I am going to be in the land of Punjab at my parent's house in Amritsar. I have been to Amritsar many times before and this time, I want to go somewhere else, so I am trying to find places to visit near Amritsar. I don't want to go too far out, but can manage a 2-hour drive, though. My stay in India will be for four weeks, so I have plenty of time going to visit places. I will also have a driver so getting around would not be an issue either. If I am not wrong in thinking I don't think there is any hill station near Amritsar is there?
Hi, @Inder! Welcome to the forum! Here are some places near Amritsar that you can visit: Places Under Two Hours Away From Amritsar 1. Jalandhar - This is about 85 kilometres away from Amritsar. It can take you around 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach Jalandhar from Amritsar. In terms of attractions, there are some temples that you can visit around the city. One of the temples worth visiting is the Devi Talab Mandir, which is one of the Shakti Peethas. Historically, Jalandhar was the former capital of Punjab and is also the oldest city in the state. To truly immerse yourself in the culture of Punjab, visit the Rangla Punjab Haveli. Upon entering the village/restaurant, you would be transported back to the pre-colonial era. The various sculptures depicting different scenes like women weaving or doing household chores and even children playing games. The village is reminiscent of the older times and was intricately designed to mimic the original houses of the supposed era. During evening time, cultural shows and performances are held in the haveli. Thus, you get a glimpse of the bygone era along with enjoying the authentic Punjabi cuisine that they serve to you. Although Jalandhar does not have an exciting night life like other cities or even marvellous modern buildings, you can still find plenty of things to do here or places to explore. And especially if you're someone who enjoys historical places, Jalandhar might be the right destination for you. Must visit places - Rangla Punjab Haveli, Devi Talab Mandir, Wonderland Theme Park, Nikku Park, Sodal Mandir and many more. Related thread - Places to Visit in Punjab 2. Hoshiarpur - This is about 111 kilometres away from Amritsar. You can reach it in about 2 hours or so. Hoshiarpur is a popular pilgrimage site as it is home to two Shakti Peetha temples, namely the Chintpurni Temple and the Jwalamukhi Temple. But aside from being a popular pilgrimage site, there are also other attractions in the city. One of which is the farm called Citrus Country, which is a resort set amidst an orange orchard. It's a nice weekend getaway especially for those seeking some fresh air, away from the pollution in the city life. Yet another attraction in the city is the Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can spot wild animals and enjoy the dense forests and grasslands. Some of the animals that you can spot here are jackals, wild boars, jungle cats and sambars. You can also enjoy bird watching in the sanctuary. Nature and religion, if these are two things that spark your interest, then Hoshiarpur might be a good place for that. Must visit places - Chintpurni Temple, Jwalakmukhi Temple, Citrus Country, Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary and many more. Related thread - Things To Do In And Around Hoshiarpur 3. Kathua - This is about 138 kilometres from Amritsar, so you can reach it in about 2 hours or so. Although relatively not as known as other destinations, Kathua has many scenic places that you can explore. The Bani Valley in Kathua is a haven for adventure seekers. It is home to many streams, rivers, waterfalls and dense forests, thus, trekking and exploring the valley can be a satisfying experience for trekkers. For those not so keen on trekking such places, visit the Chandel Valley in Kathua. It's a relatively small valley with one main stream and plenty of orchards that you can visit. Kathua is also home to many temples like the Sukrala Mata Temple, Sapt Sarober Mandir, Asha Purani Mandir and Narsingh Ji Temple. Kathua is an emerging adventure destination and is certainly worth a visit before it becomes too popular and commercialised. Must visit places - Bani Valley, Chandel Valley, Sukrala Mata Temple, Sapt Sarober Mandir, Asha Purani Mandir and Narsingh Ji Temple. Related thread - Places to Visit in Kashmir 4. Pathankot - This is about 122 kilometres from Amritsar and you can reach it in under 2 hours. Pathankot is probably best known as a stopover before venturing into the more distance places outside of Punjab. However, there are also plenty of attractions in the city. For starters, there are many temples that you can visit here like the Mukteshwar Temple, Kathgarh Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir and Shani Dev Mandir. For historical attractions in the city, there's the Shahpurkandi Fort and the Nurpur Fort. Although these forts are in ruins, they still provide tourists with a glimpse of the past of the state. You can also visit the Maharana Pratap Singh Dam, which is located in Kangra but also very close to Punjab. The dam is home to many species of birds and you can also indulge in adventure activities like boating, sailing and skiing in here. It is located about 50 kilometres away from Pathankot though. A nearer alternative would be the Ranjit Sagar Dam, which is only 30 kilometres away from Pathankot. There's not much that you can do here though but it's a popular picnic spot for locals. Must visit places - Mukteshwar Temple, Kathgarh Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Shani Dev Mandir, Shahpurkandi Fort, Nurpur Fort, Maharana Pratap Singh Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam. Related thread - Places to Visit in Punjab There you go, I hope this helps you. These are all the nearest places to Amritsar at about two hours of driving, more or less. Other destinations take more time to reach. P.S. Hill stations that are nearest to Amritsar are over 4 hours long to reach. The nearest ones are Dalhousie and Nalagarh, both at about 240 kilometres away from Amritsar. Driving them by car would take around four hours or more. On a related note, Kathua is mildly elevated so I guess you can consider it a hill station. Good luck!
