The 16th-century holy city of Amritsar is the most revered city in Sikhism and one of the most religious cities in the world. It is home to the stunning Harmandir Sahib, better known as the Golden Temple, one of the world’s most extraordinary sights. The ornate temple, which is the holiest shrine in Sikh culture, is also one of the most humbling and serene sights ever. In fact, the sacred water tank surrounding it is said to have healing powers and pilgrims come from all over to bathe in the sacred waters. So, it’s no wonder that hotels in Amritsar near the Golden Temple are always chock-full.
That being said, there is so much to explore around the Golden Temple. Recently, urban landscaping activities near the temple have reduced the frenzied activity that usually surrounded it. However, one turn in a side alley and you’ll be smack dab in the heart of the city’s hyperactive ancient bazaars in areas like Guru Bazaar and Hathi Gate. These streets and neighborhoods are also the closest you can live to the revered shrine while exploring the city’s best sights, smells, and sounds. So, check out the 11 best hotels in Amritsar near the Golden Temple.
Jugaadus
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The eco-hostel Jugaadus lies just a km south of the Golden Temple and is Punjabi culture and hospitality at its very best. The friendly, chilled-out hostel melds traditional Punjabi touches with modern creature comforts to create an experience that is as unique as it is memorable.
To begin with, guests are greeted with a piping hot cup of chai on arrival. The walls of the entire hostel are covered with entertaining, inspirational, and funny life lessons and quotes from those who previously stayed here. The eco-conscious hostel has a host of environmentally-friendly features. These include everything from tables crafted from reused tires to solar panels on the roof. Furthermore, even the keyrings, trays, and dustbins, trays, and keyrings are made from bamboo bought from NGO Uravu ‘bamboo village.’ A common area and rooftop are great places for catching up with fellow travelers. Although the hostel has Wi-Fi throughout the day, it is switched off for two hours in the evening to ‘encourage dialogue,’ which is the coolest thing ever. A well-equipped kitchen is great for cooking quick meals. What’s more, they even arrange for various tours in and around Amritsar.
Jugaadus has just four well-maintained rooms, of which three have three bunk beds each, and the fourth room is a private one. So, the hostel never feels crowded. Plus, the beds have their own power outlets, lights, and storage areas. If that wasn’t enough, the linen fabric is from an organic cotton fabric company.
Hyatt Regency
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If you’re looking for luxury in Amritsar, then there’s no place better than the Hyatt Regency. The flamboyant hotel is one of Amritsar’s finest and lies on the Grand Trunk Road around 4km southeast of the Golden Temple.
Hyatt is where you stay when you don’t want to lift even a finger. The luxury hotel features a heavenly and impressive open-air swimming pool that even has water jets. Moreover, it is home to the biggest spa in Amritsar, three restaurants offering a wealth of cuisines and even afternoon tea and evening cocktails! The hotel even arranges for heritage and religious tours for those who want to. However, the biggest perk for guests here is the complimentary pick-and-drop services twice a day to and from the Golden Temple.
Hyatt’s lavishness extends to the rooms, all of which come with pillow menus, king beds, a slew of mod-cons, and plush bathrooms with bathtubs.
Fairfield by Marriott Amritsar
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The stylish, contemporary, and luxurious Fairfield by Marriott Amritsar lies just 3 km south of Harmandir Sahib. The luxurious offerings hotel is tranquillity, comfort, and elegance at its very best.
Fairfield by Marriott has a laundry list of amenities for the comfort of its guests for both work or leisure. Dig into scrumptious world cuisine at their global restaurant. For a laidback scene, enjoy an evening cocktail or a much-deserved nightcap at their snazzy bar. Likewise, the sun terrace with outdoor furniture is great for digging into a sumptuous breakfast. On humid days, the open-air pool sprinkled with day beds is an excellent place to laze around. Finally, gym rats can stay in shape at the well-equipped fitness center. Plus, the hotel even arranges for tours like cycle tours, walking tours, or even cooking classes.
When it comes to accommodations, one can choose from Twin, Superior Rooms, or King Rooms, and the luxurious Suites. All rooms are spacious to boot and are immaculately designed with elegant bathrooms, plush furnishings, and a host of mod-cons.
Hotel Ramada Amritsar
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Barely 2 km away from the Golden Temple sits the exquisite Hotel Ramada, which is one of the best hotels you can stay at in Amritsar.
144 guest rooms at the charming Ramada all come with a slew of mod-cons as well as 24-hour room service, free Wi-Fi, and even newspaper delivered every day. Business travelers will enjoy facilities at the Ramada immensely since it also offers an executive floor and an express check-in and check-out process as well.
However, it is Ramada’s list of amneities which makes it such a coveted place to stay in the city. A rooftop fitness center with stunning views of Amritsar and beyond will goad you into working out and burning off those calories. What’s more, the rooftop pool is perhaps one of the best in the city. One can have the choicest of foods at the multi-cuisine restaurant, or grab a quick cup of coffee at the excellent coffee shop. If that wasn’t enough, the hotel even offers BBQ facilities which is great fun especially in the cold of the winters. Furthermore, Ramada even has airport pick-up and drop-off facilities, which is a boon for business guests. Finally, touring Amritsar isn’t an issue at all, what with the hotel’s travel desk more than happy to arrange for tours.
Hotel Sawera Grand
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If you want to stay comfortably and close to Amritsar’s Golden Temple, then you cannot do better than Hotel Sawera Grand. The swanky hotel is just a km northeast of the holy shrine. Also, staying here is a delightful experience, to say the least.
Moder, luxurious rooms and suites at the Sawera Grand feature a profusion of warm wooden floors and furnishings. Chic upholstery and fabrics, modish bathrooms, and a slew of mod-cons make all rooms extremely comfy to stay at. Moreover, all rooms have separate seating areas too.
Apart from that, the hotel itself has lots of amenities. These include car rentals, airport shuttles, currency exchange, and even a tour desk. A multi-cuisine restaurant serves continental, Chinese, and Indian fare, while the coffee shop is great for grabbing coffee-to-go. Enjoy lovely views of Amritsar from the rooftop continental restaurant.
Golden Tulip Hotel Amritsar
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If you’re looking for excellent views of Amritsar combined with luxurious service, then you’d do well to pick the Golden Tulip Hotel. The hotel lies 3 km northwest of the Golden Temple and offers a luxurious four-star experience to its guests.
According to reviews, visitors are overwhelmed by the views from all rooms at the Golden Tulip. One can choose from 48 rooms and 4 suites. However, each of them offers a bird’s eye view of the city and Harmandir Sahib in the distance. All rooms come equipped with elegant ensuite bathrooms, flatscreen TVs, coffee/tea-making facilities, and DVD players.
The amenity offerings at Golden Tulip are equally luxurious. After a long day of exploring Amritsar, one can enjoy a soothing in-room massage. There’s even an indoor jacuzzi where one can relax at the end of the day. A lively sports bar on-site serves drinks. Likewise, there’s even a multi-cuisine restaurant serving a gamut of delicious local fare. What’s more, the tour desk can make all and any arrangements for tours in and around the city.
Lemon Tree Hotel Amritsar
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Lemon Tree Hotels is a hotel brand well known throughout India for its hospitality and excellent offerings. From its able stable comes the Lemon Tree Hotel Amritsar, which lies on Grand Trunk Road. Moreover, the hotel is just 3 km from the Golden Temple as well.
If there ever was a mindblowing rooftop in Amritsar, it would be the one at Lemon Tree. The lovely blue rooftop pool, complete with daybeds and umbrellas makes the experience all the better. The rooftop bar completes the fabulous experience. It is the perfect place to guzzle a cold one or drink an evening cocktail while enjoying sunset views over Amritsar. Its multi-cuisine coffee shop Citrus Café is also very well-known for its coffee and snacks. The icing on the cake is the wellness experience with the refreshing spa and the well-equipped fitness center.
Right from the expansive lobby to the spacious rooms, Lemon Tree makes sure that the hotel is designed for the trendy traveler. All rooms are bright and airy with comfy beds and fantastically luxurious bathrooms.
Ranjit’s Svaasa
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Amritsar is one place where you can stay within 3 km of the holy Golden Temple while enjoying your stay in a luxurious spa haveli. Step back in time at Ranjit’s Svaasa, which is a rare, 200-year-haveli and possibly one of Amritsar’s oldest surviving ones.
A rustic gate welcomes you to the red-bricked, British-colonial Svaasa, which is ensconced in lush green trees. Its hallowed history can be seen in the ‘Time Corridor.’ One can see photographs of the Mehra family going as far back as seven generations hung here. The award-winning winning Hibiscus Pavillion spa boasts a gamut of wellness therapies and Ayurvedic massage treatments. Likewise, the in-house restaurant serving Punjabi delicacies is just what you need after exploring Amritsar. However, the lush courtyard and the tranquil atmosphere are perhaps the best things about Svaasa, which literally means ‘breath.’
Visitors can choose between rooms and suites, of which some rooms have TVs while all the suites have them. Additionally, all rooms feature warm color hues and traditional Indian fabrics, basic mod-cons, ensuite bathrooms with organic toiletries, and traditional tea trays.
Hotel Hong Kong Inn
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Hotel Hong Kong Inn which lies just 2 km from the Golden Temple is another great choice for a place of stay in Amritsar. Rooms at the modish hotel are done up tastefully with chic decor and warm accents and lighting. Each room has private ensuite bathrooms, coffee/tea makers, fridges, flatscreen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. If that wasn’t enough, each room also has the comfort of the 24-hour room service.
The services at the hotel are also equally impeccable. There’s a 24-hour front desk along with 24-hour pick-up and drop-off facilities. What’s more, there is also a tour desk that will help you with any sightseeing and travel bookings that you might want to get done. Apart from also having car rentals, the hotel has a 24-hour vegetarian kitchen in the form of a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves Chinese, Western, and Amritsari cuisines. Moreover, guests can also request for laptops if the need arises.
Wow Backpacker’s Hostel
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‘Awesome’ is how most budget travelers will describe the Wow Backpacker’s Hostel, one of the most fascinating hotels in Amritsar near the Golden Temple. In fact, it hardly lies a minute’s walk away from the main entrance of the holy shrine. The very first thing you’ll notice about this lively hostel is the graffiti-filled entrance with blinking neon lights that instantly set the mood for the place. The fun property has both cozy dorm rooms with bunk beds and private rooms.
However, there’s more to do here outside the confines of the rooms. The hostel encourages group activities and organizes entertainment programs like movie nights every evening. It also helps out with city tours, bike tours, and walking tours and bookings. Apart from 24-hour free Wi-Fi, the hostel also has a gorgeous terrace chill-out zone with fabulous views of the Golden Temple. Moreover, there’s even a games room, a shared kitchen, lots of options for breakfast, and even kids’ meals. During winters, BBQ evenings are a great way to get to know your fellow hostel mates.
Resort Sadda Pind
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Literally meaning ‘Our land,’ Sadda Pind is Punjabi and Amritsari hospitality at its best. Even though it lies around 7 km from the Golden temple, its location on the Grand Trunk Road means it’s barely a 15-minute drive away.
The sprawling village resort is the best way to experience all facets of Punjabi culture under one roof. The entire resort is reminiscent of a Punjabi village, right from the architecture to the decor. Rooms are huge, to say the least, and have four-poster beds, exposed wooden ceilings, and traditional lighting. Vibrant throws and pillows with mirrorwork complement the crisp white linens. Some rooms even have balconies and patios with gorgeous views of the property.
During evenings, the resort lights up and is at its sparkling best. The resort has lots of souvenir shops on-site, right from traditional fabrics to arts and crafts. Antique trinkets like old gramophones, pottery, and furnishings are peppered everywhere. Guests can even play traditional village games like darts, stapu (hopscotch), and even watch a magician perform his tricks. Additionally, the resort also organizes songs and dance programs. Additionally, the on-site restaurant serves excellent and authentic Punjabi cuisine.
Recommended Restaurants / Bars / Food Tours in Amritsar:
- Food Walk in Amritsar with a Local: Amritsar’s food is much-loved throughout India, whether it is lassi, chhole, or the wonderful kulche. Join a local foodie for sampling the best street food in the city.
- Kesar da Dhaba: The no-frills place is a favorite with Amritsar locals and visitors to the city. The modest establishment churns out some of the most divine-tasting local foods.
Recommended Activities In Amritsar:
- Spiritual and Cultural Walk of Amritsar: Explore Amritsar, its rich culture, and the lives of its people through the eyes of a local.
- Amritsar Half-Day Tour: Learn about and explore all places of historic importance in the city of Amritsar.
