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Get Spirited Away in Amritsar's Golden Temple
Published by Jonathan Vaas, Writer
Country: India 
The Experience
Amritsar, nestled into the northwest corner of ancient Punjab, is the indisputible capital of the Sikh religion and a popular destination for travelers of all walks and religions. The ancient city’s main attraction is the Harmandir Sahib, informally known as the Golden Temple, a towering holy building visited by millions of religious pilgrims each year.
As Mecca is to the Muslims, The Golden Temple is to the Sikhs. The temple, whose construction began in the 16th century, was intended as a place where people of all walks of life can come and worship God equally. The temple is regarded as one of the world’s most poignant spiritual destinations, and you’ll know why as soon as you see its golden domes rising majestically above central Amritsar. The city derives its name from the holy tank, or Pool of Nectar, which surrounds the sublime temple, reflecting the yellow light that bounces off the gilded walls of Harmandir Sahib. A white marble pathway surrounds the sacred tank leads tourists across a causeway over the water to the two-story domed temple. Inside the house of worship tourists are dazzled by elaborate multicolored patterns that ornament the marble walls and ceiling. Those who enter cannot help being impressed by the melodious prayers reverberating within the building. The temple is open to visitors all day and all night. Don’t forget to take off your shoes.
While in Amritsar, make sure to take an afternoon stroll through the narrow streets around the temple, where you’ll observe the city’s thriving shops, outdoor markets and historical architecture, which blends Muslim, Hindu and Sikh construction into a unique harmony. After dining at one of the city’s countless dhabas—hole-in-the-wall eateries that serve some of the region’s freshest food at bargain prices—make your way to the Jallianwala Baugh memorial, which commemorates one of the worst massacres of the British colonial period. If you have time, don’t miss the chance to experience the “lowering of the flags” ceremony at the nearby Wagah Border with Pakistan.
Amritsar is very accessible to the international traveler, boasting a modern international airport with daily flights direct from Toronto and London, and railway access from Delhi.
As Mecca is to the Muslims, The Golden Temple is to the Sikhs. The temple, whose construction began in the 16th century, was intended as a place where people of all walks of life can come and worship God equally. The temple is regarded as one of the world’s most poignant spiritual destinations, and you’ll know why as soon as you see its golden domes rising majestically above central Amritsar. The city derives its name from the holy tank, or Pool of Nectar, which surrounds the sublime temple, reflecting the yellow light that bounces off the gilded walls of Harmandir Sahib. A white marble pathway surrounds the sacred tank leads tourists across a causeway over the water to the two-story domed temple. Inside the house of worship tourists are dazzled by elaborate multicolored patterns that ornament the marble walls and ceiling. Those who enter cannot help being impressed by the melodious prayers reverberating within the building. The temple is open to visitors all day and all night. Don’t forget to take off your shoes.
While in Amritsar, make sure to take an afternoon stroll through the narrow streets around the temple, where you’ll observe the city’s thriving shops, outdoor markets and historical architecture, which blends Muslim, Hindu and Sikh construction into a unique harmony. After dining at one of the city’s countless dhabas—hole-in-the-wall eateries that serve some of the region’s freshest food at bargain prices—make your way to the Jallianwala Baugh memorial, which commemorates one of the worst massacres of the British colonial period. If you have time, don’t miss the chance to experience the “lowering of the flags” ceremony at the nearby Wagah Border with Pakistan.
Amritsar is very accessible to the international traveler, boasting a modern international airport with daily flights direct from Toronto and London, and railway access from Delhi.
When to Go to Golden Temple
Temperatures are scorching in the summer and chilly in the winter. Tourists will find the best weather from October to March. The second week in April features the Vaisakhi festival, when millions of pilgrims flock to Amritsar, so travelers beware.
Want a Guide?
- Spiritual India - GAPAdventures.com
- From Buddhism to Hinduism to Sikhism, the Indian religious beliefs are as varied and diverse as India itself. Visit the cultural and spiritual centres of the major Indian religions while exploring the distinct natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh, the "Abode of Snow".
Places to Stay Nearby
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More Experiences Nearby
- Temple Hopping in India
- India is a country rich in religion, the predominant one being Hinduism, but Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism and Sikhism have also made their mark on the subcontinent. The Hindu religion is rumored to contain upwards of 33 million gods, one can only imagine the abundance of temples in India there are for worship. Attempting to visit all of these would be foolish, but from Karnataka to Himachal Pradesh, you can visit temple after temple, from obscure to immaculate. Everywhere in India there are celebrations of the divine - on the bus a Ganesh (the elephant headed God) is surrounded by ...1 miles away.
Books and DVDs
- The Golden Temple
- India Travel Guide - LonelyPlanet.com
- India doesn't even have to try: it will bowl you out with its head-reeling mix of cultures, its fast-swelling cities, its still-visible history and its thousands of different landscapes.
- Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips (Hardcover)
- No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.
Elsewhere on the Web
- Golden Temple of Dambulla - UNESCO.org
- A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka.
- Golden Temple = PilgrimageIndia.com
- The Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world
- History of the Golden Temple - About.com
- The Golden Temple is situated in Amritsar, located in Northern Panjab, of India, which is close to the border of Pakistan.
- Amritsar India - Sacredsites.com
- I am often asked what my favorite sacred places are in the world, among the many hundreds I have visited. I could not choose one in particular, but included in the top ten would certainly be the Golden Temple. I
- Harmandir Sahib - Wikipedia.org
- Sri Harmandir Sahib[1] (Punjabi: ??????? ?????) or Darbar Sahib[3] (Punjabi: ????? ????? ), informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God,[1] is culturally the most significant place of worship of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras.
Media References
- A FABLED GUESTHOUSE IN INDIA - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- For a generation of travelers in India -writers, diplomats, adventurers and the occasional prince - No. 10 Cantonment, Amritsar, has been an address to remember and to pass on to kindred vagabond souls.
- Golden Temple, Amritsar, India, 1996 - National Geographic.com (magazine)
- The Golden Temple in Amritsar serves as the spiritual center for the world's 20 million Sikhs.
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