After completing the journey from Amritsar Bus Stand to both the Wagah border (India/Pakistan) and the Amritsar airport, this article provides directions for both. Most of this information is available through some Googling, but it was a pain to muck through TripAdvisor forums and conflicting online information.
Both journeys are easy—and cheaper than a taxi.
Amritsar Bus Stand
Amritsar Bus Stand to Wagah border
The bus from the Amritsar Bus Stand to the Wagah border leaves from Stop 23. There are huge signs for each stop number with destinations listed. The bus leaves every 30 minutes and costs 35 rupees. The journey takes a little more than an hour.
Bus Stop 23 for Attari/Wagah border
The bus stops in Attari, about 3 km short of the border. From there, rickshaw drivers will be waiting to offer rides to the border security checkpoint. Sarah and I paid 30 rupees for a bicycle rickshaw. The autorickshaws are faster, but drivers wanted 20 rupees/person for a crammed autorickshaw and refused to budge on price.
The driver dropped us at the border security point. From there, you can pay another bicycle rickshaw 10 rupees/passenger to take you a short distance to the border viewing area. We decided to walk and pick up some food along the way from the many street vendors.
Follow the crowds from the border security checkpoint
After watching the border closing ceremony, you can do everything in reverse. However, when we returned to the border security checkpoint, we saw a bus going to Amritsar. The driver told us it was headed for the Golden Temple, but would drive by the Bus Stand as well. We waited 20 minutes for the bus to fill up and then departed. The bus cost 40 rupees/person.
How early should you leave for the border ceremony?
The border ceremony finishes prior to sunset, so begins earlier in the winter than summer. We traveled mid-week during early May and had no trouble getting good seats at 4:40pm. As foreigners, we were directed into a VIP/tourist section close to the front. Gates open at 4:00pm and music and entertainment starts shortly thereafter. The most dramatic events occur later during the official closing ceremony.
The hype man (in white) pumps up the crowd
During winter when the sun sets earlier or weekends when crowds are bigger, it’s best to arrive as early as 3-3:30pm for good seats, though that seems like a long time to wait for the show to begin.
Our bus from the Amritsar Bus Stand left about 2:35pm and almost immediately got in a fender bender. We caught the next bus 30 minutes later and arrived in Atari about 4:15pm. The cycle rickshaw ride took 10 minutes. We spent 15 minutes getting food, walking to the stadium, and going through security.
Amritsar Bus Stand to Amritsar Airport
There is no direct bus to Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. However, the bus to Ajnala drives past the airport and will drop you at the entrance. From there, you can walk about ten minutes to the terminal.
The bus leaves from Stop 19 at the Amritsar Bus Stand and leaves every 30 minutes. It costs 15 rupees and takes about 30 minutes to reach the airport.
Bus to Ajnala
Oddly, Google Maps shows a nonexistent gap in the road at the airport entrance where the bus stops. This made me nervous when we drove by the entrance shown by Google Maps, but the bus driver knew where we were going and dropped us at the correct spot.
Walking directions from main road to airport. There is no gap between Ajnala Rd and Raja Sansi Rd.
The road where Google Maps shows a gap
Alternative travel options
Many people travel by shared taxi from the Golden Temple to the Wagah border. Taxi drivers will be there waiting for passengers. Taxis leave when full. We heard it should cost about 150-200 rupees/person for the round trip. The driver will wait for you during the ceremony and drive you back when it’s done.
Walking directions from the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) to the Amritsar Bus Stand
Ola is the only ride-sharing service in Amritsar. The Wagah border costs about 900 rupees one-way. Hiring a taxi is more practical as it only costs 1000 rupees for the round trip. An Ola to the airport costs about 400 rupees (less on a motorbike).
The Amritsar Airport website says there is a free shuttle bus to and from the Golden Palace, but provides few details. After reading TripAdvisor comments, I don’t think this shuttle exists.
Let me know if you have questions or suggestions in the comments. Thanks for reading!
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I am Sterling, one of the Two Fish Traveling. I love to travel and live in Polson, Montana with my wife Sarah.
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hi do u know about bus schedule from golden temple to wagah border?
thanks
We didn’t take the bus from the Golden Temple in, but we took a bus back that was headed to the Golden Temple. It left when the bus was full, and I expect it would be the same going outbound. If you arrive 90 minutes before you want to reach the border, you should be ok.
Hello. We plan to cross the border from Pakistan not India at Wagah. Is there any taxi service from the Wagah border to the Amritsar Airport? and how much? Thanks
Yes, there are taxis there. Should be about 1000 Rupees ($15).
From the Wagah border ro Amritsar Airport – is there taxi service? and how much approx? thanks.
Thanks broo was really amazing and wanted to go….in spite of living in India i have been dreaming
Glad it helped!
you do explain to me. i want to go from Amritsar to Lahore and after Nankana sahib.. any ideas, please?
regards.