[Highh5]

Hi Everyone,

Plan is to go to Amritsar this upcoming weekend for the Christmas break.

Google Maps is suggesting two routes, one is the usual

Ghaziabad -- Sonipat (exit from EPE) -- Ambala -- Ludhiana - Jalandhar - Amritsar

Another Option

Ghaziabad -- Sonipat (exit from EPE) -- Jind -- Sangrur -- Moga -- Amritsar

Which shall I opt for, any recommendations if someone travelled on this route recently.

Also any suggestions for mandatory places to visit when it comes to culinary treats in Amritsar?

[Akash86M]

Did Faridabad - Amritsar last weekend. Took Faridabad-Murthal-Ambala-Ludhiana-Amritsar. There are plenty of diversions and Traffic jam till Sonipat. From Ambala to Amritsar road is very good, there are only 3-4 diversion. Left at 1530hrs, stopped at Murthal. Reached Amritsar at 0130, it was raining throughout the journey and took plenty of tea and snacks stops, so took more time than expected. On the way back, left in morning so reached Murthal in abt 6 hrs. tc

[luvDriving]

I am planning to visit Amritsar and Delhi along with family in the last week of January 2023. This will be our first visit there and hence I have some queries.

The general itinerary is reach Amritsar from Pune 21st morning. Then spend 3 days in Amritsar visiting wagah, kartarpur and golden temple. Leave by train on 24th early morning for Delhi. Stay in Delhi for 3 days and return on 27th.

1. Can someone suggest good budget hotels in Amritsar and Delhi ?
2. Suggestions for Delhi sightseeing - is there a Delhi darshan tour bus ?
3. There will be 2 young kids with us (ages 3 and 10). So apart from the usual tourist spots, anything worth experiencing for kids ?
4. It is the week of Republic day so any issues that we might face ?
5. Is booking hotels from here trustworthy since we get reports of getting cheated and I do not want to face issues upon reaching Amritsar / Delhi with family.
6. Any other suggestions welcome.

As usual, thanks in advance.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by luvDriving

I am planning to visit Amritsar and Delhi along with family in the last week of January 2023. This will be our first visit there and hence I have some queries.

January in Delhi and Amritsar would mean peak winter; the temp could well be in single digits. The key would be layers: lots of them. Account for changes in the plan / itinerary depending on how you (esp. the kids) cope with the cold. The (dry) winter there is very diff. from that in Pune. Also, the air isn't as great.

2. Suggestions for Delhi sightseeing - is there a Delhi darshan tour bus ?
3. There will be 2 young kids with us (ages 3 and 10). So apart from the usual tourist spots, anything worth experiencing for kids ?

1) Qutub Minar
2) Delhi Zoo
3) India Gate
4) Lotus Temple
5) Akshardham Temple
6) Red Fort
7) Purana Qila
8) Humayun's Tomb
9) Jantar Mantar - your elder kid might enjoy this
10) Deer Park, Hauz Khas
11) Walk through Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk - if that's your thing.

As you can see, all these are outdoor sites. Keep the weather in mind.

4. It is the week of Republic day so any issues that we might face?

Several areas might be cordoned off on 26th; places to see might be closed as well.

5. Is booking hotels from here trustworthy since we get reports of getting cheated and I do not want to face issues upon reaching Amritsar / Delhi with family.

Shouldn't be a problem. As a practice, always call and confirm your reservation. Look at reviews; if the cost seems too low / too good to be true, there's probably a reason. But that's true for any place.

6. Any other suggestions welcome.

Winter also means severe fog = flight and travel delays. Account for that. And possibly a reduced visual experience when visiting points of interest.

[Vitalstatistiks]

Hi- we are scheduled to travel to Ludhiana (on the way to Amritsar) around Christmas. Google maps is suggesting two weird routes, one vie Meerut bypass and the other via Rohtak.

For some reason it is NOT showing the usual Sonipat-Panipat-Karnal route at all. My preference is not to be adventurous and stick to the usual route (given the car we’ll be driving).

Does anyone have any info info if NH1 (GT Road) I.e. the usual Sonipat- Panipat route is undergoing significant works or something?

[dass]

Looking for suggestions around a family trip in October. We want to see the Taj and then some local sight seeing in Delhi, before going to the golden temple, Wagah border and Jallianwala Bagh. We are a family of 2 adults and a 12 year old and will start from Bangalore. There is a lot of information for a road trip, but this ask is for a trip without self driving.

1. Is this the correct order? If not, what should I be doing? The places mentioned above are what we want to see except Delhi, so don't mind skipping that.
2. Is mid October a good time to visit, from a climate perspective?
3. I tried looking for a package, but there is nothing that covers these areas together, so planning on doing it on my own.
4. Anything else I need to keep in mind.

Mods - Apologize if a thread already exists for this, I could not find one. Please delete/merge accordingly.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by dass

1. Is this the correct order? If not, what should I be doing? The places mentioned above are what we want to see except Delhi, so don't mind skipping that.

You could do something like this:

Day 1: Land in Delhi, do local sightseeing, stay over
Day 2: day trip to Agra for the Taj, back to Delhi and stay over
Day 3: Drive / take the train to Amritsar
Day 4 onwards: Amritsar + Attari

Fly out from Amritsar. You could stay longer in Delhi, depending your interests.

2. Is mid October a good time to visit, from a climate perspective?

Yep, generally very pleasant.

3. I tried looking for a package, but there is nothing that covers these areas together, so planning on doing it on my own.

These are very popular and common places, so you should be able to plan everything yourself easily. The hotels you book will have their own cars / references for taxis that you can book for Agra / Amritsar sightseeing.

4. Anything else I need to keep in mind.

There is a midnight viewing of the Taj on full moon nights. Check if that falls on your travel days. Is a unique experience. But that would mean you'd have to stay the night in Agra.

The cricket WC is to be held in India Oct-Nov this year. Do check your dates and if the matches are in Delhi on them. Not a problem as such, but might mess up in terms of logistics (traffic, some sightseeing destinations being shut etc.)

[Kkumar]

Dussehra falls in the second half of Oct with schools generally closed at that time all these places will be over crowded, so do cater for that. Weather will be pleasant. You may try Shatabdi express to visit Agra as well as Amritsar thereafter local taxis. Amritsar airport is well connected so return journey can be planned from there. When visiting Attari try to reach at least 2 hours in advance else you won’t get good seats with proper view.

[amitayu]

Hi All

Planning to do a road trip to Amritsar for the 2 October long weekend.

Planning for the Ludhiana route as suggested by most.

Any tips about road conditions or shortcuts will be greatly appreciated.

[aseem23]

Originally Posted by amitayu

Planning for the Ludhiana route as suggested by most.

Any tips about road conditions or shortcuts will be greatly appreciated.

Hey, best is to take Delhi Amritsar Shatabadi train, otherwise via road you can also take Delhi-Panipat-Barnala-Sangrur-Barnala-Moga-Amritsar route. This route is new relatively empty 6 lane higway, but the downside absence of fancy roadside food outlets like Mcd, KFC, Costa etc. You can find roadside dhabas though.

Ambala-ludhiana higway is good too, but there is alot of traffic mostly.

Do check via GMaps before leaving.

[sinharishi]

Since the Shambhu border is still closed, I found a better alternative for Amritsar - via Zirakpur-Rupnagar-Nawanshahr-Phagwara. During the onward journey via Ludhiana we had to take a detour that costed us 30-45 mins near Shambhu border, the detour was narrow village roads used by buses, trucks, cars, tractors - literally everyone in both directions. The roads were non-existent for the most part and had to navigate my Slavia very carefully.

The return journey was smoother and faster via Phagwara-Nawanshahr-Rupnagar-Zirakpur-Ambala. The Phagwara-Rupnagar highway is 4-laned and superbly done.

[Krishroy]

I will drive from Delhi to Amritsar next month. Google map is showing a new road, i.e. NE5 (Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway). But I am not sure if the road construction is complete. Please suggest me the best road to drive from Delhi to Amritsar.

Thanks

[BG96]

Please share the update of the route you took and especially the status of Delhi- Katra expressway? Thanks

[sudev]

Replying late

Depending on which part of Delhi or Gurgaon you are it may be work to check out Rohtak Jind Sangrur Barnala Amritsar connection.

All throughout divided Highway with very less traffic I been using it for last 2 years. Next to Amritsar I will also check out the new Katra highway which takes offslightly later than the Rohtak turn off only Western expressway ring

[BG96]

Originally Posted by sudev

Replying late

Depending on which part of Delhi or Gurgaon you are it may be work to check out Rohtak Jind Sangrur Barnala Amritsar connection.

All throughout divided Highway with very less traffic I been using it for last 2 years. Next to Amritsar I will also check out the new Katra highway which takes offslightly later than the Rohtak turn off only Western expressway ring

Thanks for the detailed insight. Please share the update if you use the Delhi - Katra express and your experience.