The Golden Temple, Amritsar

The Golden Temple in Amritsar (Enzo Coribello)

The Golden Temple in Amritsar is the holiest shrine for Sikhs who form India’s third largest religion. Located in the Punjab, in northwestern India, the temple is a stunning sight with its golden cupolas and white marble structures. Officially known as the Harmandir Sahib, the temple, or gurudwara, is an important Sikh pilgrimage destination and a popular tourist attraction.  The atmosphere inside the temple has often been called magical, and most visitors agree that the Golden Temple is one of the most peaceful, sacred and holy places in India.

The Harmandir Sahib and the Guru Granth Sahib

The holiest part of the temple complex is the Harmandir Sahib itself, the magnificent golden structure that rises in the middle of a large pool of water called Amrit Sarovar or a “pool of nectar”. Sikh pilgrims take dips in the water and a bridge called Guru’s Bridge leads over the water to the sacred temple. Sikhism’s holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept in the temple and sacred verses from the book are sung inside the Harmandir Sahib all day. In the evening the book is carried back to the Akal Takht, the Sikh Parliament building.

Visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar

History of the Amritsar Golden Temple

It was the fourth of Sikhism’s ten gurus, Guru Ram Das (1534 –1581), who started the construction of the Amritsar temple in the 16^th century. The original temple was destroyed in an attack by the Mughals in the 1760’s and was later rebuilt. In the early 1900’s the temple roofs were covered in the famous gilded copper plates that give the Golden Temple its name.

In the early 1980’s the Golden Temple was the site of a bloody struggle, when Sikh separatists, campaigning for an independent homeland for Sikhs, occupied the temple. In 1984, India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the army in to evict people from the temple. Hundreds died in the controversial eviction and parts of the temple were damaged. Indira Gandhi herself was later assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards.

Visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar

Visitors from all religions are welcome into the Golden Temple. Free vegetarian meals are offered to tens of thousands of pilgrims daily and all meals are prepared by volunteers. The temple also offers free accommodation for pilgrims.

No alcohol, tobacco or meat is allowed into the temple complex. Shoes must be removed before entering the temple and left outside where storage is offered. Feet are washed in a pool of water at the entrance. All visitors must cover their heads with a scarf, and scarves are offered for free outside the temple entrance. As this is a holy place, visitors should dress respectfully, meaning no sleeveless tops, shorts or short skirts.

Stepping out of the temple into the surrounding Old City is a step back into the busy, polluted and chaotic reality of an Indian city. The area around the temple complex is filled with restaurants, shops, souvenir stores and hotels or guesthouses that promise a temple view, although if a good view is important, it is best to have a look at the room in advance.

How to Travel to Amritsar

Amritsar is easy to get to from Delhi by bus or by train. The air-conditioned and fast Shatabdi Express travels between Amritsar and Delhi twice a day and takes just under six hours. Other trains take around eight hours. There is a crowded ticket office at the railway station and a smaller reservation office by the Golden Temple.

There are regular buses from Delhi to Amritsar and the trip takes around ten hours. Buses also leave frequently to Chandigarh, a regional travel hub with further connections to other parts of North India.

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