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.

History

According to Sikh tradition, the land was chosen by the third Guru, Guru Amar Das, who asked his disciple Ram Das to find a site for a new town around a man-made pool; the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das, completed the pool in 1577. The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, finished the buildings, and in 1604 he placed a copy of the Adi Granth in the temple, while the town of Ramdaspur grew around it, built by voluntary work and donations (Wikipedia, Golden Temple).

What you'll find

• 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.

Before you go

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.

Key facts