Taj Swarna
Amritsar

There are hotels that deliver on design, those that master service, and then, just occasionally, a place that gets the pulse of a city exactly right. Taj Swarna is that kind of hotel. Situated in the leafy Basant Avenue neighbourhood of Amritsar, a gracious district of broad boulevards and quiet calm, it brings a dash of polished elegance to one of India’s most soulful, history-thick cities.

Just twenty minutes from the Golden Temple, Taj Swarna is a contemporary sanctuary whose name, “Swarna” (meaning “golden”), pays homage to the gilded spiritual heart of Amritsar itself. From the moment you step inside its soaring lobby, sunlight slanting through floor-to-ceiling glass, flanked by locally inspired art and soft-toned marble, there’s a sense of clarity, space and quiet grandeur.

Design throughout walks a careful line; graceful, understated, but anchored in place, and Punjab’s craftsmanship is gently woven in to echo the richness of the region. The 157 rooms and suites are expansive and beautifully lit, with large, glass-panelled windows that frame the skyline and flood the interiors with that soft northern light. Comfort is intuitive; deep mattresses, gleaming bathrooms and the sort of silence that’s rare in cities.

But it’s not just the rooms that impress. This is a hotel that understands the centrality of food to the Punjabi soul. Grand Trunk, the all-day dining restaurant, is a gentle nod to the historic trade route that once shaped this region. Here, richly spiced dals, buttery Amritsari kulchas and charcoal-smoked kebabs share the table with international fare, all served with charm and warmth.

Upstairs, The Chinese Room surprises with authentic Cantonese and Sichuan dishes, and an elegance that feels both urbane and unexpected. Meanwhile, The Peg, the hotel’s bar and lounge, invites guests to unwind with a whisky in hand and stories on their lips. It's named, of course, after the famously generous Punjabi “peg” of alcohol, and it lives up to its billing with low lighting, leather armchairs and a mood that shifts seamlessly from day to night.

And yet, amid all this pleasure, Taj Swarna doesn’t forget its quieter side. The J Wellness Circle spa (Taj’s signature offering) is housed in a calm, aromatic space and offers Ayurvedic therapies, massages and holistic treatments using natural oils and traditional techniques. There’s also a serene outdoor pool, a peaceful fitness studio and leafy gardens for a reflective pause.

The staff are always ready with a warm “sat sri akal” and a gentle hand to guide you, with the sense that nothing is ever too much trouble. That’s the Taj signature, of course, but in Amritsar it’s layered with the natural hospitality that Punjab is known for.

Taj Swarna is perfectly suited for the thoughtful traveller, for couples on a quiet pilgrimage to the Golden Temple, for families tracing ancestral roots, for aesthetes drawn by Amritsar’s crumbling havelis and flaming tandoors. And while Amritsar may be famous for its fervour, food and faith, Taj Swarna shows that it’s also a city for moments of stillness, reflection and grace.

A golden retreat, in every sense of the word.

Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran