The Golden Temple

The world renowned Golden Temple which enshrines the Granth Sahib (the holy Book of the Sikhs) is located in Amritsar (literally meaning -'a pool of nectar'). Amritsar which houses the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who had initially constructed a pool here. It is here that Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana. Rama and Sita are believed to have spent their fourteen year exile in Amritsar, the epicentre of Sikhism.
Contemporary Muslim mystic, Mir Mohammed Muayyinul Islam, popularly known as Mian Mir was requested by Guru Arjun Dev to lay the foundation stone. The construction was completed in rate sixteenth century.
The temple was rebuilt by the Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1803. The Golden Temple is a proper blend of Hindu and Muslim cultures as is shown by the architecture.
The Granth Sahib is kept in the Temple during the day and is kept in the Akal Takht or Eternal Throne in the night. The Akal Takht also houses the ancient weapons used by the Sikh warriors. It was established by Guru Hargobind.
The rugged old Jubi Tree in the north west corner of the compound, is believed to possess special powers. It was planted 450 years ago, by the Golden Temple's first high priest, Baba Buddhaya. Guru-ka-Langar or the communal canteen, is towards the eastern entrance of the temple complex, and it provides free food to all visitors, regardless of colour, creed, caste or gender.
Visitors to the Golden Temple must remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the temple. The temple is less crowded in the early mornings on weekends.

Anandpur Sahib

Location : 75 kms from Chandigarh

Languages : Punjabi, Hindi

Famous for : One of the holiest Sikh Shrines

A picturesque Village, a 17th Century Fortress and an Impressive Gurudwara.

North-west of Delhi, beyond the western edge of the Yamuna basin, lies the Land of the Yamuna basin, lies the Land of the Five Rivers, universally known as the Punjab. Endowed with rich agricultural soil, plentiful irrigation and equable climatic conditions, the state is sometimes called the granary of India. Its villages, large and small, are key to the robust Punjabi attitude to life that has evolved through cross-cultural influences down the ages. The regions is also home to the origin of the Sikh faith whose founder Guru Nanak preached here till his death 460 years ago in 1539. With neighbouring Haryana, Punjab shares its capital at Chandigarh where excellent train, road and air services connect the 250 km distance to Delhi. From Chandigarh, barely 75 km up the highway towards Dharamsala and Manali, lies Anandpur Sahib, the impressive gurudwara that is one of the holiest Sikh Shrines. Its picturesque village, flanked by a 17th century fortress, is framed between the Shivalik hills to the east and the Sutlej river farther away in the west. Nature has been generous here. Much of the year, vast green expanses will greet the visitor during the journey and also at the destination. Be they the kharif (summer) crops of maize and paddy or the rabi (winter) wheat emblazoned with mustard, there is a profusion of sylvan tranquility all round. Before the monsoon, the early sunrise will be followed by groups of men and women setting out to ready their fields for the kharif sowing. with the rainfall, the landscape transforms to extensive waterlogged patches where the paddy must stand before it gets ready for the harvest. The rabi season is different. Shawl flung across the shoulder, one's farmer friend will walk one through the bracing air to where the buffaloes are tethered. Under the canopy of a peepul tree on the fringe of the repining, golden wheat, there is simply no gastronomic experience to match a thali of sarson da saag with makke di roti topped off with a tall glass of fresh lassi. As one goes towards the interior, some of the elders will readily draw up a cot to sit and barter information over a drink of sugarcane juice. Interspersed with gentle Gurmukhi, the language of the Granth Sahib or holy scripture of the faith, the conversation will veer round to the quality of the crop, the prices of agricultural inputs and how modern technology has been double-edged in its possibilities for multicropping but at escalating cost! One of the commonest means of transport is the ubiquitous tractor. As its sputter punctures the calm of the village, one may join a colourfully dressed group setting off to the market. And when it is harvest time, virtually the entire village will lend a hand to cut and thresh the crop and stack it up before it is despatched for sale to the nearest mandi. Around this time, the festival of Baisakhi will witness renewed vigour. One may join in the zesty bhangra as gaily-attired men and women charge the air to a resounding drumbeat. Or on the day after Holi, join in the celebration of Hola Mohalla for a re-enactment of the old battles that bore testimony of Sikh valour. In the distance, the Sutlej flows on, having descended to the plains near Anandpur Sahib through its timeless journey from Rakshas Tal at the foot of Mount Kailash in Tibet.

Takht Sri Patna Sahib

Patna Sahib is situated in Patna, the capital of Bihar. It was here that Guru Gobind Singh was born in 1666 and spent his early years before moving to Anandpur. Besides being the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, Patna was also honoured by visits from Guru Nanak as well as Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Takht Sri Hazur Sahib

Hazur Sahib is on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra. This is where Guru Gobind Singh left this world. The inner room of the temple is called Angitha Sahib and is built over the place where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated in 1708.

Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib

Keshgarh Sahib is situated at Anandpur. It is considered the birthplace of the Khalsa. The Khalsa order was founded here by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Some of the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh are displayed here. The most precious of these is the actual Khanda (double edged sword) used by Guru Gobind Singh to prepare the amrit (sweet water) used in the first Khalsa initiation ceremony.

Takht Sri Damdama Sahib

Damdama Sahib is situated in the village of Talwandi Sabo near Bhatinda. This is where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nearly a year and compiled the final edition of the Guru Granth Sahib known as the Damdama Sahib Bir in 1705.

Sri Akal Takht

Akal Takht literally means Eternal Throne. It is part of the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The Akal Takht is situated on the other end of the causeway connected to the Harmandir Sahib. Its foundation was laid by Guru Hargobind. It was here that he was ceremonially installed as Guru in 1606. The building of the Akal Takht opposite the Golden Temple has a special meaning. While the Golden Temple stands for spiritual guidance the Akal Takht symbolizes the dispensing of justice and temporal activity. During the day the Guru Granth Sahib is kept in the Golden Temple, while at night it is kept in the Akal Takht. Traditionally all Sikh warriors sought blessings here before going to battle. During the 18th century while Sikhs were fighting a guerrilla war in the forests they used to gather at the Akal Takht on special occasions such as Baisakhi and Diwali. Here the community used to have general meetings and approve resolutions. The Akal Takht was the oldest of the Five Takhts, but it was destroyed by the Indian Army during its military invasion in 1984. It's reconstruction is almost complete.