The Rich Palate of Amritsar – Indulge in the Authentic Flavours
With heady aroma of ghee wafting through the air and restaurants providing a carnival of colours for the eyes – Amritsar is a true smorgasbord for the senses.
Punjabi cuisine is an incredible gastronomic journey – a mélange of tantalising flavours and cultural vibes. It is impossible to deny the deliciousness that Punjabi food brings to the table; the fragrant spices, the succulent meats, and the colourful array of vegetables all contribute to its unique taste. And if you’re looking for a taste of authentic Punjab, look no further than Amritsar. From its searing spices to its savoury flavours, this city is sure to tempt your taste buds. Dig in and indulge.
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Lutyens, the Earth Resort
As the rain pelts down, the grand arch window of the Lutyens provides a front-row seat to the melancholic relic of the former 130-year-old Victoria Jubilee Hospital. To quell the nippy, drizzly rains, the kitchen staff brings piping hot, fragrant Shorba with basil-slicked mushrooms and crunchy bruschetta on the side. The aromatic flavours of the hearty stew, the earthy mushrooms and the fragrant herbs danced with every delectable crunch of the bruschetta. And the perfect accompaniment was a refreshing grilled vegetable salad with carom seed dressing, seared melt-in-mouth Creole cottage cheese, and tandoori chicken with mustard rice to entice one to savour the Amritsari cuisine with a continental twist.
Their in-house herb garden is a veritable cornucopia of flavourful garnishes, like pea twigs, mustard greens and more. All this is washed down with a mint cocktail spiked with Amritsari spices. Nestled amid four acres of Victorian-era heritage, the newly opened Earth Suites and Resort in Amritsar is a must-visit for anyone looking to savour slow life, sustainability and heritage living. There’s also an attempt to revive forgotten culinary practices. Local beverages like Lassi and Shikanjees are on offer. You can also visit the neighbouring Kulcha land and Makhan Fish and Chicken Corner for curated Punjabi delicacies.
Rang Punjab, the Farmer’s Restaurant
In the neighbouring 1860s town hall, Rang Punjab, a year old 350-seater restaurant, serves a curated Punjabi menu. By sourcing their ingredients directly from local farmers, they not only practice sustainability but also empower their community to lead healthier lives.
The Ranga meal begins with a selection of sharbat, a refreshing beverage that was brought to India by the Mughals in the 16th century and enjoyed by the great Babar himself, who famously requested regular shipments of ice from the Himalayas to indulge in his beloved drink. Rang Punjab’s Sharbat Bar is the place to be for all your thirst-quenching needs. From the classic Bazoori to Lychee ginger ale soda, Doodh Sodha, ganna juice sorbet, and Bramhi Badam, you’re sure to find something to finish off your meal. The ice here wasn’t sourced from the mountains, but the sharbat was nothing short of the one Babar may have savoured in his era.
Feast your way through a Punjabi spread of local delicacies – Aloo wadi, Kujje wali dal, kurkuri bhindi, crispy corn aam papad, loon mandi de chhole, sukki dal, lachha palak soya, louki raita, gur wale chawal, palak bathua raita, and phulkari pulao — all an integral part of Punjabi cuisine. Rang Punjab is also the only restaurant in town to be serving the signature Amritsari Bharwan Karela (stuffed bitter gourd) along with a selection of other traditional Punjabi specialities.
Soak up the rustic goodness of the food with the traditional shardai (thandai), and sweeten your meal with desserts like makhana lychee rabri and Amritsari fruit cream. Let your eyes be seduced by the vivacious decor while your taste buds are teased by the traditional flavours.
Down the Street
From kulchas to fish tikkas, there are so many dishes to try and decide between. Sample the Amritsari kulcha while taking a stroll through the city streets. Stuffed with potato or cottage cheese and cooked to a golden crisp in the tandoor, these piping hot kulchas are hand-crumbled until they become flaky and then generously drizzled with desi ghee. Soft and spongy, these kulchas make for the perfect all-day meal when served with chole and a side of spicy chutney.
To satiate the hunger pangs, one could even make a beeline for the many Chole puri and pinni joints that dot the streets, or get the langar at the Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) for free. The karah prasad here is not to be missed – a semolina halwa so rich and creamy that the ghee oozes out and runs down your arm, if you don’t gobble it up right away.
Marvel at the Local Sightseeing
Take a journey through history and embrace India’s patriotism while increasing your knowledge at the Partition Museum, the world’s first of its kind. Discover refugee artefacts, art, oral histories, and archival material spread across 14 galleries and then explore the 7-acre Jallianwala Bagh, a historic garden and memorial that commemorates the innocent lives lost in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre on 13 April 1919. Finally, wrap up your sightseeing with a visit to the 16th-century Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), a gurdwara of the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism and one of the holiest sites in Sikhism.
