Skip to content
Naksh.iq
Amritsar — host of Baisakhi

Festival · PUNJAB

Baisakhi.

April 13-14 · Amritsar

Sikh New Year. Golden Temple lit up. Bhangra processions. Nagar Kirtan (holy procession).

Why it mattersThe Khalsa was founded on Baisakhi 1699 — Amritsar is where it happened.

Going for this? Amritsar in April

NakshIQ score
4/10
Go

April is Amritsar's most significant month. Baisakhi (April 13-14) marks the Sikh New Year, the founding of the Khalsa, and the harvest festival — all at once. The Golden Temple complex buzzes with pilgrims from across the world. Temperatures push to 32-35°C, definitely warm but not yet punishing. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre anniversary (April 13, 1919) adds a layer of somber remembrance to the celebrations.

See the Amritsar April guide →

Getting there

Elevation
234 m
Nearest airport
Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International
Nearest railway
Amritsar Junction

Live in Amritsar

Where to stay in Amritsar

  • Mrs. Bhandari's Guesthouse

    ₹1200-2000/night
    homestay · Ranjit Avenue

    A Punjabi aunty who treats every guest like a nephew. The home-cooked paranthas and lassi breakfast is worth the stay alone. Spotless rooms, genuine warmth, and local tips that no hotel concierge knows.

  • Homestay near Golden Temple (Virdi House)

    Rs 1000-2500/night
    homestay · Near Golden Temple, Amritsar

    300m from Golden Temple and 400m from Jallianwala Bagh. Four rooms with attached washrooms, authentic Punjabi family hospitality

  • Zostel Amritsar

    ₹500-1000/night
    hostel · Near Golden Temple

    Walking distance to the Golden Temple. Clean dorms, rooftop with a view of the old city skyline. The staff organizes free walking tours of the walled city. Best budget base for Amritsar.

All stays in Amritsar →

Where to eat

  • Gian Chand Lassi Wale

    Legendary
    Katra Sher Singh, opposite Regent Cinema · ₹

    Signaturepeda lassi (curd churned with peda, no sugar)

    There are two adjacent shops with the same name — the original is the one on the right as you face Regent Cinema. The shop closes by 8pm so this is a daytime stop.

  • Ahuja Milk Bhandar

    Legendary
    Hindu College, near Golden Temple · ₹

    Signaturekesariya lassi with malai

    Order half-glass first — the malai layer is meal-thick. They sell out the first batch by 11am; afternoon lassi is fine, morning is what locals come for.

  • Pal Dhaba

    Legendary
    Hathi Gate, Katra Moti Ram · ₹₹

    Signaturepaya (trotter curry)

    Paya runs out by 2pm — this is a breakfast-to-late-lunch destination, not a dinner one. Ask for the magaz only if you've eaten brain curry before; it's not a starter dish.

  • Kesar Da Dhaba

    Legendary
    Chowk Passian, near Golden Temple · ₹₹

    Signaturedal makhani (8-12 hour copper-pot)

    Skip the menu — order the thali with dal makhani, mah ki dal, lachha paratha and phirni. Cash only and no AC; arrive before 1pm or after 8pm to dodge the queue down the lane.

All eateries in Amritsar →

What else to see in Amritsar

  • Golden Temple

    Holiest shrine in Sikhism. Free langar feeds 100,000+ daily.

    gurudwara
    2-3 hours

  • Wagah Border Ceremony

    Daily flag-lowering ceremony at the India-Pakistan border.

    monument
    3 hours

  • Partition Museum

    India's first museum dedicated to the 1947 Partition. Personal stories, artifacts, and multimedia displays.

    museum
    2-3 hours

  • Gobindgarh Fort

    Restored 18th-century fort with 7D theatre, live shows, and Sikh heritage galleries. Night experience excellent.

    fort
    2-3 hours

  • Hall Bazaar

    Bustling market street leading to the Golden Temple. Phulkari dupattas, juttis, and street food.

    bazaar
    1-2 hours

Other festivals in April, elsewhere

See every festival in April →

ALSO ON NAKSHIQ

Eight more rooms in the magazine.

Guides

Visa, scams, food, packing.

Everything the guidebook won't tell you — written for India in 2026.

Blog

Field notes from the road.

Long-form reads on regions, festivals, and the offbeat circuit.

Road trips

Curated multi-day routes.

Driving itineraries with day-by-day stops, distance, and difficulty.

Collections

Themed reading lists.

Wettest places. Sacred lakes. Solo-female-safe. Curated cuts.

NakshIQ 100

The 100 best destination-months.

India's highest-scoring places, ranked across all 12 months.

The Window

Our weekly newsletter, archived.

One honest spread, every Sunday. The full back catalogue.

Skip list

What we'd skip — and what we'd do instead.

Overhyped places with honest alternatives.

First trip

Planning your first time in India.

Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.