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In a maze of streets and on an island in the middle of a small lake we find the Golden Temple of Amritsar, a practically unknown treasure of India that does not leave anyone who visits it indifferent.. Not only for its incredible architecture, but for the solidarity of those who inhabit it.
The Golden Temple is a sacred place for those who practice Sikhism, a religion that follows the teachings of Guru Nanak who promoted that religion should be a means of union between the various peoples and opposed the caste system. He devised a new religion that fused concepts from Islam and Hinduism such as the belief in a single god and reincarnation.
Those who practice Sikhism make a pilgrimage to this temple at least once in their life. There they pray and purify themselves in the sacred waters of the Amrit Sarovar pool.
Golden temple
The Golden Temple of Amritsar is a temple that attracts powerfully attention because of its architecture and color. It is a three-story building that resembles a quadrangular fort with shiny walls due to the golden plates that cover its marble and crowned by a gold dome. Absolutely spectacular.
The main structure is located in the center of the lake, on an area of 150 square meters. On the access road, in the western part of the lake, there is a nice welcome arch. The path is decorated with street lamps or lamps attached to white marble columns.
To enter the Golden Temple, visitors have to descend some stairs and enter through one of the doors distributed on the sides, which symbolize the opening of Sikhism to other religions.
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The structure of the Golden Temple
Upon entering the Golden Temple we find that on the ground floor is the sacred scripture of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, under an incredible canopy adorned with jewels and precious stones. Going through the second floor we find the Hall of Mirrors or Shish Mahal, which has an opening in the middle from which you can see the ground floor. The walls of this room are decorated with beautiful plant designs and mirror fragments on the ceiling.
Finally, above the Hall of Mirrors there is a small room crowned by a dome that is in turn accompanied by several chhatris, traditional architectural elements in India that are used to embellish buildings such as palaces, burial sites and fortifications.
If you are going to visit the Golden Temple of Amritsar, you must observe the rules regarding the behavior of the visitors, such as covering the head, not wearing shoes and dressing humbly. However, knowing him is an experience that you will not forget.
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How to visit the Golden Temple?
The entrance to the Golden Temple is free as it is open to visitors from all corners of the world. As in any temple, to enter you must follow a certain protocol because it is a sacred place.
- Regarding clothing, as in all religions, clothing should not be too tight and cover shoulders and legs. It is also necessary to take off their shoes before entering the temple and that both men and women cover their heads to access the temple.
- Wash your feet before entering. A few meters before the entrance to the temple you have to go through a small pool that covers your feet.
- Avoid photographs inside the temple.
Eat and sleep at the Golden Temple
The Golden Temple offers shelter and food to those in need. Every day the kitchen of this place, known as Guru-Ka-Langar, feeds between 60.000 and 80.000 people totally free.
The food they serve is a very simple typical Indian dish called thali. Since the food is free due to Sikh hospitality, those who wish can leave a donation for the temple or help wash the trays, although everything is optional.
You can also sleep inside the Golden Temple. There are some rooms available for foreigners who want to spend the night here on mattresses.