The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India is the holiest site in Sikhism. It was constructed in the 16th century by Guru Arjan Dev, centered around a holy pool. The temple has an open design with entrances from four cardinal directions, welcoming people of all faiths. It houses the eternal Guru Granth Sahib and sees over 100,000 visitors daily for worship and readings from the holy text. Major Sikh festivals are celebrated at the Golden Temple with great fervor.

1. Shri Harmandir Sahib
The Golden Temple
Darbar Sahib

2. Shri Harmandir Sahib

3. Shri Harmandir Sahib
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib
or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty
and golden coating for English speaking world), is
named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The
Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to
Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir
Sahib in their Ardas.

4. Guru Granth Sahib
The Harimandir Sahib is considered holy by Sikhs. The
holiest text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, is
always present inside the gurdwara. Its construction
was mainly intended to build a place of worship for
men and women from all walks of life and all religions
to come and worship God equally. Over 100,000 people
visit the holy shrine daily for worship

5. History
The Harmandir Sahib literally means the House of God. In
1578 CE Guru Ram Das excavated a tank, which
subsequently became known as Amritsar (Pool of the
Nectar of Immortality), giving its name to the city that
grew around it. In due course, the Harmandir Sahib,[ was
built in the middle of this tank and became the supreme
centre of Sikhism. Its sanctum came to house the Adi
Granth comprising compositions of Sikh Gurus and
other saints considered to have Sikh values and
philosophies, e.g., Baba Farid, and Kabir. The
compilation of the Adi Granth was started by the fifth
guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan.

6. Time Table of Shri Harmandir Sahib
Kiwad (Portals) OpTmening Time 2.30 a.m.
Kirtan at Amrit Vela (Early dawn) 2.30 a.m.
Asa di Var 3.30 a.m.
Departure of Palki Sahib from Sri Akal Takhat
Sahib
4.30 a.m.
First Hukamnama 5.00 a.m.
First Ardas 5.30 a.m.
Asa Di War Samapti 6.30 a.m.
Second Ardas & Hukamnama
Holy reading of Rehras Sahib starts at sunset. 6.45 a.m.
Hukamnama at night 9.45 p.m
Departure of Palki Sahib from Sri Harimandir
Sahib
10.00 p.m.
Sukh-Aasan Sahib at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib 10.15 p.m.

7. Celebrations at the Harmandir Sahib
One of the most important festivals is Vaisakhi, which is
celebrated in the second week of April (usually the 13th).
Sikhs celebrate the founding of the Khalsa on this day
and it is celebrated with fervour in the Harmandir
Sahib. Other important Sikh religious days such as the
birth of Guru Raamdas ji, martyrdom day of Guru Teg
Bahadur, the birthday of Guru Nanak, etc., are also
celebrated with religious piety. Similarly Bandi Chhor
Divas is one of the festivals which sees the Harmandir
Sahib beautifully illuminated with Divas (lamps); lights
and fireworks are discharged. Most Sikhs visit Amritsar
and the Harmandir Sahib at least once during their
lifetime, particularly and mostly during special
occasions in their life such as birthdays, marriages,
childbirth, etc.

8. Entrance to Golden Temple

9. Ber Baba Buddha Ji

10. Amrit Sarovar
The gurdwara is surrounded by a large lake or holy tank,
known as the Sarovar, which consists of Amrit ("holy
water" or "immortal nectar") and is fed by the Ravi
River. There are four entrances to the gurdwara,
signifying the importance of acceptance and openness.
Inside the gurdwara complex there are many shrines to
past Sikh Gurus, saints and martyrs . There are three
holy trees (bers), each signifying a historical event or
Sikh saint. Inside the gurdwara there are many
memorial plaques that commemorate past Sikh
historical events, saints, martyrs and includes
commemorative inscriptions of all the Sikh soldiers
who died fighting in World Wars I and II.

11. Nishan Sahib Golden Temple

12. Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure
Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place
of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri
Harmandir Sahib. Earlier the planning to excavate the holy tank (Amritsar or
Amrit Sarovar ) was chalked out by Guru Amardas Sahib, the Third Nanak,
but it was executed by Guru Ramdas Sahib under the supervision of Baba
Budha ji. The land for the site was acquired by the earlier Guru Sahibs on
payment or free of cost from the Zamindars (landlords) of native villages. The
plan to establish a town settlement was also made. Therefore, the construction
work on the Sarovar(the tank) and the town started simultaneously in 1570.
The work on both projects completed in 1577 A.D.
Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of
Lahore on 1st of Magh, 1645 Bikrmi Samvat(December,1588). The
construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he
was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai
Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.

13. Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure
Unlike erecting the structure on the higher level(a tradition in Hindu Temple
architecture), Guru Arjan Sahib got it built on the lower level and unlike Hindu
Temples having only one gate for the entrance and exit, Guru Sahib got it open
from four sides. Thus he created a symbol of new faith, Sikhism. Guru Sahib
made it accessible to every person without any distinction of Caste, creed, sex
and religion.
The building work completed in 1601 A.D. on Bhadoon Sudi 1st, 1661 Bikrmi
Samvat (August/September,1604). Guru Arjan Sahib installed newly created
Guru Granth Sahib, in Sri Harmandir Sahib and appointed Baba Budha ji as its
first Granthi i.e. the reader of Guru Granth Sahib. After this event it attained
the status of ‘Ath Sath Tirath’. Now the Sikh Nation had their own Tirath, a
pilgrimage center

14. Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure
Sri Harmandir Sahib, is built on a 67ft. square platform in the centre of the
Sarovar(tank). The temple itself is 40.5ft. square. It has a door each on the East,
West, North and South. The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at the shore end of the
causeway. The door frame of the arch is about 10ft in height and 8ft 6inches in
breath. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the causeway
or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is 202 feet in
length and 21 feet in width.
The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide ‘Pardakshna’ (circumambulatory path). It
runs round the main shrine and it leads to the ‘Har ki Paure’ (steps of God). On the
first floor of ‘Har ki Paure’, there is continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib.
The main structure of Sri Harmandir Sahib, functionally as well as technically is a
three-storied one. The front, which faces the bridge, is decorated with repeated
cusped arches and the roof of the first floor is at the height of the 26 feet and 9
inches.

15. Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure
At the top of the first floor 4 feet high parapet rises on all the sides which has also
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 have
three gates. A regular recitation of Guru Granth Sahib is also held there.
On the top of this room stands the low fluted ‘Gumbaz’(dome) having lotus petal
motif in relief at the base inverted lotus at the top which supports the ‘Kalash’
having a beautiful ‘Chhatri’ at the end.
Its architecture represents a unique harmony between the Muslims and the Hindus
way of construction work and this is considered the best architectural
specimens of the world. It is often quoted that this architecture has created an
independent Sikh school of architecture in the history of art in India.

16. Artwork and monument sculptures
Much of the present decorative gilding and marblework dates from the
early 19th century. All the gold and exquisite marble work were
conducted under the patronage of Hukam Singh Chimni and Emperor
Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. The
Darshani Deorhi Arch stands at the beginning of the causeway to the
Harmandir Sahib; it is 62 metres (203 ft) high and 6 metres (20 ft) in
width. The gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was begun by Ranjit
Singh and was finished in 1830. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a major
donor of wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with
much affection by the Punjabi people in general and the Sikh
community in particular.