Also known as the famed Golden Temple drawing devotees & tourists from all over the world, the Harimandir Sahib also houses the first & the most significant one of the Panj Takhts, the Akal Takht among others – aliving symbol of spiritual and historical traditions, the construction of the temple & its complex marking the symbol of a new faith, that of Sikhism.

It draws its name from the layers of gold that cover the shrine, as initiated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to protect the establishment & thus giving it its modern name “Golden Temple”. Built at a level lower than the surrounding land level the temple houses four gates with its unique blend of Hindu & Islamic architecture symbolizing the acceptance extended to people from all walks of life& teaching the lesson of egalitarianism, humility& brotherhood. The complex includes a number of memorials & monuments like the Sikh Museum, the Ramgarhia Bunga among others, marking the commemoration of the past events in Sikh history.

The foundation of the Amrit Sarovar, the temple & other buildings in the complex under the aegis of Guru Arjan Sahib in 1588 have come to be a significant achievement in the history of Sikhism & become an unparalleled establishment as a place of pilgrimage & that of great social, political & religious importance.