Amritsar Golden Temple Tour_ 5 Things to Know about Golden Temple

1. Amritsar Golden Temple Tour: 5 Things To Know About Golden Temple The Amritsar Golden Temple Tour Packages are the most opted packages by the people coming from any part of the world. As Amritsar plays an important role in Sikh culture and history, it is one of the oldest and most fascinating cities in India. Being the holiest city of the region, it has 27 million followers, especially of Sikh religion, worldwide. Amritsar is located in the northern state of Punjab and is home to the famous Golden Temple that is arguably one of the most spectacular sites in the country. A Quick Review of Golden Temple The Golden Temple, known as Sri Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, is an open place of worship for the Sikhs-Sikhism is a religion that follows a single god. There are four entryways on each side of the square sanctuary compound, representing that the Golden Temple is available to individuals from varying backgrounds, paying little heed to race, religion or ideology. 1. History of Golden Temple Amritsar signifies "pool of the nectar of everlasting status", and the name comes from the word Sarovar, which alludes to the pool around the Golden Temple that was unearthed in 1577. The city of Amritsar was later built around the pool. Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, initiated the construction and had the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. The land that became Amritsar and where the Golden Temple stands were chosen by Guru Amar Das, the third Guru. He commissioned his disciple Ram Das to search for land to build a new city, the central point being the man-made pond. Guru Ram Das, the successor of Guru Amar Das, became the fourth Guru and founded Amritsar, which was then known as Ramdaspur. He completed the pool under the supervision of Baba Buddha, a revered figure in Sikhism. Guru Ram Das Ji then, at that point named his most youthful child as his replacement - Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, who further extended Ramdaspur and was the person who planned Golden Temple. 2. Construction of Golden Temple Construction of the temple began in 1581, with the first version taking eight years to complete. Until now, the temple has undergone many renovations, due to several attacks

2. since its first construction. It was first covered with 162kg of gold in seven to nine layers by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1830, two centuries after its first construction, earning it the name Golden Temple. From 1995-1999, it was covered with another 500kg of gold in twenty-four layers by skilled artists. 3. The exploration of the Golden Temple Sanctum: At the centre of the temple complex is the Golden Sanctum, where the sacred scriptures of the Sikh religion (The Guru Granth Sahib) are kept. They are read throughout the day, and other religious hymns can be heard over the loudspeakers in & around the temple, in the city and broadcast worldwide on television & radio. Worshippers and visitors wait in long lines to enter this sanctum and receive blessings. On a normal day, it can take up to two hours to reach the shrine and even longer on holidays and weekends. Sarovar: Surrounding the shrine is a man-made pond called the Sarovar. It is believed that holy water has healing powers, and therefore there are bathing areas separately for men and women where you can take a holy bath. Parikrama: The outskirts encompassing the Sarovar is called Parikrama and is an optimal spot to absorb the air of the Golden Temple. Numerous individuals lounge around here recounting and paying attention to petitions. Various useful and remembrance plaques around the external walkway specifying the sanctuary's set of experiences merit finding and perusing. Community Kitchen (Langar of Golden Temple): Since 1481, Harmandir Sahib has been serving Langar (i.e. vegetarian meals) to every visitor who comes to Langar Hall - a community kitchen that feeds approximately 1 lakh people a day, no matter who they are or where they come from, to ensure that no one goes hungry. Everyone gets a metal tray, a cup & cutlery and sits down next to each other on mats on the floor, regardless of status. The food is free, but many locals and pilgrims participate in Sewa - volunteer work. This can be serving the food, cleaning the dishes or helping with the cooking. 90% of the staff comprises Sewa volunteers and 300 permanent sewadars who make sure the food is cooked and delivered on time. Hence, by booking the Amritsar Golden Temple Tour Packages, you can experience the immense logistical effort in preparing, cooking and serving the visitors which will turn out to be truly admirable! 4. What Should You Carry to the Golden Temple? Since this is a sacred place of worship, it is important to dress appropriately when you have planned for your Amritsar Golden Temple Tour. Even though there is no clothing standard in Sikh Religion, there are rules that ought to be followed.

3. ● Everyone who enters the grounds must cover his/her head. You can cover your head with your scarf or bandana; otherwise, rent or buy one right outside the temple. Do not wear a hat as a substitute. ● Shoulders and legs should be covered. You can wear a long dress or trousers with a long top. ● Shoes are removed before entering. There are designated shoe drop-off locations that are free of charge. You will be given a token to hold to pick up your shoes as you exit the building. ● Socks should be removed. The temple has several foot-washing facilities in the form of basins where you will wash your feet as you enter and exit the temple. ● Depending on the time of year you visit the temple, you should dress according to the temperature. It can get very crowded and hot, so cotton clothing is recommended. ● Luggage must be left in the storage room at the temple entrance and is free of charge. You can carry Handbags and smaller backpacks with you. 5. At What Time Should You Visit the Golden Temple? The Golden Temple is open 24/7 for pilgrims. The temple is always busy, with more traffic (means Sangat) on weekends. Depending on your religious zeal, you can visit the temple at any time of the day. Faithful Sikhs visit promptly toward the beginning of the day during Amrit Vela (season of Amrit) between 12 PM - 6 AM before daybreak, at which time they ponder. The Palki Sahib function is a day by day custom held twice a day where the Guru Granth Sahib (heavenly book) is taken from the Golden Temple to the Sri Akal Takht, simply inverse the Golden Temple and the other way around. The Guru Granth Sahib is let go each evening at 9.30 pm, and each day the sacred book is brought to the Golden Temple at 4.30 am for love from Akal Takht. When it is brought in the morning, the devotees decorate the holy book with flowers and wait for the recitation of the first hymn of the day, known as the Hukamnama, which takes place at 6.30 am daily and is chosen at random. This time is busy yet beautifully peaceful. For the day, recitations proceed in a coordinated way, and admirers and guests are served Karah Prashad, a holy contribution made by eating flour, margarine and sugar. On the off chance that you show up before sunset, you can see the Golden Temple in light and stay into the night to see the sanctuary gleam and reflect off the pool - a treat for the eyes and soul the same. Thus, these are the five most important things to know about Golden Temple. It is good to know about the place beforehand when you visit any religious place. You can plan and travel to Golden temple and various other pilgrimage sites with the Best Tour and Travel Company in India and enjoy the vast & great past of the Sikhs and Sikhism. So, book your tour now and seek the blessings of Almighty while enjoying the sightseeing of the city.