“
An example of the spirit of tolerance and acceptance that the Sikh
philosophy propounds.”
The Golden Temple is situated in Amritsar in the state of Punjab in India and is
regarded as the most sacred temple for the Sikhs. Golden Temple is a symbol of the
strength for the Sikh people all around India and the world.
In the center of the famous Amrit Sarovar, a large water tank, dug on the
land purchased from Emperor Akbar by the fourth Sikh Guru Ramdas, stands the
holy shrine known as Golden temple or Darbar Sahib. Golden Temple covered
with pure gold leaf is the temporal seat of the Sikhs religion. Guru Arjan
Sahib himself, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for
the Sikhs, so designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib.
Named originally Hari Mandir, the holiest seat of the Sikhs was completed
in 1601AD at the time of the fifth Guru Arjan Dev. Several other buildings
surrounds the main temple like the Akal Takhat and Pilgrim shelter. The
Sikhs visit the Amritsar’s Golden Temple and pay obeisance at the
Ardas.
The foundation stone was laid by an eminent muslim saint, Hazrat Mian Mir
of Lahore on Ist of Magh, 1645 Bikrmi Samvat or in English calended as
December 1588, while the Guru Granth Sahib, the famous religious book of the
Sikhs was installed in 1604.
Architecture of Golden Temple, Amritsar
The Sikh architecture of Golden Temple represents a unique harmony between the Muslim and
the Hindu way of constructing building works and this is considered one of
the best architectural specimens of the world, creating an independent Sikh
school of architecture in the history of art in India.
Golden temple building is three storied in height and is crowned with a
dome-shaped inverted lotus. The lower storey is in white marble, while the
two upper storeys have gold plating. With four entrances to the temple
symbolising the open heartedness of the sikhs, the walls are decorated with
wooden panels and intricate work of silver and gold. The Adhi Granth rest on
a throne beneath a jewel encrusted canopy.
The Golden Temple of Amritsar is built on a 67ft. square platform in the center of the
Amrit Sarovar. The temple itself is 40.5ftsq with doors on each side, the
Darshani Deori, an arch stands at the shore end. The door frames are about
10ft in height, the door panes are decorated in artistic style. It opens on
to the bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. The Golden
Temple is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width.
The bridge connects the 13 feet wide 'Pardakshna' or circumambulatory path.
It runs round the main shrine and it leads to the 'Har ki Paure' or steps of
God. The first floor of 'Har ki Paure', gives regular recitation and reading
of Guru Granth Sahib.
At the top of the first floor the 4 feet high parapet rises on all the
sides which has also four 'Mamtees' on the four corners and exactly on the
top of the central hall of the main sanctuary rises the third story. On the
top of this room stands the low fluted 'Gumbaz'or dome having lotus petal
motif at the base and inverted lotus at the top which supports the 'Kalash'
having a beautiful 'Chhatri' at the end.
Travel Attractions Near Golden Temple
The visit to the Golden Temple is incomplete without a visit to the Akal Takhat,
Baba Atal, Guru Ka Langar and the Guru Ran Das Nivas.
