Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) Tourism

The Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is a gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism. The temple’s architecture embodies a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. Surrounded by a manmade lake, the Sarovar, which is fed by the Ravi River and contains holy water (Amrit), the temple sits on a rectangular platform. The upper floors are covered in gold, which gives the temple its distinctive appearance and name. Visitors are required to remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the temple as a sign of respect. The temple promotes the concept of equality; people from all walks of life are welcome to partake in the Langar, a community kitchen that serves free meals to thousands daily. The inner sanctum, where the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book) is kept, emanates a serene ambiance that is punctuated by the continuous, melodic chanting of scripture.