The Golden Temple is one of the best places of worship for the Sikh community. Visited by a large number of people, this place is worth exploring during your Amritsar tour. Whether you are a Hindu or a Sikh, you will love to explore the Golden Temple. This is a prime spiritual centre for the Sikh community and is also known for its architectural beauty. People from different parts of the country visit this Gurudwara and are amazed to see its beauty. If you are a first-timer, you can indulge in the following activities at the Golden Temple:
The Golden Temple not only allows the devotees to seek blessings of the deity but also lets them perform a social service. You can do a lot of things while you are here. The best would be to be a volunteer at the temple and participate in the Langar. You can either prepare the food for the devotees or serve it. Other things that you can do here include managing the shoes of the devotees and maintaining the cleanliness of the temple. The temple welcomes the volunteers who are ready to assist in cooking or serving the food. Golden Temple has the largest community kitchen, which serves approximately 100,000 meals on a daily basis.
You should visit the Golden Temple early in the morning. This will let you take part in the morning prayers that are held here. The right time to visit the temple is 4 AM, as there are fewer visitors at that time. Plus, you will love the serene atmosphere of the morning. You will get darshan of the Golden Temple easily in the morning due to fewer visitors. The temple offers you a tranquil environment in the morning. Also, if you want to meditate, you should visit the temple early in the morning. If you manage to get up at 4 am, you can attend the Amrit Vela Kirtan, which will be a great experience for you. The prayer uplifts your soul and connects you with the divine.
Your Golden Temple visit will be highly satisfying if you listen to the Kirtans at the temple. Listening to the Kirtans here will be a unique experience for the visitors. The soothing Gurbani creates a meditative atmosphere at this place. Ragi Jathas sing gurbani here all the time. If you have ample time, you can listen to the Kirtans that are sung here. Listening to the Kirtans will be spiritually rewarding for the visitors. You will also get complete peace of mind after listening to them.
One of the best things to do at the Golden Temple is to bathe in the Amrit Sarovar. Taking a dip at the Sarovar will be a wonderful experience for you. Devotees in large numbers take a holy dip in the sarovar daily. They believe that taking this dip will cleanse their soul and offer them the inner peace they are looking for. Devotees who take the holy dip of this sarovar experience a spiritual renewal. It also helps you obtain spiritual purity and connect you with the divine power that exists here.
Apart from bathing in the Amrit Sarovar, you can also clean and maintain the pool after becoming a volunteer. This service promotes a sense of unity among the people who visit the temple. Participating in a social service here is also extremely beneficial for you.
The night view of the Golden Temple is a visual feast for your eyes. If you are on a Golden Temple tour for the first time, you must visit the temple at night. The view of the temple at night is astounding, which is why most people prefer to visit it only at night. The shimmering golden lights offer you a view that you will never forget in your lifetime. People who visit the Golden Temple at night can get the blessings of Waheguru and listen to Gurbani. The serene atmosphere of the temple helps you meditate during your tour. If you are a photographer, you will love capturing beautiful photos of the Golden Temple at night.
You can also enjoy a meal at the Langar that is organized at the Golden Temple. The meal served here is simple and tasty. You can also offer your services here by serving the food, washing the dishes, and preparing the food. Having a meal at this place will be a great experience for you. The Gurudwara offers a vegetarian meal to everyone irrespective of their caste, creed, and religion. The meal includes lentils, roti, kheer, etc. The meal served in the temple is free of cost.
You will visit other beautiful buildings in the complex apart from visiting the Golden Temple. One of the beautiful buildings that you can admire here is the Guest Quarters, which are constructed for the international Sikh visitors. Other buildings you can find here are Akal Takht, Clock Tower, Teja Singh Samundri Hall, etc.
Do not forget to visit the Central Sikh Museum during your Golden Temple tour. This museum is located within the Golden Temple and is visited by many tourists. Established in the year 1958, the museum is the right place to explore if you want to learn about the Sikh culture. You will get to know about the Sikh Gurus and the history of the Sikh religion after visiting the Golden Temple. There are innumerable photos that depict the culture and history of the Sikh Community. You will also get to know about the old weapons as well as other important documents kept in the museum. The museum houses ancient coins, manuscripts, musical instruments, and personal items of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Guru Gobind Singh, and others. If you want to take photos in the museum, you can get permission from the concerned authorities before doing so. You can also hire a guide during your visit to the museum. This will help you know about the history of the museum.
During your trip to the Golden Temple, Amritsar, you can meet Sikh people and get to know about their culture. Sikh people are extremely friendly. They are always ready to share anything you ask them. You will get to know their customs and traditions after communicating with them. Thus, if you are from a different religion, you can ask anything from them and learn about the Sikh community.
One of the best things to do at the Golden Temple is to walk around the lake. It is also called Parikrama. Most visitors walk around the Amrit Sarovar during their visit to the temple. During your walk, you can see the Golden Temple from each side. People do the parikrama of the temple calmly. They walk in a clockwise direction as it is considered auspicious. The area that surrounds the lake is quiet. People wash their feet and hands at this place. There is a marble walkway where pilgrims visit clockwise. During the Parikrama, the visitors will find many sacred spots. The reflection of the Golden Temple in the water is extremely beautiful. You will also find the Dukh Bhanjani Beri tree, which is considered a holy tree. People believe that this tree has healing powers. Cover your head and stay away from the lake while doing the Parikrama. If you are a professional photographer, capture beautiful photos of the lake.
You can enjoy the Palki Sahib ceremony at the Golden Temple. In this ceremony, a sacred book is carried by the priests in a palanquin or golden palki. Apart from the priests, devotees also hold the rods of the palki. This procession is held in the morning as well as at night. The morning procession is called Prakash. In this procession, the Guru Granth Sahib is carried back from Akal Takht to the Golden Temple. During the procession, the devotees read a few lines from the Holy Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. The evening procession is called Sukhasan. In this procession, the holy book is carried to Akal Takht from the main shrine.
Sikhs have a deep respect for the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib. They consider this book as their guide or Guru. The morning and evening processions signify that the holy book or holy person wakes up in the morning and goes to sleep at night. The Palki Sahib ceremony is a unique experience for the visitors. Devotees who join the Palki Sahib ceremony are amazed to see the lights during the procession.
Do not forget to take Karah Prasad when you are at the Golden Temple. This is a sweet offering that is distributed to the devotees who visit the temple. The Golden Temple is one of the places where devotees get this Prasad. It is made of whole wheat, sugar, and ghee. Karah Prasad is prepared hygienically in the kitchen of the Gurudwara. During the preparation of this Prasad, sikh prayers are recited. This Prasad is distributed to everyone irrespective of their caste and religion. The distribution of the Prasad is a symbol of unity in the Sikh community. Devotees get a small quantity of the Prasad, which is considered a blessing from the deity.
You can also get the blessings of Shri Akal Takht Sahib when you visit the Golden Temple. Founded by Guru Har Gobind Singh in 1609, Akal Takht is the highest seat of the Sikh community. Guru Har Gobind Singh used to listen to the problems of the poor and needy at this place. He also used to wear two swords here. The tradition of singing songs to appreciate war heroes started at this place. Stringed instruments such as Dhad and Sarangi are also played while singing ballads. The priest at the Akal Takht Sahib recites Rehras Sahib and Ardas while holding a naked sword in his hand. You can see the rare weapons of the Sikh Gurus and warriors in the Golden Palanquin during the daytime. The priest explains these weapons to the visitors in the evening. The Akal Takht is a 5-storey building. The ground floor of the building was constructed in the year 1774. However, the other four storeys were constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sikh General Hari Singh Nalwa constructed the Golden Dome of Akal Takht. During the reign of the British, the people took the vow of non-violence at this building before joining the mochas. The mochas were constructed to manage the holy shrines of Sikhs. Akal Takht Sahib is the most supreme of all the 5 Takhts. The other 4 Takhts include Patna Sahib, Keshgarh Sahib, Hazur Sahib, and Damdama Sahib.
Located at a short distance from the Golden Temple, Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal is one of the best places to explore in Amritsar. This is a highly revered shrine constructed by Guru Ram Das Ji in 1573. Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal served as the residence of Guru Ram Das Ji. It is also a witness to the important events held in the past. At this place, Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the 5th Guru) was married. It is also the birthplace of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and Baba Atal Rai. Later, this residence was transformed into a Gurudwara that we see today. Once you enter Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal, you will find Guru Granth Sahib on a raised platform. Go to the basement and visit the meditation room. This place was used by the Gurus for meditation. They also composed many hymns here, which is a source of spiritual connection and introspection.
Perform the daily rituals while you are at Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal. You can also join religious gatherings as well as langar on the 1st Sunday of every Bikrami month. The birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is also celebrated with full enthusiasm in the Gurudwara.
There are many things to do during your Golden Temple trip. Joining the serene prayer ceremonies, volunteering in the kitchen, and walking around the Amrit Sarovar are some of the things that every pilgrim must do during their Golden Temple tour. Each of these activities lets you learn more about Sikhism. Whether you are a pilgrim or a visitor, you can indulge in several activities during your visit to the Golden Temple. If you are planning a visit to the Golden Temple, choose the best pilgrim packages for you.