1 The Golden Temple is the most sacred place of worship for the Sikhs. It is located in Amritsar, Punjab. It is also known as the ‘Darbar Sahib’ or ‘Harimandar Sahib’, literally meaning the ‘Temple of God’. The Golden Temple sits on a rectangular platform, surrounded by a pool of water called the Amrit Sarovar. The temple’s Golden Dome is gilded with 100 kg of gold. The construction of the Golden Temple complex started in 1604 under the aegis of the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji and was later completed by the fifth - Guru Arjun Dev Ji. The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy scripture of the Sikhs. This large holy book is a compilation of the renderings of the renowned saints of the time and the Ten Gurus. It was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev and given residence for the very first time in this temple. It is located on a prominent platform under a jewel-studded canopy on the ground floor in the Main Hall. The temple is a two storey marble structure reached by a causeway known as Guru´s Bridge. The lower storey is in white marble with the walls decorated with inlaid flowers. The upper storey is gold plated, crowned with a dome (the Golden Dome) shaped like an inverted lotus.

 

2  The main north entrance to the complex with a Victorian-era clock tower is down a flight of steps to the temple and holy pool of water - the Amrit Sarovar. The temple complex has four entrances instead of the usual single entry. This is symbolic of the openness of Sikhism and indicates that followers of all faiths are allowed inside.

 

3 Established in 1958, the Central Sikh Museum exhibits paintings of Sikh gurus, saints, Sikh warriors and other prominent Sikh leaders who have contributed to the enhancement of the Sikh religion. It has a rich collection of coins, old arms and ancient manuscripts. It also houses an excellent library. Exhibits include the works of great Sikh artists, rare pencil sketches by Princess Bamba, ancient musical instruments, guns of the of Sikh Raj and the wooden comb (Kangha) of Guru Gobind Singh.

 

4 The Information Office is managed by S.G.P.C. (The Management Committee of The Golden Temple Amritsar). It provides free information regarding the Golden Temple and the Sikh religion. It also provides guided tours.

 

5 There are three Ber trees in the premises of the Golden temple namely “The Lachi Ber, The Ber Baba Buddhaji and The Dukh-Bhanjani Ber”. These three Ber trees are considered the original inhabitants of the Golden Temple complex. It is said when Baba Buddha Ji was supervising the construction of Amrit Sarovar, this Ber tree extended itself over his head like an umbrella to shelter him.

 

6 The Golden Temple stands in large water tank or man-made pool called the Amrit Sarovar, literally meaning a ‘Pool of Holy Nectar’.  The Amrit Sarovar has immense spiritual significance for Sikhs. An underground spring feeds this tank and pilgrims immerse themselves in the waters as a symbolic cleansing of the soul.

 

7 The Dukh Bhanjani Ber tree stands on the eastern side of the Amrit Sarovar in the Golden Temple Complex. As per legend, a leper was cured by taking a dip in the pond near the tree. Dukh Bhanjani, literally means eradicator of suffering.

 

8 Past the Dukh Bhanjani Ber is a raised marble platform which is the Ath Sath Tirath, the Shrine of the Sixty-Eight Holy Places. To bathe near it, some believe, their dreams of visiting the 68 holy places of India will be fulfilled.

 

9 Baba Deep Singh is one of the most revered martyrs in Sikh history. He ultimately sacrificed his life when he mounted an attack to evict the Afghans from the Golden Temple. Baba Deep Singh was a scholar of Sikh theology and master of many languages including Gurmukhi, Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic. He was the first head of Damdami Taksal (Damdama school of learning) a 300 year-old religious school of the Sikhs.

 

10 The ‘Parikrama’ path is the marbled walkway which circumscribes the Amrit Sarovar.

 

11 The Gurdwara Laachi Ber is a small, domed structure at one of three holy Ber trees in the Golden Temple complex. According to tradition, Guru Arjan used to sit under this tree and watch the digging of the Amrit Sarovar. It is said this is the place where two Sikhs tied their horses to the Ber tree before killing Massa Ranghat, a debauched local landlord who had desecrated the sanctuary.

 

12 The Darshani Deori, serves as the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple. The gateway at the entry onto the causeway over the Amrit Sarovar is marked by magnificent silver doors and was beautified with marble and fresco work during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

 

13 The Akal Takht is the throne of Sikh religious authority. Guru Hargobind constructed the Akal Takht in 1609. Some called it Akal Bunga: the house of the Lord. The massive building is the primary seat of Sikh religious authority and central altar for Sikh political assembly.

 

14 Gurdwara Thara Sahib in Amritsar is situated just to the north, of the Akal Takht Sahib. This is where the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur prayed when he arrived from Baba Bakala after he was announced as the next Guru. “Thara” means a raised platform of Masonry.

 

15 The Nishan Sahib is a Sikh holy triangular flag made of cotton or silk cloth, with a tassel at its end. The Nishan Sahib dates back to 1606 when the Sixth Guru Hargobind raised the first Sikh flag over the Akal Takht seat of authority. In 1771, Jhanda Singh raised a second flag at the top of gurdwara Harmandir Sahib of the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. Over the centuries trees trunks, wooden posts, steel, copper and iron poles have been used as flag poles where the two illustrious Nishan Sahibs still fly proudly today.

 

16 The Golden temple which sits amidst the Amrit Sarovar is reached by a causeway known as Guru´s Bridge. The Guru’s Bridge symbolizes the journey of the soul as it leads to ultimate unity with the Guru as symbolised by The Golden Temple. 

 

17 The word ‘bunga’ means an abode or a place or dwelling. It is the root of the modern word ‘bungalow’. The Ramgharia Bunga is the largest and most famous of these bungas and is noted for its minars, originally used as watch towers. It overlooks the Amrit Sarovar and has the huge ‘Coronation Stone’ on which Mughal Emperors were ‘crowned’. 

 

18 At the Langar, no one goes hungry - and everybody gets a hot meal regardless of caste, creed and religion. All Sikh gurdwaras (places of worship) have Langar, but the one at Golden Temple - Sikhs’ holiest shrine - has little parallel. It makes on average daily 200,000 chappatis, 1.5 tons of daal (lentil soup) and serves the free food to about 100,000 people every day. The concept of Langar was initiated by Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

 

19 At Gurudwara Manji Sahib, the daily Hukamnama or the “Order-of-The-Day” is explained to the devotees every morning and evening. Its name is derived from the Punjabi word Manji (a small cot). There is a very spacious lecture hall here.

 

20 The Guru Arjan Dev Niwas is one of several pilgrim hostels run by the Golden Temple Management Committee. The hostels are open to all lodgers, however anyone staying here should not do anything which is against the teachings of Sikh religion. The Guru Arjan Dev Niwas has about100 rooms.

 

21 The Sri Guru Ram Das Sarai also called Sri Guru Ramdas Niwas was built in 1931.This building has 228 rooms and 18 halls spread over two floors.

 

22 This is the building that houses the head-quarters of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC. The SGPC is an elected body of the Sikh nation, established in 1925 with responsibility for the oversight of Gurdwaras , including the Golden Temple and for the management of institutions under its jurisdiction.

 

23 This building houses the sectarian offices of the different departments of the SGPC apart from the lodging facilities for pilgrims. There are 66 Rooms in the Guru Nanak Niwas.

 

24 The Sri Guru Hargobind Niwas (hostel)has 92 double bed rooms with attached baths in addition to four halls.

 

25 Built some two centuries ago, the Baba Atal Gurdwara is a touching commemoration of the young life of Baba Atal Rai, the son of Guru Hargobind. Its nine storeys echo his nine years of life before his death in 1628. The octagonal tower, standing 40 metres high, is the tallest building in Amritsar.

 

26 This is one of five Sarovars or sacred pools in Amritsar. It is next to the Golden Temple complex. The Kaulsar sarovar is named after a woman, raised as a Muslim called Bibi Kaulan, who was above religious division and took refuge at Amritsar (1606-1645) during the time of the sixth guru - Guru Hargobind Ji. 

 

27 This Gurdwara pays homage to Bibi Kaulan. Her father the Qazi of Lahore had pronounced her death, due to her Devotion to Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.