Golden shrine
In the pool.
Arian Zwegers — CC BY 2.0 · shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates — CC BY 2.0 · Jasleen Kaur — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Nilesh.shintre — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Traveltoindia23 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, is the holiest site of Sikhism, in the city of Amritsar. A small gold-covered shrine stands in the middle of a broad sacred pool, ringed by white marble walkways and white buildings, its reflection shining on the water day and night. Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, completed the pool, the Amrit Sarovar, in 1577, and Guru Arjan placed a copy of the Sikh scripture in the shrine in 1604. It has been rebuilt several times. The complex includes the Akal Takht, one of the five seats of Sikh authority, a clock tower, a museum and a langar, a free kitchen serving a vegetarian meal to every visitor without distinction. More than 150,000 people visit each day. You walk barefoot round the pool on the marble, queue to enter the shrine, and sit down to eat in the free kitchen with everyone else. It looks loveliest at dawn and in the evening when it is lit. It is about 1.6 km in a straight line south of central Amritsar. Remove your shoes and wash your feet, cover your head, and do not smoke or carry alcohol.
In the pool.
Free meals.
In the evening.
Old city, Amritsar, Punjab
Yes, everyone is welcome.
Modest clothes and a head covering.