The Golden Temple, also called Harmandir Sahib, is the most admired gurudwara in Punjab. It is situated in Amritsar and is a major pilgrim site for The Sikhs of India. It is the most esteemed sacred place in Punjab.
As per the remnants of history a centuries ago, Gautam Buddha, the founder of the Buddhism religion, also meditated here. This place was just a lake surrounded by dense forest at that time.
Mahatma Budh accepted this spot as an ideal place for meditations for saints and sadhus. Also, the first Sikh guru that meditated on this site was Guru Nanak Dev ji; however, its construction was initiated by the 5th guru of Sikhs, Arjan Dev ji. He designed and started the construction of divine Darbar Sahib in 1581 and completed it within 8 years.
However, after the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1762, Islamic rulers devastated this gurudwara. Raja Ranjit Singh rebuilt this incredible heritage with marble stone and decorated it with 500 Kilograms of pure gold. If you are planning a trip to Punjab, don’t miss visiting this heritage site.
Now let us discuss six interesting facts about the Golden temple which you might not know.
1. Unique Blend Of Mughal & Indian Architecture
Talking about the architecture of Harmandir Sahib, it is a blend of Hindu and Mughal architectural composition. You will find sangemarmar (marble) sculptures and paintings here that look pretty similar to the Taj Mahal. The dome of this sacred shrine is made with pure gold, and eye-catching gold panels surround its structure. The detailed and intricate work on the pure gold gives this Gurudwara a stunning look. Not just that, the ceiling is decorated with beautiful and precious stones. The prescient continually used to chant the Guru Granth Sahib, which adds the untold charm of this place.
2. Surrounded By Sacred Pond
Although most of the gurdwaras have ponds called Sarovar, the Sarovar of Harmindar Sahib has a unique story. The pilgrims take a bath in this Sarovar before offering prayers. They believe that spiritual wealth can be gained by taking a dip in the holy water. It is also said that the sacred water of the Golden temple is effective in curing several ailments and diseases.
3. Four Entrance
You may be aware of the four entry points of Harminder Sahib. Yes, it has four entry gates in each direction: north, south, east, west. And there is a reason behind it. The four doors of the Golden Temple reflect that it is open for all religions of the world. Therefore, anybody can enter its premise irrespective of caste, creed, and religion.
The foundation stone of this auspicious gurudwara was laid down by Mian Mi (a great Sufi saint) with the intention to spread the message that this sacred place is open to everyone.
4. Attract Tourists
While the Taj Mahal is one of the eight wonders of the world, the Golden Temple attracts more tourists worldwide. According to the UK’s World Book of Records in 2013, around three million visitors witnessed the Taj Mahal; however, the Harminder Sahib Amritsar witnessed three million pilgrims in just a month. Moreover, approximately one lakh people visit this pilgrimage just in a day, which clearly signifies that the Golden temple is fascinating. Not just that, the BBC put the Golden temple higher than the Taj Mahal in the list of places to be visited before dying.
5. Largest Selfless Service In The World
Thousands work as volunteers for Golden temple. This pilgrimage offers the largest langar sewa through the country. It is equipped with the free-of-cost largest Kitchen. The amazing fact about this gurdwara is it serves 50 000 plus individuals a day. And on religious events and festivals, that count turns to almost double. The people from the Sikh religion work with their full heart to prepare a delicious meal including chapati, vegetable, daal, and Kheer. All the food served at the Golden Temple is managed by donations donated by the pilgrims.
6. Constructed Below The Ground Level
Another interesting fact about the Golden temple is that its first floor is submerged in the sacred Sarovar inversely to the Hindu temple, where stairs are always elevated. This symbolizes humbleness and equal living.
The Bottom Line-:
Grand events are organized at Golden temple on various festivals like Diwali, Baisakhi, Lohri, Gurpurab. So don’t miss visiting here to make your Punjab trip worthwhile. Hope you like the information. Stay tuned to know more about Punjab and get the latest news of Punjab.
Author Bio
Ankita Lakhanpal is an Engineer by qualification and blogger by profession. She has four years of experience in content marketing and loves to research and write about foods and flavors all around the world. She loves to read about the historical places and big giants of the food industry in her spare time.
