Background

Golden Temple - Amritsar






The Golden Temple

The Golden Temple of Amritsar is undoubtedly one of India’s finest and most revered temples. Situated at the heart of vibrant and prosperous state of Punjab, this Sikh Gurdwara is more famously known as the Harmandir Sahib in the Sikh Community. The grandeur of the Golden Temple lies in the fact that it was constructed atop a wonderful lake.

History of the Golden Temple

As the story goes, Gautama Buddha himself used to frequent the spot where the Golden Temple exists today, during his time back then, contemplating on life and enjoying the serene and peaceful beauty of Amritsar. Later, another sage came by this spot, who lived by this very lake and meditated for hours and days together. This priest went on to create another Religion altogether. He was called Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. Followers of Guru Nanak continued to visit the site, and over decades, it became the sacred shrine of the Sikhs. Guru Ram Dass, the fourth guru, enlarged the lake, and the fifth guru, Guru Arjan, overlooked the construction of The Golden Temple. The construction of The Golden Temple was finally complete in 1600.
The Golden Temple faced numerous attacks during it’s time. The Gurdwara was constantly under fire from the moslems. The Sikh Gurus and the Sikhs in general have done a courageous job of protecting their shrine through all the thick and thin. The Golden temple was rebuilt a number of times under the guidance of the different Sikh Gurus, and now it stands tall and proud with an almost 90% Golden exterior that shines flamboyantly all day and night signifying the love and valor bestowed upon it by the Sikhs of India.