Golden Temple Amritsar: Top Temples in India

Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab

Sri Harmandir Sahib also called Darbar Sahib and popularly referred to as the Golden Temple is the holiest site of Sikhs and the most iconic symbol of heritage and traditions of Sikhism.

Golden Temple is also voted as one of the seven wonders of India.

We have also included this temple in our list of top 10 temples in India.

Golden Temple in Amritsar is the holiest Sikh site in the world

History of Harmandir Sahib
Construction of the Golden Temple was completed under the tutelage of the fifth Sikh guru Arjan who himself laid the foundation stone in 1558.

According to the legends, the Gurudwara came up around the lake Amrit Sarovar excavated by fourth guru Ram Das. Under the leadership of Guru Arjan, the Gurudwara construction was completed in 1604 and Guru Granth Sahib was installed at the Golden Temple.

The story goes that impressed by the local lifestyle and as an act reverence to the third Sikh guru Amar Das, Mughal Emperor Akbar gifted a small piece of land to his daughter on occasion of her marriage to Bhai Jetha who later became the fourth guru Ram Das.

In yet another legend, it is believed that Guru Amar Das found the cure to the skin disease of the second Sikh guru Angad on the banks of this pool. It is also one of the reasons why the water of Amrit Sarovar is considered to contain medicinal property.

Significance of Golden Temple Architecture and Design
Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple is a fine specimen of the Sikh worldviews and religious tolerance. There are 4 entrances to the golden temple which signifies Sikhism’s openness to other religion, creeds and people.

Interesting facts about the Golden Temple

• Darbar Harmandir Sahib is constructed of white marble which is overlaid with gold hence the popular name Golden Temple
•  It is open to all irrespective of caste, creed, religion or sex
• Golden Temple is surrounded by a large lake known as Amrit Sarovar or the pond of immortal nectar.
• The township of Amritsar is named after this lake and grew around the pool surrounding Harmandir Sahib
• Devotees perform ablutions in the pool water which is believed to have medicinal properties
• The original Golden Temple was destroyed by the invading Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali and the present one was rebuilt by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia in 1764
• The floor of Golden Temple were gold plated during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who secured the Punjab from external aggression
• There are 3 holy ber trees inside the Gurudwara Complex signifying important event in Sikhism
• The most important celebration inside Golden Temple is held on second week of April on occasion of Vaisakhi which is also the founding date of Sikh Khalsa
• Langar or the free meal is arranged for thousands of devotees who visit Golden Temple everyday
• Cooking of food and washing of utensils inside the temple is done by volunteers who visit this holy place

Best Time to Visit Golden Temple
The months from October to March are considered as the best time to visit Amritsar. The weather during this period is very pleasant and is ideal for sightseeing.

How to Reach
Amritsar is well-connected with all modes of transportation. Amritsar can be easily reached by train, road or airways and the tourists should not face any problem in accessing this amazing city.

Airways:  Tourists can get regular flights throughout the day to Amritsar from the Raja Sansi International Airport located in the city of Amritsar. This international airport also connects with some other cities of India as well as of the world.

Railways: Amritsar has its own railway station that is well-connected with all other important railheads of Punjab along with other towns and cities of India. A number of trains run on a regular basis from this railway station.

Roadways: A number of private as well as state buses run in and around the state. Amritsar is linked with Delhi through the G.T Road. Tourists can also opt for deluxe and deluxe buses that run on regular basis connecting Amritsar with several other important places in India.

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North India Temple Tour: In Search of Spirituality

North India temple tour traverses the courses of these significant places which celebrate and preserve the art and culture of various socio-cultural beliefs and practices. Meticulously crafted temple tours to select destination in northern part of India is a quest to bring out the vibrant aspect of spirituality and art embedded in some glorious monuments and temples.

Evening Aarti at Bathing Ghats by the Sacred river Ganges in Varanasi

Beginning your North India temple tour from Delhi gives you flexibility and variety of choice to cover some most significant places of worship and pilgrimage. Delhi itself is home to many temples dedicated to and serving different religious beliefs. Some of the important places worth mention includes Lotus Temple (The Bahá'í House of Worship), Akshardham Temple (Swaminarayan), Birla Temple, ISKCON Temple, Jama Masjid and Chhatarpur Temple.

Located a few hundred kilometers away from Delhi are Mathura and Vrindavan. These are the places around which lord Krishna was born and brought up. These destinations are major pilgrimage sites of Hindus. Place of interest in Vrindavan include ISKCON Temple also known as Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir, Banke Bihari Temple, Madan Mohan temple and Sri Vrindavan-Chandra Mandir located some 145 kilometers away from Delhi. In Mathura places of interest include Dwarkadheesh temple and Govardhana Hill among others.

One of the major pilgrimage centers of international fame is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab. Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, is the most sacred temple of Sikh community. The temple is popularly referred to as Golden Temple because of the gold plating on the upper floors of the structure.

Vacations in India

In Rajasthan, Pushkar is a major pilgrimage center of international renown famous for its annual fair. Brahma temple, situated in Pushkar, Rajasthan is the most prominent temple dedicated to the Hindu creator god Brahma. Just a short distance from Pushkar is Ajmer which is a major pilgrimage of Muslims. The Ajmer Sharif shrine is renowned for its secular character attracting pilgrims of all faiths.

Temple tours in India especially in the northern part, is incomplete without a visit to Varanasi. Varanasi is the most sacred pilgrimage site of Hindus. Considered one of the most ancient cities in world, the allure of Varanasi lies in its archaic temples and holy bathing ghats of Ganges. A boat cruise in the mythical river Ganges is a must to do thing in Varanasi.

Lotus Temple (Baha'i House of Worship) - New Delhi

India is home to an array of religious beliefs, creeds and practices. To say that North India Temple Tour is the best way to experience religious fervor and Indian culture will not be an overstatement. With almost every religion practiced here in India, patrons of art and culture have seen to it that multitude of religious monuments dot the length and breadth of India since time immemorial. These places are memorial of the beliefs, culture and practices of the society and temple tours in India offer a window to let you witness the rich heritage of India in these timeless monuments.

To select from an array of tastefully crafted North India tour packages, feel free to visit the website of Indian Luxury Trains.

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