Do you intend to travel to Amritsar? Naturally, you would go to the Golden Temple. It wouldn’t be incorrect to link Amritsar to the magnificent Golden Temple. Hands down! Is there any beauty more incredible than this place’s calmness? One can indeed stay at the Golden Temple for days and nights. However, Amritsar’s splendour does not stop with the Swaran Mandir itself.

There are undoubtedly a lot of exciting sights to see and explore the best food places in Amritsar. Well, if you can also drive around Amritsar, you can discover many more stunning tourist attractions that are lesser known by most travellers.

So why are we still waiting? Let’s venture on the best possible trip to Amritsar.

Top 5 Offbeat Places to Visit in Amritsar

There are hidden architects throughout the walled city of Amritsar, also known as Ramdaspur, in honour of Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. Amritsar is a beautiful display of secular heritage and mixed culture. The town is referred to as the “Mukut-Mani” (The Jewel of the Crown) of Punjab because it boasts a proud past, wonderful present, and prosperous future. Let’s uncover this jewel’s five secret gems to be explored.

Khair-ud-Din Mosque

The mosque, which Muhammad Khairuddin constructed in 1876, was crucial to India’s quest for independence. It has cultural and historical significance and is well-known for its Islamic-style architecture, which features numerous wall inscriptions. Shah Attaullah Bukhari once conducted his fight against the British from the mosque.

During Namaaz, hundreds of men who seek to worship Allah come to the mosque’s spacious courtyard. This massive mosque’s advantageous location makes it a suggested tourist destination.

It has frequently been seen that Jama Masjid is not just a Muslim congregation’s place of worship; Sikhs and Hindus have also been observed visiting. During the Eid season, folks have been volunteering for various cleaning, security, and other tasks, demonstrating what secularism entails.

Location: Hall Bazar, near Hotel Grand Park, Amritsar, Punjab

Visiting hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM (The mosque is closed during the hours of daily Namaz).

Ram Bagh gate

The Ram Bagh Gate in Amritsar is a lesser-known yet exciting location. It is not the city’s hidden gem but holds an unrevealed history that makes it a lesser-known but worth-exploring place in Amritsar. Only the Ram Bagh Gate has retained its original appearance.

The Ram Bagh Gate was a link between the Golden Temple and the Summer Palace, also known as the Ram Bagh Palace. It was built to protect the city from outside intruders, just like the other 12 gates. The setting is such that it praises both our great past and our glorious present. Due to its renovation, this place has witnessed more tourists.

Inside the gate, you would find the colored steel trunks that contain the stories of the people who abandoned them after the country’s partition in 1947. For a more contemporary style, the gate’s bricks were made in the Nanakshahi style with lime rather than cement, which undoubtedly gives visitors a magnificent appearance.

Location: Ram Bagh Chowk, Opposite Ram Bagh, Hall Bazar, Police Station, Amritsar

Visiting hours: Tourists are welcome all day long to visit the spot.

Pul Kanjari – Punjab’s Taj Mahal

The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji era is known as the Golden Era of Punjab because Punjab saw great cultural and economic prosperity at that time. One such place, Pul Moran, formerly known as Pul Kanjari, was constructed by the Maharaja at that time. This historic hidden gem commemorates the eternal infatuation between commoner Moran, a Muslim nautch dancer, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji. It is located just at the India-Pakistan border.

If you want to experience the definition of true love, then this hidden gem is a must-visit site in Amritsar and is situated about 35 km from the central city of Amritsar. The incident that prompted the construction of this bridge was when Moran misplaced the silver sandals Maharaja Ranjit Singh had given her while crossing the canal. Maharaja Ranjit Singh then issued a directive to build the bridge after the performer declined to appear before the Royal Court.

Location: 35 km away from Amritsar on Amritsar-Lahore Road

Visiting hours: 10 AM – 6 PM (All days accessible)

Quila Ahluwalia

Quila Ahluwalia – a fort located in the center of the old city, is a prime illustration of Punjab’s historic past and stunning design. The Ahluwalia Misl leader Jassa Singh Ahluwalia built the Quila (Fort) as a consoling base during visits to Harimandir Sahib. Jassa Singh’s successors took over management of the fort after his death and expanded it to increase its defensive capabilities. Then, in 1802, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, the leader of the Shukarchakiya Misl, assumed possession of the fort and established cordial ties with Fateh Singh, the Chief of the Ahluwalia Misl.

Later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh allowed numerous cloth traders and business people from the Marwari clan to reside in the markets around the fort to strengthen Amritsar’s economy. The result of the textile market was a big success all over India. It is undoubtedly a must-visit place on your next voyage to Amritsar.

Location: An incredible architecture concealed in the small lanes close to Dharam Singh Market.

Visiting hours: Visitors are allowed at all times.

Sarai Amanat Khan

The place is renowned for its beautiful Mughal gateways, a mosque with Arabic calligraphy, and a glazed tile design. Its two entrances, Lahori Darwaza and Dilli Darwaza, lead to a sizable courtyard with a mosque and a well. Visiting this area may give you a peek at Sarai’s work, which dates back to the Mughal era. Sarai was the Persian calligrapher Amanat Khan’s assistant who engraved words from the Koran/Quran on the Taj Mahal, the symbol of eternal love.

As stated by Amanat Khan, the Sarai has been constructed for the comfort of God’s best creation, and the inscription is also mentioned on one of its faded tiles.

Location: This hidden gem can be visited on the outskirts of Amritsar city, which is about 40 km away.

Visiting hours: Visitors are allowed at all times.

Conclusion

Those are all the unique and hidden locations in and around Amritsar. Don’t forget to experience Amritsar’s vibrant nightlife at renowned clubs and cafes like Elgin Cafe, which guarantees to make your dining experience the greatest in town. Additionally, if you enjoy good eating then don’t forget to explore the top fine dining eateries in the town.