Wanderlust Tales : Amritsar Diaries - Golden Temple, Punjab
DAY 1
GOLDEN TEMPLEAs we landed in the city, we were quick to check in our rooms and set straight for the darshan at the Golden Temple.
AMRITSAR DIARIES:
https://xylo742.blogspot.com/2018/04/wanderlust-tales-amritsar-diaries-amrit.html
Hopping around the city:
ADDRESS::
Harmandir Sahib
Golden Temple Road
Atta Mandi, Katra Ahuliwalia
HOW TO GET HERE:
Typically you must ask the cab to drop you near the parking of the Golden Temple - apparently that is from where you ought to walk lesser comparatively.
The pathway is overly crowded thronged by natives and tourists equally.
HISTORY:
It was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru - Guru Ram Das.
It is also known as the Harmindar Sahib and it is the holy abode for the Sikh community. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the country.
It is said the dome of the temple is apparently built with 750 kgs of Gold. Wow!The architecture is heavily inspired by a mix of Hindu and Islamic styles.
You must not miss the opportunity to visit the Golden Temple during the evening hours for sure - it is then that you realize what a place it is. Mystifying! 😍
The first sight of the Golden Temple - a bejeweled possession sitting in an amrit ka sarovar. True to its name - the gold glitters in the night and shines in the morning. It is a marvel, that such an architectural structure was constructed in an olden era.
TO DO:
The head scarves are readily available at the entrance itself - there is no need to buy one, but if you must - choice is onto you.
There are designated counters for keeping your shoes, luggage if need be - all free of cost.
Wash your hands and feet thoroughly before entering the holy place. There are foot baths right at the entrance with continuous flow of water.
Barefoot, heads covered and soberly dressed - that's all in all you would need to do.
Photography is not permitted inside the Golden Temple, but around the premises is fine.
DARSHAN:
The darshan typically on an odd day would take you about 1-2 hours. There is a huge queue given any point of time - mostly tourists flooding the place.
As you queue up, there is constant hymn being played in due respect of the Lord - these are also being displayed in the TVs placed.You can chant along to submerge yourself in the serenity.
There is no entry fee.
The inside chamber of the temple is actually made of gold and you can see the karigiri and inscriptions on the walls - epic!
We were lucky to see the sword being taken in to the Gurudwara by the brotherhood - they were constantly singing hymns.
The area is highly maintained. You must have the churni for the girls and the head scarf for the guys, at all point of time.
In all a very well managed place.
Once you pay your respects at the Golden Temple - you would find a throng for the Kada Prasad at one corner as you are exiting. The kada prasad is overloaded with ghee but a spoonful drop onto our palms and it is pure jannat.
In the sarovar, you will find plenty of fishes swimming through the night.
As a sacred ritual people can be seen immersing their hands in the pool of nectar - the sarovar has a uniuqe calmness attached to it. The water is believed to have great healing powers.
The entire flooring is in marble and the temple is built at a level lower than the surrounding land level - this has been deliberately done as a mark of humility. There are four entrances to the temple signifying people of every walk of life are equally welcome in its lapse. This shows how thoughtfully this has been designed.
This folk song being played on the instruments - music!
Golden Temple is a true mark of showing utmost respect to the humanity.
This is where the langaar is organised.
More pictures (Google Drive):
Hopping around the city:
https://xylo742.blogspot.in/2018/04/wanderlust-tales-amritsar-diaries.html
Wagah Border:
https://xylo742.blogspot.in/2018/04/wanderlust-tales-amritsar-diaries-valor.html
Wagah Border:
https://xylo742.blogspot.in/2018/04/wanderlust-tales-amritsar-diaries-valor.html
ADDRESS::
Harmandir Sahib
Golden Temple Road
Atta Mandi, Katra Ahuliwalia
HOW TO GET HERE:
Typically you must ask the cab to drop you near the parking of the Golden Temple - apparently that is from where you ought to walk lesser comparatively.
The pathway is overly crowded thronged by natives and tourists equally.
It was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru - Guru Ram Das.
It is also known as the Harmindar Sahib and it is the holy abode for the Sikh community. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the country.
It is said the dome of the temple is apparently built with 750 kgs of Gold. Wow!The architecture is heavily inspired by a mix of Hindu and Islamic styles.
You must not miss the opportunity to visit the Golden Temple during the evening hours for sure - it is then that you realize what a place it is. Mystifying! 😍
TO DO:
The head scarves are readily available at the entrance itself - there is no need to buy one, but if you must - choice is onto you.
There are designated counters for keeping your shoes, luggage if need be - all free of cost.
Wash your hands and feet thoroughly before entering the holy place. There are foot baths right at the entrance with continuous flow of water.
Barefoot, heads covered and soberly dressed - that's all in all you would need to do.
Photography is not permitted inside the Golden Temple, but around the premises is fine.
DARSHAN:
The darshan typically on an odd day would take you about 1-2 hours. There is a huge queue given any point of time - mostly tourists flooding the place.
As you queue up, there is constant hymn being played in due respect of the Lord - these are also being displayed in the TVs placed.You can chant along to submerge yourself in the serenity.
There is no entry fee.
We were lucky to see the sword being taken in to the Gurudwara by the brotherhood - they were constantly singing hymns.
The area is highly maintained. You must have the churni for the girls and the head scarf for the guys, at all point of time.
In all a very well managed place.
Once you pay your respects at the Golden Temple - you would find a throng for the Kada Prasad at one corner as you are exiting. The kada prasad is overloaded with ghee but a spoonful drop onto our palms and it is pure jannat.
In the sarovar, you will find plenty of fishes swimming through the night.
As a sacred ritual people can be seen immersing their hands in the pool of nectar - the sarovar has a uniuqe calmness attached to it. The water is believed to have great healing powers.
The entire flooring is in marble and the temple is built at a level lower than the surrounding land level - this has been deliberately done as a mark of humility. There are four entrances to the temple signifying people of every walk of life are equally welcome in its lapse. This shows how thoughtfully this has been designed.
This folk song being played on the instruments - music!
Lakhs and lakhs of people following in for the Guru Da Langar. As the people of Amritsar proudly claim - "Hamare dwar pe koi bhukka nahin rehta". Poor to the poorest , rich to the richest everyone dine in one ground.
It is open 24 X 7 and they feed innumerable people.
It is open 24 X 7 and they feed innumerable people.
Every bit a symbol of pristinity. 💚
If you would take my suggestion - make sure to visit the temple in the evening and in the wee hours of the morning too. 🙏
Cheers to life!!
~Believe in yourself always!
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The city of Amritsar is a historical one and one of the holiest cradle of the Sikhism religion. The Harmandir Sahib or the Darbar Sahib is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism. It is renowned by the name of The Golden Temple Amritsar and is one of the most visited pilgrimage site and one of the most popular tourism destinations in India
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