Sach khand- Sri Harmandir Sahib -Swarn Mandir, Sri Amritsar Sahib

                                                 ਸੋਨੇ ਦਾ ਮੰਦਿਰ -स्वर्ण  मंदिर - GOLDEN TEMPLE


                                                BOTH INNER & OUTER ARE GOLD PLATED

The Harmandir Sahib (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) or Darbar Sahib (Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ), informally referred to as The Golden Temple, is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. It is located in the city of Amritsar, which was established by Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs and is known as "guru di nagri" meaning city of the Sikh Guru. 

THE TEMPLE SHROUDED WITH REAL GOLD 

INNER VIEW OF SWARN MANDIR 

 ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ  ਜੀ waheguruji ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ  waheguruji  ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ

General

Harmandir Sahib is considered holy by Sikhs. The most holy 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

[edit]History

Harmandir Sahib literally means Temple of God. The fourth guru of Sikhism, Guru Ram Das, excavated a tank in 1577 CE which subsequently became known as Amritsar (meaning "Pool of the Nectar of Immortality"), giving its name to the city that grew around it. In due course, a splendid Sikh edifice, Harmandir Sahib (meaning "the abode of God"), rose in the middle of this tank and became the supreme centre ofSikhism. 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 Dev.

Artwork and monument sculptures

North Entrance gate near Ath-sath Tirath (68 Sacred Places) (Point 15 on map)

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 202 feet (62 m) high and 21 feet (6 m) in width. The gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was begun by Emperor Ranjit Singh and was finished in 1830. The Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of the Punjab) 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. Maharaja Ranjit Singh also built two of the other most sacred gurdwaras in Sikhism. This was because Maharaja Ranjit Singh had a deep love for the tenth guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh. The other two most sacred gurdwaras in Sikhism, which he built, are Takht Sri Patna Sahib (intiation or birth place of Guru Gobind Singh) and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, the place of Guru Gobind Singh's Sikh ascension into heaven.

[edit]Celebrations at Harmandir Sahib

The Harmandir Sahib Watch Towers(Point 17 on map)

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 martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur, the birthday of Guru Nanak, etc., are also celebrated with religious piety. Similarly Diwali is one of the festivals which sees the Harmandir Sahib beautifully illuminated with Divas/Diyas (lamps); lights and fireworks are discharged. During these special occasions many thousands of people visit the holy shrine named Harmandir Sahib Most Sikh people 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.

[edit]Reaching the Harmandir Sahib from abroad

For the global Sikh pilgrim or international tourist visitor the fastest way to reach the Harmandir Sahib is by air travel. The holy city of Amritsar, where the Harmandir Sahib is located, has a rapidly expanding modern airport called Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. The airport can be reached directly by the international traveller from most major cities of the world including London and New York . Amritsar is also very well connected with New Delhi, there are scheduled morning, afternoon and evening flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi to Amritsar and back. It is possible to do a same day trip to Delhi.