Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib)

Sri Harmandir Sahib also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple is the most sacred place for the Sikhs all over the world. Guru Arjan Dev Sahib got its foundation stone laid by Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore in the month of December 1588. Guru Sahib himself designed the plan and architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Some of the architectural features were planned to be a symbol of the Sikh world view. The construction was supervised by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib with the expert assistance of Baba Buddha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji and many other devotees. Thousands of volunteers joined in to build one of the most important religious places of worship.

Guru Sahib got the structure built on the lower level instead of having it erected on the higher level and had an entrance from all the four sides making it accessible to every person irrespective of caste, colour, creed, sex and religion and thus created a symbol of new faith, Sikhism. Sri Harmandir Sahib is built on a 67 feet square platform in the centre of the Amrit Sarovar with the Temple itself being 40.5 feet square. It has a door each on the North, East, West and South side. The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at the shore end of the walkway. The door frame of the arch is about 10 feet in height and 8.6 feet in breadth. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. They open on to the walkway or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. The bridge is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width.

It is connected with 13 feet wide ‘Pardakshna’ (circumambulatory path) which runs around the main shrine and leads to the ‘Har ki Pauri’ (steps of God) where on the first floor there is a continuous recitition of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The main structure of Sri Harmandir Sahib is a three-storied building. The front that faces the bridge is decorated with repeated cusped archs and the roof of the first floor is at the height of the 26.9 feet. At the top of the first floor, 4 feet high parapet rises on all the sides which has four ‘Mamtees’ on the four corners and exactly on the top of the central hall of the main sanctuary rises the third story. It is a small square room and has three gates. A regular recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is also held here. On the top of this room stands the low fluted ‘Gumbaz’ (dome) having lotus petal motif in relief at the base and and inverted lotus at the top which supports the ‘Kalash’ having a beautiful ‘Chhatri’ at the end.

The Gurdwara is surrounded by a huge Sarovar filled with “Amrit” (holy water). There are many shrines and memorial plaques in the honour of Sikh Gurus, Saints and Martyrs inside the complex. There are three holy trees (Bers) each depicting a historical event in Sikhism making Sri Harmandir Sahib a place for mental solace. Sri Harmandir Sahib is open for all but with the below restrictions.