Flights from Melbourne to Amritsar

Melbourne has one of the largest Punjabi communities in Australia, and most of our customers on this route are going home to villages and towns around Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Hoshiarpur. Flying into Delhi and then driving north can take the best part of a day on the road. Landing in Amritsar cuts that down to a short drive for most of the Majha and Doaba regions.

Families with elderly parents or young children find this especially useful, since it avoids a long road journey straight after an overnight flight.

It also helps on the way back. Checking in at a smaller airport, close to home, is far less tiring for older relatives than a long drive to Delhi followed by a busy international terminal. Where the Amritsar fare is only slightly higher, most of our Punjabi customers tell us it is worth it.

Airline routes into Amritsar change more often than routes into the big metros, so we check current schedules every time. Options typically include:

• Melbourne to Delhi nonstop, then Delhi to Amritsar on an Air India or IndiGo domestic flight. This can be the quickest when the timings line up.
• Via Singapore, where Scoot has operated flights to Amritsar.
• Via Kuala Lumpur, where Malaysia Airlines or Batik Air have flown to Amritsar at times.
• Via a Gulf hub on some dates, depending on which carriers are serving Amritsar that season.

If none of these suit, we can also look at flying into Chandigarh or Delhi and continuing by road.

From Melbourne, the Delhi option has one particular advantage when the nonstop is running: you only have one long flight, and the second sector to Amritsar is about an hour. The Singapore and Kuala Lumpur options involve two medium-length flights instead, which some travellers find easier to sleep through. Neither is right for everyone, so we explain the timings and let you choose.

Vaisakhi on 13 or 14 April is a major time to be in Punjab, and many families in Melbourne plan trips around it. Guru Nanak Gurpurab, usually in November, and Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas) draw large crowds to the Golden Temple, and flights into Amritsar fill up quickly around both.

Punjabi weddings are busiest from November to February. That overlaps with the Australian summer holidays, so December and January can be both crowded and costly. If you are flying for a wedding, book as soon as the date is set.

Dense fog across north India from about December to January is the one thing we warn every Amritsar traveller about. It can delay or divert morning flights into both Delhi and Amritsar, sometimes for hours.

• Leave a long gap if your Delhi to Amritsar sector is on a separate ticket.
• Where possible, keep all sectors on one booking so the airline is responsible for rebooking you.
• Tell family collecting you to check the arrival status before setting off.

Amritsar's airport is at Raja Sansi, north-west of the city. It is much smaller and quieter than Delhi, and it is a short drive to the Golden Temple and the old city. Taxis and app-based cabs are available. Many families arrange a car from home instead, since the onward drive to their village may take one or two hours.

Visitors with a spare afternoon often go to the Attari-Wagah border ceremony, which is about 30 kilometres from the city.

For many of our customers, the first stop after landing is Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple. It is open around the clock, so even a late-night arrival can be followed by a visit. Heads must be covered and shoes removed, and there are free shoe deposits and head coverings at the entrances. The langar serves free meals to everyone throughout the day.

Hotels and guesthouses close to the temple fill up around Gurpurab and Vaisakhi. If you plan to stay in the old city for a night or two before heading to family, book those rooms at the same time as your flights.

Baggage is a common concern on Punjab trips, with families taking gifts and clothing for relatives. Check the allowance on each airline in your itinerary, as low-cost sectors can have lower limits. We can also request wheelchair assistance for parents at Tullamarine, the transit airport and Amritsar.

Australian passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI; we assist with Indian visas and OCI applications. Relatives coming to Melbourne need an Australian visa before they fly, and should declare items such as pinni, spices and dried fruit on arrival under Australian biosecurity rules. Check official sources for current requirements.

Also see Melbourne to Delhi, Delhi to Melbourne, or call our Melbourne team on 03 9012 8407.

The return trip deserves as much planning as the outbound one. If your family lives an hour or two from Amritsar, allow for the drive plus at least three hours at the airport for an international departure. In winter, check whether morning fog is delaying flights before you leave home.

Arriving at Tullamarine, eligible Australian passport holders can usually use SmartGate. Declare any food in your bags on the incoming passenger card, as items from home are routinely inspected.

Is there a direct flight from Melbourne to Amritsar?

No. Travellers connect once, commonly in Delhi, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, depending on which airlines are serving Amritsar at the time.

Is it better to fly to Amritsar or Delhi for Punjab?

For most of northern Punjab, flying into Amritsar saves a long drive. Delhi can sometimes be cheaper or have better timing, so we compare both.

Does fog affect flights to Amritsar?

In December and January it often can, particularly in the mornings. Keeping every sector on one ticket gives you more protection if delays happen.

When do flights to Amritsar get busiest?

Around Vaisakhi in April, Gurpurab and Diwali in October and November, and throughout the December to January wedding and school holiday period.