Life- ups & downs: Amritsar- Golden temple visit

A 3 day weekend, temp. Nearly 30 degrees and not a spendthrift pocket…..448 kms. From Delhi sounds to be a decent three day trip to the “Harimandar Sahib “(officially the Golden Temple of Amritsar). All modes of transport (road/railway/airway) are available on this route. Both Deluxe and superfast trains depart from New Delhi Railway station to Amritsar Junction. One can avail the Amritsar Shatabdi, Amritsar mail, Golden temple Express, WB Samparkranti, Paschim express. Ideal time of travel ranges between 6.5 -10 hours. Reservations done 15 days prior can make you lucky to get tickets in any of the above trains. In our case, it was a spontaneous decision just 2 days prior to the journey, so we had the option of Volvo buses left open for us. A fleet of Luxury AC Volvo buses ply between Delhi & Amritsar daily. Average fare is Rs. 800. You can either book tickets online through makemytrip.com or Redbus.in, or directly purchase tickets from the travel agents. Boarding point is Red Fort, Old Delhi. Since we believed in utilizing time utmost, hence chose the travel time for night. Boarded Travel point luxury AC Volvo at 10:30 P.M. Promised arrival time in Amritsar was next day at 7:30 P.M. Although the booking ticket claimed it to be an AC 2+2 seater Video coach, nothing of such was present. The journey was not very luxurious, but time of 9 hours just flew by and we landed at Amritsar bus stand at 8:00 A.M. Being a small city, distance from the local bus stand to our 3 day abode (Hotel R. S Residency in Hall bazaar) was just a few kilometers away. The rickshaw Walla charged us R. 30 to safely drop us in front of our hotel. Being a popular tourist destination, one can book rooms in any of the numerous hotels available in the Golden temple complex. One can choose to stay in 2 star, 3 star, guest houses, depending on their budget. A deluxe room in a 3 star costs you somewhere between Rs. 1200- 1500 per night.

Hotel R.S Residency, Hall Bazaar, Amritsar, 5 mins walking distance from the Golden Temple

Bus journey not being so comfortable for us on the 1^st day, we preferred to rest the entire day planning to visit “The Golden temple “in the evening. 5 mins walks down from the hotel, we finally reached Harimandar Sahib at 7:30 P.M. People from all walks of life thronged the temple area in hundreds and thousands. After keeping our shoes outside, we finally went inside the complex. All services to mankind are delivered by the voluntary “sevaks” of the temple, common man/devotees who render their services to ward themselves off from sin & doing “punya” in their life. Before entering the temple, one has to dip his/her feet in the “hari ki pauri”, a small tank of water to get your feet clean. As you enter the circumbulation, the peaceful harmonious “gurbaani’ comes flowing onto your ears. Amidst the golden dusk, we witnessed the “Swarnmandir (Golden Temple), standing tall, calm, royal in the middle of the “tank of nectar”- (Reservoir of water) considered holy by Sikhism. The golden walls of the temple sparkled in the evening darkness, the hymns coming out of the main Durbar sahib mixed with the waters create an ambience of serenity, divinity, love and piousness.

Golden Temple (Swarnmandir) in the evening sun at dusk

One can sit for hours and get absorbed in the flow of the sweet melodious environment created there. You seem to forget all your worries, pains, sorrow & just get imbibed in the “Gurbaani”. On the left side is the “Bunge “where the sangat & langars (community kitchen) are housed.

Bunge - Place for sangat & langar- community kitchen (langar)

On the right side is the “Akal Takhth Sahib” the throne of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, considered as the highest place from where the Guru used to cite “hukumnamas”.

Akal Takht Sahib & Miri Piri

Just opposite to the Akal Takht Sahib at full high mast are 2 saffron coloured flags, symbolizing “Miri & Piri” the 2 great swords of valiance & bravery held by the Guru during his seat on the Akal Takht throne. The main darbar sahib is connected to the circumbulation by means of the Holy Bridge. In order to offer “Karaah Prashad” & to catch a glimpse of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, one has to pass through the “Darshni Deodhi”, which is 2 storied building situated in front of the Akal Takht Sahib. The darshni Deodhi is connected to the Main drabr sahib by the hly bridge. The holy bridge is 240 feet long & 21 feet wide.

Holy Bridge- long queue for offering karaah prashad to main durbar sahib

Every morning at 4:00 A.M, the holy Guru Granth Sahib is carried in a “Palki” (palanquin) from the Akal takht sahib to the main darbar sahib . It is an event to witness in your lifetime. After offering Karaah Parshad , one can have “langar” in the temple community kitchen. It is considered highly auspicious to take dip in the Holy tank of nectar. People from all walks of life, rich, and poor, child, adult, male or female sprinkle themselves in the holy waters.


Fishes in the Tank of nectar- an absolute delight to watch them

A child taking dip in the holy tank

Chabeels- places which offer cold clean drinking water to devotees, located on all 4 sides.

On the 4 corners of the circumbulation, are “chabeels”….places for drinking cold water. It is indeed bliss to see loads of women & men washing the utensils and offering cold drinking water in steel containers. The best part about the Golden temple is its cleanliness, the awareness, responsibility and diligence in every worshipper who visits the temple premise with sheer devotion in his mind. The Marble infrastructure appears perfect white with no dirt or grime as compared to any Hindu religious place which would have been soiled like anything. The temple stands aloft, a true epitome of glory, integrity, bravery built by the Sikh gurus & implicated in the Sikh community. The temple is open 24X7; one can visit it any pert of day or night.

Other popular religious places are the Durgaina temple

Durgaina temple

Mata lal Devi temple (replica of vaishno Devi temple). Apart from these, one can visit Ranjit singh memorial palace, Jallianwala bagh, and Khalsa College, Attari & wagah border.