Sightseeing in Amritsar
The Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple, is the most important gudwara, or temple, in Sikhism. It was built in the early 1600s from marble and then overlaid with gold leaf. Inside the temple, visitors can find the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of Sikhism. Around the temple is a body of water called the Amrit Sarovar, or Pool of Nectar. Amritsar takes its name from this sacred pool. Within the temple, one impressive site is a dining hall where volunteers serve food to 3,500 people in need.The Golden Temple has been the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion for more than 400 years and is always a hive of activity, especially during the early morning ceremonies. The Sikhs take great pride and pleasure in maintaining the temple premises and showing visitors around the complex. The temple complex is open for almost 20 hours, from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. It’s well worth two visits – during the day and night. Heads must be covered and shoes removed when you enter the temple.
The busy town of Amritsar is also famed for the most notorious massacre during British rule. This took place at Jalianwala Bagh in 1919 and was a major event in India’s struggle for independence. The site is now a museum and memorial to commemorate the 2000 Indian protesters who were killed or wounded here.
