Introduction :
The Harmandir Sahib (also informally known as Golden Temple)is a Sikh Gurdwara (place of worship by the Sikhs) located in the city district of Amritsar in the state of Punjab in India. It is the sacred holy site of worship by the Sikh Indians and is also listed as one of the Seven wonders of India by the Times of India. The four doors around the Harmandir Sahib symbolizes the openness of the Sikhs towards people of all races and religions. The Harmandir Sahib is constructed by white marble overlaid with gold leaf in the middle of a fresh lake fed by the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Pilgrims bath and perform purification in the lake before entering the temple.
View of the Harmandir Sahib and the sacred lake
Image attribution to appaji @ Flickr
Akal Takhat – The throne of spiritual authority
Image attribution to Amarpreet.singh.in @ Wiki
Golden entrance into the Golden temple
Image attribution to Ekabhishek @ Wiki
History :
The site of the Karmandir Sahib was originally built in 1574 and was given to the daughter of Guru Amar Das as a wedding gift. Guru Amar Das begins the construction in 1577 but it was till 1604 when the temple’s construction was completed by Guru Arjun, 2 Gurus after Amar Das. The foundation at Akal Takhat, the throne of spirtual authority was laid by Guru Har Govind. The holy site was destroyed by one of the Afghan generals during their invasion and had to be rebuilt in the 1760s.
Inside the Golden Temple
Watch towers of the holy site
Image attribution to Soman @ Wiki
Golden temple at night
Image attribution to Himalayan Trails @ Wiki
Getting there :
The nearest airport to the Golden Temple in Amritsar is the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) and is 11 km away from the city of Amritsar.
