With 30m deities, India has a temple for every occasion, but the Golden Temple in Amritsar is special. The most sacred site in the Sikh religion infuses this frenetic Grand Trunk Road city with spirituality, with even committed atheists moved to doubts by the sense of belief hovering over this spectacular gilded shrine. There are some great hotels in Amritsar, too. Here’s our pick – bookable on Culture Trip.
In India, the Taj brand is shorthand for good service, and that’s certainly the case at its substantial Amritsar property. In place of musty heritage, you’ll find a gleaming modern tower, with some of the best restaurants in the area on hand, and graceful, modern rooms with imperial trim and expansive windows to let in the city views. Completing the Taj package is a plush spa and the best pool in Amritsar.
The Courtyard by Marriott Amritsar is a towering block that pays a subtle nod to Mughal sandstone architecture, albeit with a modern twist. The first thing you’ll notice when you step into the sleek, contemporary rooms is the divan-style seating, set around giant windows that frame the city views. Filigree prints and carpets are a gentle reminder of India in a design theme that feels more like contemporary New York. In addition, there’s a rooftop pool and bar with more spectacular city views.
With a design that could be described as “future Punjab”, this stylish hotel is only 80 steps from the Golden Temple. Within seconds, you can be part of the human tide of pilgrims circling the sacred tank at the Harmandir Sahib. Modern rooms with lush Indian fabrics and sleek tiled bathrooms place you right in the heart of the action.
North of the centre, but handy for the Grand Trunk Road, Hotel Avista Lifestyle is easy to get into and extremely comfortable once you arrive. Rooms have a kind of Indian-Nordic feel; think lots of bare wood and fabrics in simple colours, along with two-tone, stone-faced bathrooms. The spacious suites are great for families, and there’s parking, making it convenient for travellers coming up from Delhi with a car.
This FabHotel is a small, neatly formed property just off the Grand Trunk Road. It’s easy to arrive and escape, avoiding being trapped by the traffic in the centre. The rooms, with gleaming tiled floors, are enlivened by flashes of colour, and an auto-rickshaw ride will zip you into the old town to reach the Golden Temple and other downtown sights.
There’s more to Amritsar than the old town – it’s worth considering the southeastern suburbs as an alternative to the noisy, crowded centre. This area is where you’ll find Treebo Trend the Savera Park, a tidy tower full of rooms with understated colours and subtle Mughal patterns. There’s a good restaurant serving the familiar trinity of Indian, Chinese and continental cuisine, and you may be surprised how quickly you can reach the old city from here.
In the modern, upmarket part of Amritsar, Hotel Makhan Residency puts you in a good location for shopping and fine dining, along with family-friendly activities in the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Garden. The old town is an easy auto-rickshaw ride away, and the rooms give a glamorous first impression, with stylish textures and fabrics and big walk-in showers. Locally, the hotel is famed for the Punjabi treats that come out of the kitchen at Makhan Fish and Chicken Corner, a local favourite since 1962.
The name of this hotel is a nod to the long and growing connections between the UK and Amritsar. And with a handy location just north of the old town by the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Garden, the hotel is close – but not too close – to the action. It’s a stylish choice, with glamorous modern-deco rooms and suites with immaculately clean tiled and timber floors and cool bathrooms with internal windows looking onto the living spaces.
Within walking distance of Jallianwala Bagh and the many sights in the old city, Hotel Exotic Homes sits behind a small, unassuming frontage. Inside, however, it’s incredibly comfortable, with bright, roomy living spaces, windows and lots of natural wood tones. Other perks include luxurious marble bathrooms, a courtyard atrium and easy walks to the most historic part of Amritsar.
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