Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar
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The holiest gurdwara of Sikhism, a gold-covered shrine in the middle of a sacred pool, open to people of every faith and home to a langar that feeds tens of thousands every day.
Pilgrimage siteAmritsar cityBest time to visit: October to March (the temple is open all year, day and night)
Highlights
- The golden sanctum in the Amrit Sarovar (pool of nectar), reached by a causeway
- Continuous singing of Gurbani (kirtan) from the Guru Granth Sahib
- The Guru Ka Langar, where volunteers cook and serve free meals to all
- Sri Akal Takht Sahib facing the shrine, and the Central Sikh Museum
- The palki ceremony at night and early morning, when the Guru Granth Sahib is carried to and from the sanctum
Significance
The shrine was built under the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, and the Adi Granth was first installed here in 1604. Its four doors stand for openness to people from all directions. The upper storeys were covered in gilded copper under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early 19th century.