Harmandir Sahib

Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar is popularly known as the Golden Temple. It is also known as Sri Darbar Sahib. This Gurdwara is located in the central part of old Amritsar. The Harmandir Sahib is situated on a rectangular platform surrounded by the water of Amrit Sarovar. It is from this lake that the city of Amritsar got its name.

The architecture of the Harmandir Sahib is a combination of the Hindu and Muslim styles. It has a two story marble structure. Harmandir Sahib can be reached by the Guru's Bridge. The upper floor is of this temple is gold plated and is crowned with the golden dome. The golden dome is an inverted lotus shaped structure.

The building of Harmandir Sahib has four entrances instead of the usual one. The walls inside are decorated with inlay works of gold and silver. The Adi Granth of Guru Arjan Dev is kept kept on a throne beneath a preciously decorated canopy. The original copy of Guru Granth Sahib is brought to the Golden Temple every day and at around 10 p.m each day it is returned to the Akal Takhat, the Sikh parliament, very ceremoniously.

Guru Arjan Sahib had the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs. The architecture of Harmindir Sahib was also designed by him. The land for this site was acquired by the earlier Guru Sahibs. Work on this project started in 1570 and continued till 1577.

The Akal Takhat is situated very near the Harmandir Sahib. It is the seat of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee which is the religious governing body of the Sikhs.

Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple is one of the important pilgrimage center of the Sikhs.



Last Updated on 24/06/2013