Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)
Amritsar, Punjab
Significance
The holiest Gurdwara of Sikhism. The temple is covered with 750 kg of pure gold. Its Langar (community kitchen) feeds up to 100,000 people daily for free — the largest free kitchen in the world. The temple sits in the middle of the sacred pool (Amrit Sarovar), from which Amritsar gets its name.
Legend & Story
The foundation stone was laid by a Muslim Sufi saint, Mian Mir, in 1589, symbolizing interfaith harmony. The 4 entrances represent openness to all castes and religions. Guru Arjan Dev installed the Adi Granth here in 1604. The temple was destroyed by Afghan invaders and rebuilt multiple times. Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered it with gold in the early 19th century.
Architecture
Darshan Timings
Open 24 hours, 365 days
How to Reach
Air: Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ), 11 km.
Rail: Amritsar Junction, 2 km from temple.
Road: Delhi 450 km (7 hrs). Chandigarh 230 km (4 hrs). Regular Volvo buses.