How to reach your hotel in Amritsar

Harike Wetland also known as “Hari-ke-Pattan”, with the Harike Lake in the deeper part of it, is the largest wetland in northern India in the border of Tarn Taran Sahib district and Ferozepur district of the Punjab state in India.

Experience rich biodiversity, including:

1. 200+ species of birds
2. 16+ types of floating flowers and vegetation
3. 26+ types of fishes, endangered turtles, Otters and more
4. Indus river dolphins (endangered species)
5. Ghariyals (critically endangered)

and more.

The wetland and the lake were formed by constructing the headworks across the Sutlej river, in 1953. The headworks is located downstream of the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers.

The rich biodiversity of the wetland which plays a vital role in maintaining the precious hydrological balance in the catchment with its vast concentration of migratory fauna of waterfowls including a number of globally threatened species (stated to be next only to the Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur) has been responsible for the recognition accorded to this wetland in 1990, by the Ramsar Convention, as one of the Ramasar sites in India, for conservation, development and preservation of the ecosystem.

This man-made, riverine, lacustrine wetland spreads into the three districts of Tarn Taran Sahib, Ferozepur and Kapurthala in Punjab and covers an area of 4100 ha. Conservation of this Wetland has been given due importance, since 1987–88, both by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and the Punjab State Government.

Getting to Harike

The place is 45 minutes drive from Amritsar city and you can hire a bus (Rs 50) or a Taxi (Upto 2000) to get to this place.

Travel Tips / Hacks for Harike:
1. Get a permit for bird watching from forest officer before 4pm (Free of cost, needs identify proof)
2. Carry bird watching binocularsfor bird watching experience
3. Plan your route back at a decent time as the place lacks hotels. Locals depend upon a well maintained gurdwara for the rest.

Got any images / tips / hacks for Harike? Feel free to post them below.

So, while you are staying at Backpackers’ Nest hotel, now you can enjoy some amazing PS3 games as well while you stay.

So do you like archery?

Or bowling?

Put your gaming hats on. There are more than 16 games activity games to choose from including boxing and disk throw.

So, while you are staying at Backpackers’ Nest hotel, now you can enjoy some amazing PS3 games as well while you stay.
So do you like archery?
Or bowling?
Put your gaming hats on. There are more than 16 games activity games to choose from including boxing and disk throw.

Read more

The hard work by the Backpacker’s Team has been appreciated by one of the strongest hotel booking portals of the World – Booking.com

Feels good. Here are screenshots from the award unpacking experience. Kudos to the team. Love to all the amazing guests we got a chance to serve this year.

Well, that was 2016. 2017… here we come

Guest Experience Award for 2017 Update:

We have been awarded with Guest Experience Award again by Booking.com for the year of 2017 as well (as recognized by the OTA itself). We will be sharing its unpacking photoes as soon as the certificate reaches us by post.

Wagah Border Ceremony

About Wagah

Getting to Wagah Border

Travel Hacks and Tips for Wagah Border:

The area around Golden Temple is blessed with loads of food choices. However, we have listed some of them as per most popular choices of food and cuisines one may like.

Bharawan Da Dhaba
125 years old and Famous punjabi restauant. Known for Restaurant, Groups, Families, Budget Friendly, Breakfast & Brunch
140 meters, 2 mins walking distance. See Directions

Subway
If you need something healthy after Indian spicy food  
700 meters, 9 minutes walking distance. See Directions

Cafe Coffee Day
If you want to have nice coffee. Known for Cafe or Coffee Shop, Families
600 meters, 7 minutes walking distance. See Directions

Kesar Da Dhaba
Famous punjabi restaurant. Known for Restaurant, Groups, Families, Budget Friendly, Breakfast & Brunch
750 meters, 9 minutes walking distance. See Directions

Domino’s Pizza
If you are up for Pizzas. You know what to expect.
600 meters, 7 inutes walking distance. See Directions

McDonald’s
Some unhealthy fast food, if you wish. Known for Restaurant, Families, Budget Friendly, Breakfast & Brunch
650 meters, 8 minutes walking distance. See Directions

Travel hacks:

1. If you are too tired of walking, hire an electric auto and negotiate to take you there or we can deliver it to your room, shall you need.
2. Amritsar is also a city for Foodies. Contact us for a special Food Tour
3. We have special arrangements for guests who got sick while travelling or are traveling with small kids or pets.

If you are a tourist and visiting Amritsar for the first time, here are the places you need to go to experience the city: 

Golden Temple, Also known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib

Also known as Golden Temple, it is supreme holy shine of Sikhs and birthplace of the religion. A trip to Amritsar is not compelte without visiting this place. It attracts more than 160,000 devotees from around the world every day.
See Directions or Arrange a Trip

Jallianwala Bagh

A park where thousands of Indians were killed by Britishers, one of the events that ignited freedom struggle of India against British rule. One can still see the carefully preserved bullet marks. Located on your way to Golden Temple.
See Directions or Arrange a Trip

The Silver Temple (Shree Durgiana Tirath)

Did you know, there is a Silver Temple as well in Amrtisar, India? It is the Durgiana Temple, also known by other names of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Durga Tirath and Sitla Mandir, is a premier Hindu temple of Punjab situated in the city of Amritsar. It is just on your way to Golden Temple. 
See Directions or Arrange a Trip

Wagah Border

The lowering of the flags ceremony at the Wagah border, is a daily military practice that the security forces of India and Pakistan have jointly followed since 1959. The ceremony starts with a blustering parade by the soldiers from both the sides, and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations’ flags.
See Directions or Arrange a Trip

Ram Teerath

Ram Teerath (a.k.a Valmiki Tirath) is an important ancient Hindu pilgrimage center located 10 km to west of Amritsar city. The place is birthplace of Lava and Kusha, sons of Ramachandra, in ashrama of Saint Valmiki.
See Directions or Arrange a Trip

River Dolphins, Exhautic birds at Harike

Harike Wetland also known as “Hari-ke-Pattan”, with the Harike Lake in the deeper part of it, is the largest wetland in northern India in the border of Tarn Taran Sahib district and Ferozepur district of the Punjab state in India.
See Directions or Arrange a Trip

1. Take a dip inside holy water
Water is usually cold and has big large fishes (trapped far away from the stairs of the holy lake, and they don’t bite).

2. Read entire history of Sikhs
The fascinating history of the place is written over giant Silver boards all over the place in 3 languages.

3. Attend a ceremony
The priests conduct 9 ceremonies at different times of the day that are worth experiencing. Golden temple is not just a place to visit, but the time when you visit it also matters. Check with the reception of our hotel for details on upcoming ceremonies and when they start.

4. Have Langar
This is a huge kitchen that serves more than 100,000 people every day. The food made with love and prayers tastes amazing. Ask a local where you can get langar.

5. Have Chota Langar
Okay. That is not an official word and don’t try asking someone about it to save yourself from weird eyeroll expressions. There is a place where you can get tea and snacks during night and it is worth trying the place for food.

6. Look out for hidden places
The Golden temple is huge, the premises is spread across a very vast area and there are alot of hidden places to explore. There are several floors in each building connected via stairs and each floor has a purpose (only some of them are restricted, rest all is open). When you are in the premises, don’t be afraid to climb up the stairs to an another floor. Hire a guide and he can give you such a tour. 

7. Volunteer for Seva in Kitchen
Now, go back to where you ate amazing food (langar). Visit its huge kitchen (an experience in its own) and volunteer for seva (offer help). You soon could be washing dishes with hundreds of others or making chapattis or serving food to the sangat (devotees).

Ram Teerath (a.k.a Valmiki Tirath) is an important ancient Hindu pilgrimage center located 10 km to west of Amritsar city. The place is birthplace of Lava and Kusha, sons of Ramachandra, in ashrama of Saint Valmiki.

Getting to Ram Teerath

Travel Tips / Hacks