Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab

HARMANDIR SAHIB GOLDEN TEMPLE

Amritsar, Punjab, India

God

Guru Granth Sahib is the main deity of this temple.

Interesting Facts

Major highlight of the Golden Temple complex is the 'Guru-ka-Langar', a dining hall where around 35,000 people a day are fed for free by temple volunteers. Golden Temple has the biggest and largest free kitchen in the entire world.
One of the most important festivals of Golden Temple is Vaisakhi, which is celebrated in the second week of April.
It is believed that Lord Buddha used to meditate in the sacred site of the Golden Temple.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit the temple is Summer season. The best months to visit are May to July and September to October.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 28°C during night)Average - May (40°C during the day and 32°C during night)Lowest - December to February (20°C during day and 8°C during night)Monsoon season - July to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
Cover you head with a cloth before entering the main temple premises.

Smoking and drinking is prohibited in this temple.
Chewing betel leaves, tobacco, gutka and spitting inside temple is strictly prohibited.
Do not swim in the surrounding lake.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Amritsar Bus Stand	1.8 KM	0183-2551734
Amritsar Railway Station	2 KM	139
Adampur Airport	92.4 KM	0183-2214166

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Amritsar Railway Station	2 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Adampur Airport	92.4 KM	0183-2214166

Architecture

Golden Temple, or Sri Harmandir Sahib, is built on a 67 sq. ft. platform and is surrounded by a lake called the Amrit Sarovar (the pool of nectars), which is spread over an area of 150 sq. m. The temple covers an area of 40.5 sq. ft. There are entrances to the temple on all the four sides, which stands for the importance of acceptance and openness. The shrine is symbolic of the doctrines of Sikkhism and also represents the magnificent strength of all Sikhs. Its entrance is an ornate archway, with intricate inlay work. The verses from the Granth Sahib have been inscribed on the doorway. The temple's exterior is plated with gold. The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at the shore end of the causeway. The doorframe of the arch is about 10ft in height and 8ft 6inches in breadth. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. They open on to the causeway or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harimandir Sahib. It is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width. The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide 'Pardakshna’ (circumambulatory path). It runs round the main shrine and leads to the 'Har ki Paure’ (steps of God). On the first floor of 'Har ki Paure’, there is continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib.

The main structure of Sri Harimandir Sahib, functionally as well as technically is a three-storied one. The front, which faces the bridge, is decorated with repeated cusped arches and the roof of the first floor is at the height of the 26 feet and 9 inches. At the top of the first floor, 4 feet high parapet rises on all the sides which has also four 'Mamtees’ on the four corners and exactly on the top of the central hall of the main sanctuary rises the third story. It is a small square room and has three gates. A regular recitation of Guru Granth Sahib is also held there. On the top of the square room stands the low fluted 'Gumbaz’ (dome), having lotus petal motif in relief at the base, inverted lotus at the top which supports the 'Kalash’ having a beautiful 'Chhatri’ at the end. Sheesh Mahal or Mirror Room is constructed on the second storey, which is gilded with mirrors and has intricate work of various patterns. Above the Sheesh Mahal, there is a golden dome, along with several miniature domes. The mural work in the temple is characterized by floral patterns interspersed with animal motifs. Inside the Temple complex, there are many Shrines of the Gurus.

There are three Holy Trees (Bers) inside the temple, each associated with a historical event or Sikh saint. There are also memorial plaques that commemorate the rich history of the land, along with the memory of the brave martyrs. The golden plates that cover the exterior of Golden Temple's upper floor and domes as well as its exquisite marble work were done under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He developed the temple by including the gilding of the embossed plates, renewing the pietra dura and the embellishment of the ceilings with mirror and floral designs. The architecture of the Golden Temple is a unique blend of the Hindu and Muslim styles.

History

Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Earlier the planning to excavate the holy tank (Amritsar or Amrit Sarovar) was chalked out by Guru Amardas Sahib, the Third Nanak, but it was executed by Guru Ramdas Sahib under the supervision of Baba Budha ji. The land for the site was acquired by the earlier Guru Sahibs on payment or free of cost from the Zamindars (landlords) of native villages. The plan to establish a town settlement was also made. Therefore, the construction work on the Sarovar (the tank) and the town started simultaneously in 1570. The work on both projects completed in 1577 A.D. The building work completed in 1601 A.D. on Bhadoon Sudi 1st, 1661 Bikrmi Samvat (August/September,1604). Guru Arjan Sahib installed newly created Guru Granth Sahib, in Sri Harmandir Sahib and appointed Baba Budha ji as its first Granthi i.e. the reader of Guru Granth Sahib. After this event it attained the status of ‘Ath Sath Tirath’. Now the Sikh Nation had their own Tirath, a pilgrimage center.

Who Donated land for the temple - The land for the site was bought by the Guru Ram Das Sahib on payment from the Zamindars (landlords) of native villages. Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore on 1st of Magh, 1645 Bikrmi Samvat (December, 1588). The construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.

Mughal Empire era destruction and rebuilding - The growing influence and success of Guru Arjan drew the attention of the Mughal Empire. Guru Arjan was arrested under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and asked to convert to Islam. He refused, was tortured and executed in 1606 CE. Guru Arjan's son and successor Guru Hargobind left Amritsar and moved into the Shivalik Hills to avoid persecution and to save the Sikh panth. For about a century after Guru Arjan's martyrdom, state Louis E. Fenech and W. H. McLeod, the Golden Temple was not occupied by the actual Sikh Gurus and it remained in hostile sectarian hands. In the 18th century, Guru Gobind Singh and his newly founded Khalsa Sikhs came back and fought to liberate it. The Golden Temple was viewed by the Mughal rulers and Afghan Sultans as the center of Sikh faith and it remained the main target of persecution. The Golden Temple was the center of historic events in Sikh history.

In 1709, the governor of Lahore sent in his army to suppress and prevent the Sikhs from gathering for their festivals of Vaisakhi and Divali. But the Sikhs defied by gathering in the Golden Temple. In 1716, Banda Singh and numerous Sikhs were arrested and executed.
In 1737, the Mughal governor ordered the capture of the custodian of the Golden Temple named Mani Singh and executed him. He appointed Masse Khan as the police commissioner who then occupied the Temple and converted it into his entertainment center with dancing girls. He befouled the pool. Sikhs avenged the sacrilege of the Golden Temple by assassinating Masse Khan inside the Temple in August 1740.
In 1746, another Lahore official Diwan Lakhpat Rai working for Yahiya Khan, and seeking revenge for the death of his brother, filled the pool with sand. In 1749, Sikhs restored the pool when Muin ul-Mulk slackened Mughal operations against Sikhs and sought their help during his operations in Multan.
In 1757, the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Durrani, also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali, attacked Amritsar and desecrated the Golden Temple. He had waste poured into the pool along with entrails of slaughtered cows, before departing for Afghanistan. The Sikhs restored it again.
In 1762, Ahmad Shah Durrani returned and had the Golden Temple blown up with gunpowder. Sikhs returned and celebrated Divali in its premises. In 1764, Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia collected donations to rebuild the Golden Temple. A new main gateway (Darshani Deorhi), causeway and sanctum were completed in 1776, while the floor around the pool was completed in 1784. The Sikhs also completed a canal to bring in fresh water from Ravi River for the pool.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	04:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757