THE GOLDEN CITY OF AMRITSAR

A trip to Amritsar is like striking travel gold. The largest urban area in Punjab, Amritsar is one of India's most deeply spiritual cities. Tens of thousands of devout Sikhs and cultural tourists alike make a pilgrimage to Amritsar every day for one main reason: A visit to the famous Golden Temple. There's nothing quite like strolling around the glistening structure and sitting down for a communal meal from the temple's massive, volunteer-run kitchen with dozens of other visitors. But as you dig deeper into this soulful, frenetic city, you'll have tons of other fascinating experiences that will make you fall in love with Amritsar. You can adventure to the border of Pakistan and watch the daily Wagah Border Ceremony, tuck into incredible Punjabi food, wander around the funhouse-like Mandir Mata Lal Devi, and tour the Summer Palace. Plus, Amritsar is an excellent spot to shop for Indian textiles.