|  The
globally renown Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, which enshrines the Holy Book
of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, is located in Amritsar. Amritsar, literally
'a pool of nectar', was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who
had initially constructed a pool here. The vital nucleus of Sikhism, Amritsar
is also believed to be the site, where Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana.
According to popular belief, Rama and Sita had spent a brief period of their 14
year exile here.
Guru Arjun Dev - Nanak V(1563-1606) laid down
the foundation of the temple in 1589. He requested his great contemporary Muslim
mystic, Mir Mohammed Muayyinul Islam, popularly known as Mian Mir, to lay the
foundation stone.
The construction of the temple was completed in late sixteenth century. It was
rebuilt by the Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1803. The Golden Temple is
a two storey marble structure, with an imposing dome of pure gold. The architecture
of the Golden Temple, is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles. The golden dome is
meant to represent an inverted lotus flower. The interior of the temple is decorated
with semi precious stones, frescoes and glass work.
The Akal Takht,
or immortal throne, established by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, is the
supreme seat of Sikh religious authority, and is also the repository of ancient
weapons, used by the Sikh warriors and Gurus. The original copy of the Granth
Sahib, which is kept in the Golden Temple during the day, is ceremoniously returned
to the Akal Takht, at night.
The gnarled old Jubi Tree in the north
west corner of the compound, is believed to possess special powers. It was planted
450 years ago, by the Golden Temple's first high priest, Baba Buddhaya. Guru-ka-Langar
or the communal canteen, is towards the eastern entrance of the temple complex,
and it provides free food to all visitors, regardless of colour, creed, caste
or gender.
Pilgrims and visitors to the Golden Temple, must remove
their shoes and cover their heads, before entering the temple premises. The best
time to visit the temple is early in the morning, on weekdays, before it gets
crowded.
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| Near
the Golden Temple, is Jallianwala Bagh, a poignant memorial of the Freedom Movement.
This garden was the site of a brutal massacre of over 2000 innocent unarmed people,
on the orders of a British General on April 13, 1919. The bullet scarred walls
of the well kept garden, today, enclose a memorial with an eternal flame, dedicated
to the martyrs.
Durgiana Temple, outside the Lohagarh gate of the
old city, is dedicated to Goddess Durga, and is a centre of pilgrimage for devout
Hindus. Other attractions are Ram Bagh Garden, encircling the palace of the Sikh
ruler Ranjit Singh; Fort Gobind Garh, which was built by Ranjit Singh in 1805-09;
Baba Atal Rai Tower; Baba Bakale, a gurudwara dedicated to Tegh Bahadur, the ninth
Guru of Sikhs and Taran Taran, a gurudwara in the memory of Guru Ram Das. |
Winter: October to March.