Golden Temple

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golden temple

golden temple

The Golden Temple, or Darbar Sahib, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people, and a cultural center of the Sikh religion. The spirit of tolerance and acceptance of Sikhism can be seen in the architecture of the temple, exhibiting symbols of other places of worship. Sikhs from all over the world come to pay visit to the temple.

Despite its great sacred status, the Golden Temple is open to visitors, as all Sikh temples are. The only restrictions are that visitors must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke cigarettes or other drugs while in the shrine.

And unlike in many other temples in India, here you feel genuinely welcome and not at all pressured to take out your wallet. In fact, the local Sikhs are so proud of their religion, culture, history, and temple that you will almost certainly be offered enthusiastic conversation and valuable information by one of the regular devotees in return for nothing more than your attention. The welcoming information office to the left of the main gate gives helpful advice and information, as well as booklets on Sikhism.

Most visitors to the Golden Temple, whether Sikh or not, are humbled by what is quite simply the most tangibly spiritual place in the country. Arrive with a few good hours set aside and get lost in its magical beauty. Visitors must leave their shoes at the facility near the entrance, cover their head (bandanas are provided, or you can buy a souvenir bandana from a vendor), and wash their feet by wading through the shallow pool before entering.

The most famous and sacred part of the Golden Temple complex is the Hari Mandir (Divine Temple) or Darbar Sahib (Court of the Lord), which is the beautiful golden structure at the center of a large body of water. The gold-plated building features copper cupolas and white marble walls encrusted with precious stones arranged in decorative Islamic-style floral patterns. The structure is decorated inside and out with verses from the Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book).

The water that surrounds the Hari Mandir is a sacred pool known as the Amrit Sarovar, "Pool of Nectar." The temple is reached by following the Parikrama, which circumscribes the sacred pool in a clockwise direction.

A marble causeway, the Guru's Bridge, which symbolizes the journey of the soul after death, provides access to the pavilion on which the temple stands. The gateway to the bridge, the Darshani Deorhi, has magnificent silver doors.

Every night, the Granth Sahib is carried in procession along this bridge to its "bed" in the Akal Takht, the seat of the Sikh parliament. Within the Hari Mandir, the scene is fascinating (and televised throughout India for Sikh believers). Amidst a crowd of fervent and solemn devotees, scriptures from the Holy Book are sung beneath a canopy studded with jewels.

A chauri, or whisk, is continually waved above the Book, while new musicians and singers continually join the ensemble after another participant has paid his respects. Lines of Sikhs pay their respects by touching their foreheads to the temple floor and walls, continuing in a clockwise direction at a moderate pace. Simply being among such gracious devotion will fill you with a sense of inner calm.

Another 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. Anyone and everyone is welcomed and invited to join the communal breaking of bread. Everyone sits on the floor, irrespective of caste, status, wealth or creed, powerfully symbolizing the central Sikh doctrine of the equality of all people.

Guest quarters are also available for international Sikh visitors (for a nominal fee), and at least 400 simple rooms are provided free of charge to Sikh pilgrims. In the Central Sikh Museum at the main entrance, galleries display images and remembrances of Sikh gurus, warriors, and saints; it includes some graphic portraits of gurus being tortured and executed in terrifying ways.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/india/golden-temple-of-amritsar


Best seasons to visit: October and March .

Hours: 4 a.m. in Summer and at 5 a.m. in Winter.

Air : The Rajasansi Airport of Amritsar is linked to Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh and other cities.

Rail : Amritsar Railway Station has the regular trains for all major cities in the country.

Road : Amritsar is connected by good roads with other cities of Punjab as well as the country. Regular buses ply for Amritsar from cities and towns within the state as well as outside the state.

Local Transport : For local transport rented cars, taxis, local buses, unmetered auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available.




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