Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, is one of the most sacred Sikh pilgrimages in India. The temple, or Gurdwara is traditionally known as Sri Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib. The temple's exterior is heavily embossed and decorated with gold. It is located in the middle of a water tank called Amrit Sarovar. The city is named after the Sarovar’s name followed by ‘Sar’—Amritsar. The Golden Temple Amritsar tours let you witness this majestic temple, watch the rituals, and be in the spiritual environment inside the temple.
The Golden Temple is the epitome of brotherhood and equality. Moreover, it is a heart-touching architectural marvel, making it a pride of India. Devotees can enter the Gurudwara from all four directions which shows openness and acceptance. The temple welcomes all visitors regardless of their cast, religion, and nationality.
Built in the middle of the Amrit Sarovar—water tank, a marble pathway leads to the temple. You will have to queue to enter the temple. The temple has beautifully carved gold panels and a gilded dome. It was initially constructed with white marble. Later, gold was added. The ceiling of the temple has gold and precious stones.
Inside the sanctum of the Gurudwara is the Holy Scripture of Sikhism—Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhs consider this holy book the “Last Guru”. During your visit, you will hear hymns or kirtans performed by musicians. After offering prayers and obeisance to the Guru Granth Sahib, you will exit from the other side and walk upstairs to reach the roof of the temple. Apart from the temple complex, there is a clock tower, a museum, and offices.
Next to the temple, there are dormitories and Langar Hall (community kitchen), where lodging and food are provided free of cost to all pilgrims.
Sri Harmandir Sahib is one of the most sacred gurudwaras in India. In English, people call it the Golden Temple, because of the facade of the building which is made of gold. The Gurudwara or temple is located in the heart of the bustling city of Amritsar in Punjab. Amritsar is famous as the spiritual capital of Sikhism. Due to the sacred Golden Temple, Amritsar is one of the pious Sikh pilgrimage tours in India.
When planning the Amritsar pilgrimage, the prominent destination of the tour is Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji, or Golden Temple—The House of God. It is the spiritual and cultural heart of Sikhism that attracts millions of tourists around the world every year.
The temple is famous for its magnificent structure with golden walls and intricate designs that are pleasing to the eye. The temple exterior is not painted golden but is gold-plated with 24kt gold which is much purer than 22kt gold.
Here are some more interesting facts about the temple that make it famous and attract visitors from all around the world:
Long before the construction of the Golden Temple, the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Ji used to meditate at this place. Since the subsequent Gurus followed and meditated at the same place, the place became a primary shrine for Sikhs. The fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji supported the enlargement of the lake in 1577. The construction of the temple was done by the fifth Sikh guru ‘Guru Arjan’. He wanted to have a peaceful place to worship for Sikh people near the lake. He himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib.
On the request of Guru Arjan, Sai Mir Mian Mohammed, laid the foundation of the temple in 1588. The temple was built in 1604 and took 8 years to complete, Later, Guru Arjan placed the Adi Granth in the temple.
During the 17th to 18th centuries, the Afghan armies tried to destroy the temple. However, the building was reconstructed every time even more beautifully. The final construction was done by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1830. He rebuilt the temple in marble and copper, and the sanctum exterior with gold. Hence, the temple is called ‘Golden Temple’.
The recent damage occurred in the year 1984, during Operation Bluestar. The then-prime minister used the Indian army to expel the militants from the temple. The operation caused significant damage to Akal Takht, Golden Temple, and other buildings in the complex. Later the Akal Takht was rebuilt with other buildings.
Sri Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple is about 2 km from the Amritsar Railway Station. It only takes 8-10 minutes to reach Golden Temple. Get a rickshaw and auto from the Railway Station that will drop you near the premises. From there it will take you a 5-minute walk to reach the temple.
There are no entry fees or special requirements to visit the Gurudwara Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji. You will have to remove your shoes and cover your head before entering. Since there is always a procession of visitors entering the temple, you won’t find any issue finding the right way. Just follow the throng and enter the temple.
There is a shoe area outside the temple, where you must keep your shoes. Luggage should also be kept outside the complex in the cloakroom. So, before visiting the Golden Temple, keep your luggage outside, remove shoes, wash your hands, and cover your head.
Before offering prayers, devotees consider taking a holy dip in the sacred pool. So, if you want you can visit the temple after taking a holy dip in the Sarovar. The Sikhs believe this lets them attain spiritual possessions. Legends say dipping in the water of the Amrit Sarovar can heal ailments and disorders.
Golden Temple is open 24X7 so, you can visit the temple at any time. Most tourists on their Amritsar tours, consider visiting the temple in the first half of the day so that they cover the other famous attractions of Amritsar. Additionally, no matter what time you are visiting the Gurudwara, you will feel a profound sense of peace, calmness, and positive energy. The serene atmosphere will provide a soul-cleanse experience to pilgrims. So, choose any time of the day and night to visit the Golden Temple Amritsar
However, some times are quieter than usual and also the perfect time to watch ceremonies like the opening and closing of the Holy book. The opening ceremony is called “Prakash” which means light and the closing ceremony is called “Sukhasan” which means the position of rest.
If you are an early bird, you can go to the temple before sunrise to witness the opening ceremony of the Guru Granth Sahib—Prakash. The Palki Sahib carries Guru Granth Sahib from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib to Sri Harmandir Sahib. Attendants carry the Palki on their shoulders when devotees wait in the pathway to have a glimpse and seek blessings. So, you can visit the temple early morning to have a glimpse of the ritual.
The Golden Temple looks mesmerizing at the time of dusk. This is the time when the temple’s golden shine reaches its peak, making it even prettier. In the evening, the temple is lit and the entire reflection of the temple can be seen on the Sarovar.
If you want to see the temple in a quiet atmosphere then night is the best time to visit the temple. Well, many people take a double trip to the temple during their Golden Temple Amritsar tours.
Since Harmandir Sahib is one of the famous Sikh pilgrimage tours, expect a huge crowd at the complex. You will have to walk in a queue to reach the temple. But before that, submit your luggage to the cloakroom and remove your shoes as well. A free service for all these is provided outside the complex.
Remove your shoes and wash your hands before entering. You will walk over a pool of water or a foot-washing station. This believes in cleansing your body as well as the soul. You will go through a flight of stairs to enter the temple and get your first glimpse of Sri Harmandir Sahib or Golden Temple. People consider the first glimpse hugely significant, hence they pause and pray. As enter, you will see devotees doing Parikrama (walking around the lake in a clockwise direction). You can join them and complete the Parikrama.
You will listen to music and Kirtan playing on speakers. You will be surprised to see that kirtan and devotional music like hymns are performed live in the complex. The musicians sit inside the sanctum itself.
Golden Temple Amritsar is one of the famous Sikh Gurudwaras in India located in the Punjab state. The prime feature of the gurudwara is its Langar. This is the world’s largest community kitchen that feeds over fifty thousand pilgrims every day for free. The meal is provided throughout the day to all people regardless of their religion, caste, gender, or status.
Since the time of Guru Nanak—the founder of Sikhism—the tradition of free meal service has been a vital part of the Sikh community. They devotedly do this Sewa (selfless service) as a commitment to equality and community service. Sikhs believe that there is nothing bigger than feeding the hungry.
Every week a family or several families volunteer the Sewa to cook and provide the meal to the visitors. All the preparations from cooking to serving meals and washing dishes is done by volunteers and the Sewadars only. Langar at Golden Temple is served 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. It serves hot meals to 50000-1,00,000 visitors every day. The number of visitors increases during festivals and special occasions.
During Golden Temple Amritsar tours, one should never miss the opportunity to have langar. Sitting on the floor together with hundreds of unknown people and relishing Langar at Golden Temple, will be an unforgettable moment for you.
Apart from langar, when you walk around the Sarovar (lake), you get offered water to drink in small steel bowls or katoris. After the darshan, you also get Karah Prasad.
The lake surrounding the Golden Temple is called Amrit Sarovar. Pilgrims on their Golden Temple Amritsar pilgrimage bathe in the holy water of the lake. People believe that the Sarovar has healing power and must be done before the obeisance of Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji. Men and women both have separate areas to bathe. Women have got a private enclosed area to bathe and change.
Another important thing you will notice devotees doing Parikrama, which means walking around the lake in a clockwise direction. This ritual has a great significance in Sikh pilgrimage and people of different religions also do this. If you prefer not to bathe, just walk around the holy lake. While walking, you will find many sacred spots and some shops too, selling souvenirs.
The complex of the building has many things to explore. People visit here to pay obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Golden Temple is actually called Harmandir Sahib which translates to “Abode of God”. So, the most important thing you will do here is visit the Golden Temple. This gives you a fascinating glimpse of the world of Sikhism and devotion. You will have to queue up to enter the temple. There could be too much crowd so, expect a little push and close contact with other devotees in the queue and ensure your head is still covered.
Sukhasan and Prakash are the rituals in Sikhism that involve Guru Granth Sahib, the scripture of Sikhism. Plan your visit in a way that you can witness this sacred ritual. If you are a morning person, visit the temple premises and attend the Prakash ceremony, where the Guru Granth Sahib is carried by Palki Sahib from Akal Takhat to the Darbar Sahib. During the procession, people stand in the pathway to get a glimpse of the holy book and seek blessings. The ritual starts before sunrise from 3:30 am. The time varies in the summer and winter season.
If you cannot attend the morning ceremony, you can visit the temple in the evening to attend the Sukhasan ceremony. This is performed in the evening around 9:30 pm, when Guru Granth Sahib is returned to Akal Takhat.
The Information Centre: There is an Information Center located in the temple next to the main entrance near the clock tower. This is prepared to enlighten pilgrims and visitors about the Golden Temple’s history and Sikh Religion. If you want to know more about the place, you must visit the Golden Temple Information Centre.
Central Sikh Museum: Like many attractions, Golden Temple too has a museum where you will see the collection of artwork, paintings, and artefacts of Sikh Gurus and Saints. Everything related to the temple’s history, warriors, and leaders is securely placed here. Visit the museum and have a look at the collection of coins, ancient manuscripts, etc.
Dukh Bhanjani Beri: When you walk around the lake, you will see Dukh Bhanjani Beri. Sikhs consider this as a sacred tree that has miraculous power. The tree too has a story associated with curing the leper husband of Bibi Rajani. By taking a dip in the lake near the tree, he was cured. Since then, the tree has been named Dukh Bhanjani, which means the one who eradicates one’s suffering.
The time you need to visit the Golden Temple Amritsar varies depending on certain factors – time, season, and crowd. Apart from this, it depends on the personal choice of the visitor. Many tourists make one or two visits on the same day. Well, there is no time limit to stay in the temple premises. You can spend hours walking around the lake, exploring the places of interest, and having a langar.
However, if we calculate the time on a normal day, first you will have to queue up to submit your belongings and shoes. Later, you will be lined up to enter the temple which commonly takes an hour. One hour to walk around the lake is enough and half an hour for Langar. So, in 2-3 hours you can visit the Golden Temple. However, there is no rush to explore the temple. It is one of the most sacred Gurudwaras in India, so allow yourself to immerse in the devotion and embrace a profound spiritual experience.
Well, Amritsar is one of the most popular cities and Sikh pilgrimage destinations in India. It is well connected to the major and minor cities across the country. You can opt for all the transport modes to reach Amritsar Golden Temple.
By Air: The nearest airport to Amritsar is Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, Amritsar. The airport is approx. 11.5 km away from the city centre and 15 km from the Golden Temple. Taxis and cabs are always available outside the airport which take you directly to the temple.
By Road: Regular bus services including luxury Volvo buses are available for the north Indian cities to Amritsar. You can also travel by taxi, cab, or your private vehicle.
By Train: One of the most common options people choose to travel to Amritsar is via train. Several trains run from different parts of the country directly to Amritsar. You also get the cheapest tickets for sleeper class. The Golden Temple is just 2 km from the Amritsar Junction Railway Station.