Temple, memorial garden where British Gen. Dyer ordered massacre April 13, 1919, killing 379 people during peaceful gathering, bullet marks preserved in walls, narrow exit passage, moving memorial, museum with artifacts), Partition Museum (documenting 1947 India-Pakistan partition, oral histories, photographs, personal belongings, refugee stories, art gallery), evening free for shopping at Hall Bazaar (Amritsari kulcha, lassi, papad, phulkari embroidery), overnight Amritsar|
Day 3:
Wagah Border Ceremony - Morning visit Gobindgarh Fort (restored 18th-century fort, museums, cultural shows, coin museum, Sikh Gallery, 7D movie, martial arts Gatka demonstration - entry ΓΓ©β£150), visit Durgiana Temple (Hindu temple, architecture similar to Golden Temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga), afternoon free for rest (Wagah Border ceremony involves 2-3 hours at venue), 2pm departure for Wagah Border (30km, Indo-Pak border), arrive 3-4pm for good seating (ceremony starts 4:15pm winter/5:15pm summer, 45-min patriotic show with BSF jawans, high-kicking march, aggressive posturing, flag lowering ceremony synchronized by both sides, VIP gallery tickets ΓΓ©β£100 can be arranged), enthusiastic crowd singing Vande Mataram, evening return Amritsar, dinner at Kesar da Dhaba or Bharawan da Dhaba (authentic Punjabi food), overnight|
Day 4:
Tarn Taran & Departure - Morning excursion to Tarn Taran Sahib (22km, largest sarovar/pool among all gurudwaras, 300ft βΓΉ 300ft, serene less crowded than Golden Temple, beautiful architecture), visit Ram Tirath (12km, birthplace of Luv-Kush, Ramayana connection, fair during Diwali), return Amritsar, last Golden Temple visit, afternoon shopping at Katra Jaimal Singh market (dry fruits, spices, pickles, woolen shawls, juttis traditional footwear), late afternoon/evening departure from airport/station, tour ends with spiritual blessings