After taking a dip in the holy waters of the sarovar, you would feel all clean and pious. The aura of the Golden Temple is such that no one goes away empty-handed. It is believed that taking a bow in front of the Guru Granth Sahib at the premises of the gurudwara is a cherishable experience. In order to maintain the sanctity of the sacred place of worship for the Sikhs, at least till 1 km, non-vegetarian food and alcohol is not available. Every year, thousands of devotees throng the city of Amritsar, offering prayers and taking back some hope.
There’s another amazing thing about Amritsar that you cannot miss out, the food. Punjabis are big at heart for sure, but their love for food is even bigger. Thick, creamy lassis are churned right from early morning while the kulchas and parathas are tossed on tawas to be served for breakfast. You have bread pakoras, kachoris, samosas and a plethora of options during breakfast time. The ghee-loaded nashta is enjoyed by the locals and tourists alike.
If you happen to visit the sacred city, do head to these breakfast spots right after your Guru ke darshan at Shri Harminder Sahib.
1. Bharawan Da Dhaba
When in Amritsar, it is just not possible that you skip this place from your to eat list. The most renowned and earliest dhabas in the city, it serves the best Amritsari kulchas and chole in town. Although you might come across a plethora of them during your sightseeing, the original one is located in Hall Bazaar, near the Partition Museum so do keep an eye for it. Order their king size Special Amritsari kulcha with a glass of lassi and you’ll be sorted until late evening.
Where: Hall Bazaar
2. Kanhaiya Sweets
Looking for a filling and greasy breakfast? Kanhaiya Sweets is the place for you then. If you arrive early in the morning, you’ll get to enjoy their deep-fried kachoris with a spicy aloo ki subzi. Moreover, their chole bhature are mind-blowing and would also give you a break from the kulcha overdose. Post that, dig into some freshly-prepared phirni and get some sweets packed for back home too.
Where: 75, Lawrence Road, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Nagar, White Avenue
If you’re living near the Golden Temple, this might be a little far given the traffic in the city so we suggest you leave early. Less of a dhaba and more of a restaurant, this would give you the real Punjabi flavours in a fine-dining setup. Nothing too fancy yet delicious, their chole kulche are a hit among the locals and tourists. The crispy, stuffed kulchas cooked on a tandoor are served with a fiery chole curry and some dahi.
Where: Shop No.7, Near Sultanwind Gate, Dashamesh Market, Katra Ahluwalia
4. Kesar Da Dhaba
You would see a great divide between the people if you ask them to choose between Bharawan Da Dhaba and Kesar Da Dhaba. The two seem to be in a tough competition over who makes better kulchas and chole. Now, to decide that, we recommend that you have breakfast at both places and let us know.
Where: Chowk Passian, Rajpura, near Telephone Exchange