In India, you can possibly find one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and undoubtedly the most beautiful in India. The Sri Harimandir Sahib or Golden Temple is the most sacred structure of the Sikh religion, located on an island in the middle of Amrit Sarovar, or Pool of Nectar, a lake that gives the name to the city of Amritsar.
The temple began to be built in 1589, as a disabled person bathed in the waters of what used to be a small lake and claimed they were cured. Later, the lake was enlarged to make the Pool of Nectar. However, the original temple was destroyed by the Afghans in 1757, but it was rebuilt seven years later and by 1830 the roof had 100 kg of gold, which is what gave the building the name of the Golden Temple. Every detail of the gilding is magnificent.
Within the Sikh religion, this temple is much more than beauty, it is a spiritual center of faith. Sikhism is characterized by being egalitarian since anyone is welcome, whatever the religion, race or caste. Here, peace and spirituality govern, even when the place is crowded by tourists. It is a tradition that every Sikh visits the temple at least once a month, and it is surprising to see the visual contrast of the multiracial atmosphere.
There are no rules or steps to follow to visit the temple. There is no organized worship, pilgrims walk aimlessly around the Pool of Nectar, others sit to admire the Golden Temple, many bathe in the waters of the lake with chains anchored to the riverbank you can take advantage of the temple in every way.
The temple is not only the most beautiful building of the Indian from the outside since in its interior it has simply magnificent and impressive details. Between the pietra dura embedded in the marble, even finer than what you can find on the Taj Mahal, the place is filled with spirituality and devotion. In the main sanctuary, the priest, surrounded by pilgrims, reads the sacred book of the Sikh religion, the Granth Sahib; a full reading of this book can take up to 48 hours.
If you want to relax you can sit in the Pool of Nectar, it is a magical place to think and contemplate, but you must bear in mind that you can not dip your feet in the water or point them to the temple, as it is considered an insult to the religion; and the Sikhs are proud people, with strong characters and fierce eyes, and at the same time can be very nice and smiling.
You will feel very comfortable at all times since the Sikhs are very hospitable: that is fundamental for the Sikhism. They can offer you even cups of tea and free meals. In the Guru Ram Das Langar, a kitchen and dining room, vegetarian meals are offered for pilgrims, who sit on the floor in long lines and hold their trays with food.
Even though the temple is an impeccable site, full of peace and tranquility, it suffers a contrast with the complex that surrounds it: a dusty, bustling old town, narrow and bumpy streets, full of cars and crowds of people. However, in this area, there are shops that every devotee must visit to find what they need, from pennants, turbans and bracelets to martial swords.
To get to this place you can take a flight to Amritsar from London. As for lodging, most of the hotels are located outside the city, however, you can make local arrangements with Atithi Travels in Delhi. An important fact that you should know is that, although the visitors are very well received, the photos are forbidden by the temple authorities, you must get a special permit.
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