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The Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world. In the evolution of the Darbar Sahib, is entwined the history and ideology of Sikhism. In its architecture are included, symbols associated with other places of worship. This is an example of the spirit of tolerance and acceptance that the Sikh philosophy propounds.
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and golden coating for English speaking world), is named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas.
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| HIstory |
The Sri Harmandir Sahib was invaded and destroyed many a times by the Afghan and other invaders. Each and every time the Sikhs had to sacrifice their lives in order to liberate it and restore its sanctity. After the martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh ji in 1737, Massa Ranghar, the Kotwal of Amritsar took charge of Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1740 and converted it into a civil court and began to hold notch parties. This act created great resentment among the Sikhs. Two warriors, Sukha Singh and Mahtab Singh avenged the insult by a dare devil act. They entered the temple complex in guise of peasants, severed the head of Massa Ranghar with a single blow of kirpan and fled away with decapitated head on one of the their spears.
Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore on 1st of Magh, 1644 Bikrmi Samvat(December,1588). The construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.
Unlike erecting the structure on the higher level(a tradition in Hindu Temple architecture), Guru Arjan Sahib got it built on the lower level and unlike Hindu Temples having only one gate for the entrance and exit, Guru Sahib got it open from four sides. Thus he created a symbol of new faith, Sikhism. Guru Sahib made it accessible to every person without any distinction of Caste, creed, sex and religion. |
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| When to go |
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The Golden Temple, and the city of Amritsar itself, are best visited in the winter. The months between November and March are pleasant (even cold), although the summer can get blisteringly hot. |
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| Getting There |
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As the religious capital of Punjab-and one of India’s most important cities- Amritsar is well connected by plane, train and road to the rest of the country. Amritsar’s Rajasansi Airport has air links to Delhi, Srinagar and Chandigarh; the local train station has regular trains to most major cities in the country.
In addition to air and rail connections, Amritsar also has frequent bus services from cities and towns both within Punjab as well as in other states. Besides this, there’s a bus service from Lahore (35 km away), the only overland service between India and Pakistan.
Within the city, rented cars, taxis, local buses, unmetered auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws can be used for transport.
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| Accommodation |
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Amritsar has a number of mid-range and luxury hotels- the latter mainly along Mall Road. There are smaller guesthouses too, and a youth hostel which houses the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation office. Besides these, there is accommodation at the Golden Temple itself; the Guru Ram Das and Guru Nanak hostels on one side of the complex offer free accommodation up to three nights for visitors.
All across Amritsar are restaurants and eateries galore, where apart from the local food, you can also get international cuisine, although usually not too authentic. If you’re visiting the temple, however, it’s best to go to the langar for a taste of traditional Sikh hospitality. The `Guru-ka-langar’ or community canteen is a Sikh institution, which was started by Guru Amar Das in the 16th century. The practice of eating together encouraged shedding of inhibitions and the principle of equality. The community kitchen at the Golden Temple feeds up to 10,000 people in a day, free of charges.
Further details on visiting Amritsar and the Golden Temple can be obtained from the PTDC office at the Youth Hostel, Mall Road, Amritsar. |
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