The Golden Temple, also known as Darbar Sahib or Sri Harmandir Sahib, is considered by Sikhs to be the holiest pilgrimage place in all of India. People go to this Temple for various reasons, including ceremonies and to admire its architectural component. An official from SGPL said that this shrine is visited by more than one lakh devout individuals daily. Therefore, according to the World Book of Records, the Golden Temple is the location that receives the most tourists each year. 

A visit to the Golden temple is essential for every vacation in Amritsar and should not be skipped. Read our comprehensive guide to learn all you need to know about the Golden Temple. This Temple was constructed in the 16th century on top of an artificial lake that was constructed at the same time.

At the end of the 16th century, the Temple’s substructure was laid out for the first time. As a result of repeated assaults by Mughals and other invaders, the Temple was destroyed and then again rebuilt. It was utterly destroyed, and the swimming pool was converted into a garbage can. The Temple was reconstructed by Ranjit Singh at the turn of the 19th century and had a gold foil covering applied. This is how the renowned location came to be known as the Golden Temple.

At the tail end of the 20th century, the Temple was razed to the ground and then reconstructed. Everyone of any faith, creed, or gender is welcome within the Temple. The Temple is in the shape of a square and has four doors leading inside. It has a walkway that may be around the pool’s whole perimeter. 

The temple complex is home to several different structures, including the Akal Takht, the office of the Gurudwara committee, a museum, and a communal kitchen. Every day, 100,000 individuals come to pray at this Temple. This facility has been put up for consideration as a potential historic site.

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Sikhism festivals, like Vaisakhi, are the times of year that are ideal for travel. The celebration takes place during the second week of April. During this time, numerous different rituals may be found. 

There are many more important festivals to pick from, such as the birthday of Guru Ram Das and the day when Guru Teg Bahadur was martyred. On the holiday of Diwali, the Temple will be illuminated with vibrant lights, and in the evening, there will be a fireworks display.

  • Spiritual Bliss

There is a feeling of sanctity, tranquility, and positive energy that permeates the room even when there are many worshipers around the inner sanctum and the exterior portions of the Temple. This helps to maintain a sense of peace. One can have true contact with the heavenly spirit that pervades the Temple, which is heightened by the continuous recitation of Sikh hymns, prayers, and readings from the scriptures. 

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While you are there, the atmosphere will make you feel as if you have been transported to a tranquil and ethereal otherworld due to how it was constructed.

  • Superb Architecture

The building of the Temple is particularly impressive; it was built in the architectural style of the Sikhs, but it also incorporates design elements from the Islamic and Rajputana traditions. 

The gold plating surrounding the dome and the entrances located on all four corners of the Temple are meant to represent how open the Temple is. Marble balustrades line the causeway’s sides leading to the inner sanctuary. This causeway is connected to the sanctuary by a walkway. The inside is lavishly decorated with themes made of flowers and mirrors, among other kinds of materials. 

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There are breathtaking murals tucked away in every nook and corner and parapets and spherical pinnacles that have been gilded in copper. Holy water is what the devotees call the water found in the pool known as Amrit Sarovar, which is situated all around the Temple. People interested in historical structures with important cultural meaning should go to the Temple.

  • Guru Ram Das Langar

The operation of the largest free community kitchen in the world, which serves a wholesome vegetarian supper to around 50,000 visitors each day, is a notable success in humanitarian work (and occasionally feeds twice as many people). Regardless of their history or social standing, everyone is welcome to participate in the langar, and nobody is ever excluded from participating in the ceremony.

The kitchen is managed entirely by volunteers, and all of the food and materials used in its preparation are gifts from generous community members. Everyone eats on the floor since there is no hierarchy in the dining hall where the meals are served. 

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Everyone is on the same level playing field. Even though they aren’t complicated, the dishes are nevertheless really excellent. The langar has been featured in several television shows and documentaries that have been shown worldwide. 

It is a location that has to be seen firsthand to be believed in terms of the sheer scale of its operation and the food cooked with such care.

  • The Golden Temple at Night

A scene estimated to be worth one million dollars is regarded as one of the most compelling reasons to visit the Golden Temple. The Temple is adorned with golden, blue, and yellow lights and shines with all of its splendor when seen during the nighttime hours. This gives the structure an extraordinarily gorgeous image. As a result of the lights emanating from the Temple and the causeway, the body of water known as the Amrit Sarovar, located all around the Temple, sparkles with ethereal grace.

When specific religious festivities related to the Sikh religion occur, fireworks are set off all over the golden dome of the Temple. This makes the Temple look even more majestic. 

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Large chandeliers and other forms of lighting were used to brighten the interior, resulting in an ambiance ideal for activities related to religion or photography.

  • Historical and Artistic Sites

If you take a trip around the Temple complex, you will be bombarded with a kaleidoscope of colors and a cacophony of sounds, both of which will cause your mind to be blown. If you wander around the facility, you will experience this phenomenon. 

In addition to the regular tourists and pilgrims from all across India, many people from other nations also visit, bringing with them a diverse spectrum of nationalities and cultural traditions. If you’re lucky, you could run across some Sikh mystics or Nihangs. 

Nihangs are members of an order of Sikh warriors famed for their dress, which consists of enormous, colorful turbans and traditional Punjabi apparel. Sikh mystics are also known as Nihangs.

  • Sikhism and its ceremonies explained

Outside the gate, you will find a place where you may hire a local guide to get further information on the Sikh faith. This guide will give information on various subjects, including but not limited to the history of the Temple, the Sikh religious order, and its founding Gurus. 

The Gurdwara Committee also hosts guided tours in addition to those other services. Aside from that, you can participate in the daily rituals that take place at the Gurudwara, such as the “Prakash” ceremony in the morning, during which the Guru Granth Sahib is brought into the inner sanctum, and the “Sukhasan” ceremony, during which the holy book is carried on the head and placed in a palanquin while holy chants reverberate around it. 

  • The Structures Contained Within the Complex

Pay a visit to the Akal Takht, which is considered to be the most significant seat of authority in Sikhism and is the location where edicts on the faith are given. It is important not just from a political standpoint but also from a historical one. 

In addition, make it a point to stop by the building with the clock tower that houses the Sikh Museum and the octagonal Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib, which has nine levels. Both of these locations are not to be missed. Due to their appearance, a collection of jujube trees, commonly called ber trees, can be seen inside the complex. 

These trees have a major position in Sikhism since it was under these trees that the Gurus performed their miracles and oversaw the construction of the Temple. As a result, Sikhism attributes great importance to the trees. A visit to the little gurudwara at Ath Sath Tirath, situated in close proximity to the forest, is believed to be on par with making 68 pilgrimages throughout India.

  • Local tourist attractions

Your trip to the Golden Temple won’t be complete until you make a pit stop at the well-known Jallianwala Bagh, which is just one kilometer from the Golden Temple. You will have the opportunity to pay your respects to the victims of the atrocity at that location. 

Take a walking trip at Fawara Chowk to discover traditional Amritsar streets and the Redstone monument at Gandhi Gate, which leads to a colorful, frantic market where you can buy. 

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Taking this tour will also let you see the Gandhi Gate. One kilometer distant lies the Partition Museum, widely regarded as the most comprehensive archive of the India-Pakistan partition. 

The Mata Lal Devi Mandir is situated three kilometers distant; it is a psychedelic Temple designed in the form of a funhouse, and it is revered.

Conclusion

Amritsar is well-known for the majestic and renowned Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, one of the country’s most important spiritual monuments. The Temple is a two-story tower with a top half coated with about 400 kilograms of pure gold leaf, earning it its English name. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Sikh kingdom, is said to have started the building in the nineteenth century.

The remainder of the temple complex is white marble inlaid with precious and semi-precious colored stones. The pietra dura method was utilized to produce the motifs.