The Golden Temple, Amritsar

The Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, in Amritsar is the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith, a serene, gold-covered temple that seems to float at the centre of a sacred pool of water, reached by a marble causeway. Alive day and night with pilgrims, the murmur of scripture and hymns drifting across the water, it embodies Sikh ideals of equality and service, and its vast free community kitchen feeds tens of thousands every day.

What you actually see

• The golden temple - the gilded shrine on the sacred pool.
• The sacred pool - the still water and marble causeway around it.
• The langar - the vast free community kitchen feeding all comers.
• The atmosphere - the pilgrims, hymns and devotion day and night.

When to go

October to March for the coolest weather; the temple is open and beautiful at all hours, magical at dawn and when floodlit and reflected in the pool at night. All are welcome regardless of faith.

Honest expectations

All visitors, regardless of faith, are welcome but must observe the customs: cover your head, remove shoes, wash your feet and dress modestly. It is a deeply sacred, busy place of worship, not a tourist attraction, so behave with respect. Volunteering in the kitchen is a moving way to take part.

Nearby

The Jallianwala Bagh memorial is beside it; the Wagah border ceremony is a short drive.