Best Time to Visit Amritsar

Amritsar is a buzzing, vibrant place, which is a pleasure to visit and explore at anytime, regardless of the season or weather. The city has many interesting cultural, historical and tourist attractions that should be experienced at least once. From historical places to new age cafes and clubs, there is a lot to do in Amritsar depending on your areas on interest.

If you are planning on visiting Amritsar, you can go at anytime but you should be cognizant of the timing and season here to make the most out of your trip. Planning well and taking the right precautions will make your trip even more enjoyable and ensure that there are no hiccups. Here’s a quick guide to help you plan your trip:

Amritsar Weather

Amritsar is located in the northwestern part of India and therefore, its climate is arid or semi-arid. To the north are the great Himalayas, which send cooling winds in the winter and to the south is the great desert state of Rajasthan. To the east of Punjab lie the great plans of North India that can have a warming effect in the summer and a cooling effect in the winters, giving Amritsar a wide range of temperatures.

Summers: The summers in Amritsar start around April and go on until the rains bring some respite in June / July. This period is extremely hot and the temperatures can go up to 40-45 degrees Celsius, making it hard to roam around the city during the day. You can however, visit malls and other air conditioned places and also go out at night to enjoy Amritsar’s incredible nightlife.

Monsoons: The rainy season in Amritsar brings respite from the rain but can create different problems. The streets can get flooded and the resulting humidity can be quite oppressive. The monsoon season starts around July and goes on until November. During this time, you have to be careful but if you like the rains, you will love Amritsar in the monsoons.

Winters: The winter season starts around November and goes on until March. This is the best time to visit Amritsar as you can walk around outdoors in the day with the help of a jacket. The temperature hovers around 20 degrees Celsius but can dip as low as 5 degrees and night can be quite cold. It is during this time that the city is at its most festive and many events and festivals are organized outdoors.

Best place to visit

One of the best places to visit in Amritsar with family is Qila Gobindgarh, located near the heart of the city. This is an authentic historical fort that was once the Toshakhana and Armory for the erstwhile Sikh empire that was centered in Punjab. The fort is still standing today and has been renovated and restored to give tourists a feel for the olden times.

Inside the fort, you can visit museums like the Turban Museum and the Weapons Museum and also go on camel rides, taste street food and watch cultural shows that illustrate the culture and traditions f this ancient land. The fort also has an amazing traditional dining restaurant in Amritsar called Zaika Gali  that features the best culinary traditions in Punjab for a great meal.

While the fort can be visited at anytime, it really comes alive in the winters. In the summers, people generally come here early in the morning or late in the evening but in the winters, on good days, a lot of people visit the fort and there are many fine performances held in the outdoor areas. Regardless of when you visit, you can’t go wrong with Qila Gobindgarh.