The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, is the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. It was built in the 16th century in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
The temple is built in the center of a man-made pool known as the Sarovar, which is believed to have healing powers. It is said that Guru Ram Das dug out this sacred water body.
The temple is home to the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikh religion. Thousands visit the Golden Temple daily to pray and pay their respects.
The temple has a community kitchen, known as the langar, where free meals are served to anyone who visits, 24 by 7. Close to 100,000 people are served per day. Priceless humanity!
The temple has four entrances, symbolizing the openness of the Sikh religion to all people. The steps to enter the Golden Temple go downwards, signifying the humble way of living.
This sacred place didn’t have any element of gold initially. In 1830, a brave Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, renovated the temple and added a whopping 500kg of pure gold foil as the outer layer to the marble edifice.
Historical accounts state that once upon a time, Gautam Buddha meditated at this holy place, and he found it an ideal and spiritual refuge for meditating.
Did you know that on the BBC’s list of ‘places to visit before one dies,’ the Golden Temple ranks above the Taj Mahal?