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Travel advisory · IndiaPunjab is in or near an area where governments advise against all travel: Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
Areas with warnings
  • Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory) · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, US
  • Kashmir Valley · avoid all travel · Spain, France, Italy
  • Manipur · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
  • Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
  • Bihar · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
  • Chhattisgarh · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, New Zealand
  • Jharkhand · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
  • Odisha (Orissa) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
  • Rural West Bengal · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
  • Srinagar–Ladakh road · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy

Also named by one government: Jammu region (Spain), Tripura (Ireland), Assam border areas with Bangladesh (New Zealand), Border areas of Jammu and Kashmir (Italy), Gulmarg (Italy), Imphal (Ireland), India-Myanmar border (France), Ladakh (Spain), Ladakh border with China (immediate vicinity) (France), Nagaland border areas with Myanmar (New Zealand), Pahalgam (Italy), Rural Andhra Pradesh (Spain), Sonamarg (Italy), Srinagar (Italy)

GovernmentAdviceUpdatedRead the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)–Read the advice
United States (State Dept)Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)Jun 16, 2025Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)–Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)No warning against the whole country; partial warnings for specific areas (regional advisories)Oct 14, 2026Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)–Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)High Degree of Caution (regional advisories)–Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)Pays relativement sûr dans son ensemble, sous réserve de respecter certaines règles et de tenir compte du risque terroriste (regional advisories)–Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

The Golden Temple in Amritsar with a crowd on the walkway over water

Punjab

The Golden Temple in Amritsar draws most visitors to Punjab, a flat farming state where gurdwaras stand in almost every town and village.

Find a room in PunjabStart with the essentialsPlan a trip to Punjab

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Punjab is a state in northwestern India, on the border with Pakistan's Punjab province. Sikhs are the majority here, and Punjab is the only Indian state where they are. Amritsar's Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), the holiest Sikh shrine, is the main reason to come. The Sri Akal Takht Sahib sits inside the temple complex. Gurdwaras are found in almost every village and city, so Sikh places of worship are not limited to Amritsar.

Outside the cities, the land is a largely flat plain of wheat, rice and cotton, crossed by the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers and their irrigation canals. Hills rise in the northeast at the foot of the Himalayas. Visitors who want Sikh sites, farm country and Punjabi food and music will get the most from a trip. October and November are the most comfortable months, after the monsoon. Summer is very hot, with temperatures often between 40 and 47 °C from May to August.

Punjab in five

  1. Cover your head and remove shoes at the Golden TempleCover your head before entering Harmandir Sahib, and take off your shoes at the entrance. Scarves are usually available at the entrance if you do not bring one.Amritsar
  2. Carry rupee cash for small shops and autosCash is the easiest way to pay at small shops, dhabas and auto-rickshaws, so carry small notes. Agree the fare before you get in.
  3. Use the Amritsar MetroBus for cross-city tripsAmritsar's bus rapid transit, known as the MetroBus, runs on fixed routes across the city. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are better for door-to-door trips.Getting around
  4. Take care on Amritsar and Ludhiana roadsBoth cities are among the Indian cities with the highest road accident rates. Cross roads carefully and watch for traffic from every direction.
  5. Apply for the e-Visa before you flyMost visitors need an e-Visa, which must be approved before you travel. Check eligibility and apply on the official Indian e-Visa portal, not a third-party site.Visas and entry

Need to know

Currency
Indian rupee (INR)
Entry
e-Visa for most nationalities, applied for online before travel Read more
Emergency
112 for all emergencies, 100 police, 101 fire brigade
Tipping
Not required in shops; small tips for porters and drivers
Time
UTC+5:30, no daylight saving

Weather by month

  • Rainy days
  • Days with storms
  • Festival
  • Best
  • Mixed
  • Poor
  1. JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Cold, frost
  2. FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh23°Low10°Cool, frost
  3. MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low15°Warming up
  4. AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh36°Low21°Heat begins
  5. MayClear6 rainy daysHigh40°Low26°Very hot
  6. JuneClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh40°Low29°Peak heat
  7. JulyRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh35°Low28°Monsoon rains
  8. AugustRain18 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low26°Monsoon rains
  9. SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh34°Low25°Monsoon ends
  10. OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh33°Low20°Dry, temperate
  11. NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Dry, temperate
  12. DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low9°Cold, frost

Average daily high and low in Amritsar, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jan Lohri

Right now in Punjab

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Rain

20

Feels like
20°
Humidity
57%
Wind
5 km/h
Chance of rain
0%

Punjab

02:44 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5:30

  1. Today29°18°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 29°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
  2. Wed29°18°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
  3. Thu30°18°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 30°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
  4. Fri30°18°0%Friday: Clear. High 30°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
  5. Sat29°16°0%Saturday: Clear. High 29°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
  6. Sun29°16°0%Sunday: Clear. High 29°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 11:19 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR

INR · Indian Rupee

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Punjab

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

  • JanLohriPunjab

Day trips by train

  • Attari-Wagah borderThe daily border ceremony with Pakistan draws crowds. Arrive early for a seat.
  • Harike WetlandA wildlife sanctuary in Tarn Taran district, with birdlife and Indus river dolphins.
  • JalandharThe Shri Devi Talab Mandir draws many pilgrims, and the city sits on the Grand Trunk Road.

Before you go to Punjab

eSIM for IndiaData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide
Money and cards in PunjabCash for small shops and autosRead the guide
Stays in AmritsarCompare bases near the Golden TempleRead the guide

Rules for Punjab, checked

  • Apply for an e-Visa before travel if your passport needs one. Check eligibility on the official Indian e-Visa portal.Source
  • Cover your head, remove shoes and follow posted signs at gurdwaras and Hindu temples such as the Durgiana Mandir.
  • Declare foreign currency above the legal limit and any restricted goods on the arrival form. Check with Indian customs before you fly.
  • Ask before photographing people, and follow the signs on photography inside gurdwaras and temples.

Punjab FAQ

Is Punjab worth visiting?

Yes, if you want Sikh culture, farmland and food, especially around Amritsar and the Golden Temple. It is a flat farming state, so plan around cities, shrines and rivers rather than mountains.

How many days do you need in Punjab?

Amritsar works well as a base for the Golden Temple, the Attari-Wagah border ceremony and a day trip to Jalandhar or Harike Wetland.

Where should I stay in Punjab?

Amritsar, close to the Golden Temple, suits most first trips. Chandigarh, the planned capital shared with Haryana, is the other common base. Compare stays near the temple before you book.

What should I wear to the Golden Temple?

Cover your head, dress modestly and remove your shoes at the entrance. Scarves are usually available at the entrance, so you do not need to bring one.

When is the best time to visit Punjab?

October and November are dry and temperate after the monsoon. Summer from mid-April to June is very hot, and the monsoon from early July to late September brings most of the rain.

Is it safe to drive in Punjab?

Driving is demanding. Amritsar and Ludhiana are among the Indian cities with the highest road accident rates, so a hired car with a driver is simpler than self-driving.