Is Amritsar Safe in November 2026?

Fraudsters operate fake websites impersonating the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's (SGPC) official sarai accommodation service for pilgrims visiting the Golden Temple. The bogus portals display authentic images of the Golden Temple and Saragarhi Niwas, then request advance payment via QR code or online wallet. Once payment is made, the phone numbers go defunct immediately. Multiple complaints have been filed with Amritsar police and SGPC has issued repeated public warnings, with the Tribune India reporting over 10 documented victims.

How to avoid: Book accommodation only through the official SGPC website at www.sgpcsarai.com. The SGPC never requests payment via QR code, mobile wallets, or third-party links. Legitimate rates run ₹500–₹1,100; any site quoting significantly higher prices or demanding 50% advance via app transfer is fraudulent.

A man dressed in simple clothing approaches tourists near the Golden Temple entrance claiming to be a temple volunteer or sevadaar (volunteer worker). He offers to guide visitors through the complex and explain rituals, then steers them to a commission-paying shop selling religious goods, textiles, or gems. The "tour" ends at the shop, often far from the temple.

How to avoid: Decline unsolicited guide offers near the temple. Official temple information is available at the main entrance. Real sevadaars do not solicit tourists or redirect them to shops.

Auto-rickshaw and cycle-rickshaw drivers outside Amritsar Railway Station routinely quote fares 3–5 times the metered or standard rate to tourists. Drivers claim the meter is broken or that a flat rate applies. The route to the Golden Temple is a common target, as is transport to the Wagah Border.

How to avoid: Agree on the fare before boarding. Use the Ola or Uber app where available, or ask your hotel in advance what the standard fare should be. The Golden Temple is roughly 2 km from the station — a fair auto fare is under ₹100.

Vendors positioned just outside the Golden Temple complex sell prasad (religious offering, typically karah prasad) at inflated prices and imply that purchasing it is required or customary before entering. The prasad distributed inside the temple is free. Some vendors sell low-quality or stale goods misrepresented as temple-blessed.

How to avoid: Do not buy prasad from street vendors outside the temple. The temple distributes authentic karah prasad free of charge to all visitors inside the langar (community kitchen) area. No purchase is required to enter.

At Amritsar's ISBT (Inter-State Bus Terminal) on GT Road, unofficial touts and individuals posing as helpers approach tourists and insist their pre-booked bus has been cancelled, does not exist, or has already departed. The claim is false — the buses typically run on schedule but are difficult to find in the sprawling, confusing terminal layout. The goal is to redirect tourists to a more expensive taxi, private minibus, or a new ticket sale that earns the tout a commission. Multiple traveler accounts document this tactic specifically on routes to Dharamsala, Chandigarh, and Delhi.

How to avoid: Ignore all unsolicited helpers at the bus terminal and walk directly to the official enquiry counter or your bus bay number as listed on your ticket. Call the bus operator or driver using the number on your booking confirmation rather than relying on bystanders. If the number does not connect, go to the enquiry window — do not accept a tout's claim that no bus exists.