India is home to a variety of tourist attractions from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean and from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea. There are sacred places, architectural splendors, opulent temples and more. One place where you can get a sacred temple, opulence as well as architectural splendor is the Golden Temple at Amritsar in the state of Punjab. Amritsar is around 450 km from Delhi which is well connected to the rest of the world through air.
The people of Punjab are known for their zest for life, valor, opulent social occasions, rich clothes, dance, military service and community kitchens. Loud music and dance is interwoven with their social fabric and so is good food.
There are a number of book a hotel online with Cleartrip options near Golden Temple. You can get budget ones within Rs. 2000 per day for a double bed room. There are a lot of mid-range hotels along with some high end ones too like Fairfield by JW Marriott from where the temple is just about 10 minutes on foot.
Best time to visit the auspicious temple!
The best time to visit the temple is between the months of November and March. During this time of the year the weather is pleasant, and you can really enjoy the sight and sound of the temple and the surroundings. However, during the month of December the temperature can go even below Zero degree. During the period from July to October too you can visit the city and enjoy the temple. However, during this period the monsoon rains may spoil some of your other sightseeing opportunities. You can visit the golden temple anyway.
The site of the temple, a lake within a forest, has a profound historic significance. It was a place where wandering sages used to meditate. It is said that even Gautama Buddha had spent some time here. This was also the place where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, had meditated and spent a lot of his time. After Guru Nanak passed away, his disciples used to frequent the site since it had become a sacred place by that time.
Rich History of the Golden Temple Unfolded!
Over a course of centuries this place became the primary sacred place for Sikhs and a place for their religious congregations. During the fourth Sikh Guru, Ram Dass, who lived from AD 1574 to AD 1581, and the fifth Guru, Arjan, who lived from AD 1581 to AD 1606, the lake was enlarged and the Hari Mandir, also known as the Temple of God, was built. The temple had to be reconstructed several times since it had been destroyed by invading Muslim armies several times in 1600 and 1700 centuries. This is the period when the Sikhs were in relentless fight against the Muslim armies of Delhi to save themselves, their religion and temples. Nevertheless, each time the temple was destroyed by the vandals, it was resurrected by the Sikhs even more beautifully. The threat of Mughals ebbed from 1767 onwards as the power of Delhi was slowly slipping away from the Mughals to the British. Nonetheless, it was an end of tyranny for Sikhs and torment for the grandiose temple – the golden temple of Amritsar.
An Archeological Splendor!
Apart from the historical and theological significance, the temple is also significant for its architectural splendor. Although the architecture is a manifestation of Hindu and Muslim styles, it maintains a balance between the two and radiates an aura that is unique to it. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the famed Sikh king, had carried out ornate embellishment with golden gilding, marble sculptures and a bevy of precious stones. While the structure is magnificent and richly decorated, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, which is the seat of Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred Sikh scripture, is a platform that is studded with jewels.
The sight and sound of Golden Temple not just fills your heart with joy and devotion, it also fills your stomach. There are enormous dining halls called Langars adjacent to the temple complex. It boasts of one of the largest kitchens in the world where you can get a hearty and free Punjabi meal and that’s just true for everybody.
You do need to spend some time inside the temple and the complex to imbibe the vibe. However, once your temple tour is over, you can visit a number of places near the golden temple too. Among the most significant of these places are Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah border, Akal takht, and Bathinda fort.
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