The
Golden Temple is the
ultimate Sikh pilgrimage.
The Harmandir Sahib, as it
is traditionally known,
actually means the temple of
Hari or the Supreme God.
Also known as the Darbar
Sahib, the stupendous,
architectural masterpiece is
located in the city of
Amritsar. The temple stands
in the middle of a square
tank known as the Amrit
Sarovar (Pool of Nectar).
There is a causeway across
the Pool of Nectar to reach
the Temple. The shrine is
symbolical of the doctrines
of Sikhism. It also
represents the magnificent
strength of all the Sikhs.
The amazing thing about Harmandir Sahib is that it
has doorways on all four
sides, meant to be open for
the people of all the four
castes. Every devout Sikh
looks forward to visit and
offer prayer at this
magnificent temple. The
construction of Golden
Temple at a lower level was
a break away from the Hindu
tradition of constructing a
temple at a higher level. It
was done to make the
visitors go down the steps
in order to pay homage to
the holy shrine. As Amritsar
faced disturbances a lot of
times, Golden Temple also
became the target of loot
and plunder thrice by the
Afghan invaders. Maharaja
Ranjit Singh donated Rupees
Five Lakhs for placing for
rebuilding Golden Temple and
placing of gold plates on
the outside walls.
■ Places Nearby Amritsar
Amritsar is located in the
heart of the state of Punjab
in India. Some of the
important cities in Punjab
are located near Amritsar.
Among the nearby cities, the
most frequently visited
cities are Jallandhar,
Ambala, Ludhiana and
Chandigarh. The cities
mentioned here are
commercial hubs.
Wagah Border
Wagah Border is
located at a
distance of 28
kilometers from
Amritsar. It is the
only border crossing
between India and
Pakistan. It is an
army outpost to
protect check
intrusion from
Pakistan and
prevents any Indian
from going to
Pakistan. Special
buses and taxes from
Amritsar take the
tourists to Wagah
Border. En route
Wagah the tourists
chance upon seeing
some of the most
fertile lands of
Amritsar. At the
border outpost there
is a complex of
buildings, roads and
barriers on both
sides.
Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib is
located at a
distance northwest
of 95 kilometers
from Chandigarh.
Shivalik ranges are
visible towards the
eastern side of
Anandpur Sahib. The
western side in the
vicinity of Anandpur
Sahib is a stretch
of vast lush green
expanse along with
gurgling River
Satluj. Guru Teg
Bahadur Ji, the
ninth Master of the
Sikhs, purchased
this site from the
ruler of Bilaspur in
the year 1665 and
established this
city of Anandpur
Sahib. He named it
Chak Nanki, after
the name of his
mother.
Kiratpur Sahib
Guru Sri Hargobind
Sahib, the sixth
Master of Sikhs
founded Kiratpur
Sahib. The place is
a small town in
Shivalik foothills
in Rupnagar (Ropar)
district. After the
battles of Kartarpur
and Phagwara, Guru
Hargobind Sahib
settled here. It is
also a birthplace of
seventh Guru Shri
Har Rai Ji and
eighth Guru Shri
Harkrishan Ji. To
end the harsh rule
of Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb, Guru Teg
Bahadur Ji reached
Delhi. Here he
received a message
from Aurangzeb to
get converted and
accept Islam.
Situated
on the banks of
the Sarovar
(pool) Ramsar,
Ramsar
Gurudwarais
located
northeast from
the Golden
Temple. Guru
Arjan Dev Ji
went with his
scribe Bhai
Gurdas Ji into
seclusion in
this place to
compile Guru
Granth Sahib.
Baba Bakala
An
important event in Sikh
history is attached with
Baba Bakala. "Baba Bakala"
were the last words uttered
by Guru Hargobind Singh Ji
before his death at Delhi on
March 30, 1664. The words
had a meaning attached to
them.
Damdama Sahib
Damdama
Sahib also called Talwandi
Sabo or Guru Ki Kashi is a
small town situated at a
distance of 28 kilometers
southeast of Bathinda in the
Punjab. It is one of the
five sacred seats or Takhts
in Sikh religion.
Durgiana Temple
Designed
on the lines of Golden
Temple, Durgiana Temple is a
revered place for Hindus. It
is located outside the
Lohgarh Gate. The Temple
stands amidst a tank and has
a dome. Pandit Madan Mohan
Malviya laid its foundation
stone.
Ram Tirath
Temple
Ram
Tirath Temple is located at
a distance of 11 kilometers
West of Chogawan road,
Amritsar. The Temple dates
back top the period of
Ramayana. There is an
ancient tank at this place.
A number of Temples are
scattered in the area.
Keshgarh Sahib
Keshgarh
Sahib is the birthplace of
Khalsa (link to Khalsa Panth).
On the occasion of Baisakhi
in the year 1699, Guru
Gobind Singh Ji called a
very large gathering of
Sikhs at Anandpur Sahib.
Here Guru Ji baptized five
beloved ones (Panj Pyaraas)
who offered their heads on
Guru.
■
Baisakhi
Festival
-
A Harvest
Festival of
Punjab
As
a festival,
Baisakhi is of
great religious
significance for
the Sikhs. The
panch piyara
(the five loved
ones) of the
Sikh religion
were inititiated
by Guru Gobind
Singh (the tenth
and last Sikh
guru) on
Baisakhi. At
Anandpur Sahib
near Chandigarh,
the khalsa,
which means
pure, and also
designates the
Sikh army, was
established/decorated
(khalsa sajaya)
on this
auspicious day.
The five loved
ones were chosen
from among men
who were grossly
mistreated
because they
belonged to the
lowest rung of
the Hindu caste
hierarchy.
Situated
on the banks of
the Sarovar
(pool) Ramsar,
Ramsar
Gurudwarais
located
northeast from
the Golden
Temple. Guru
Arjan Dev Ji
went with his
scribe Bhai
Gurdas Ji into
seclusion in
this place to
compile Guru
Granth Sahib.
An
important event in Sikh
history is attached with
Baba Bakala. "Baba Bakala"
were the last words uttered
by Guru Hargobind Singh Ji
before his death at Delhi on
March 30, 1664. The words
had a meaning attached to
them. 
Damdama
Sahib also called Talwandi
Sabo or Guru Ki Kashi is a
small town situated at a
distance of 28 kilometers
southeast of Bathinda in the
Punjab. It is one of the
five sacred seats or Takhts
in Sikh religion.
Designed
on the lines of Golden
Temple, Durgiana Temple is a
revered place for Hindus. It
is located outside the
Lohgarh Gate. The Temple
stands amidst a tank and has
a dome. Pandit Madan Mohan
Malviya laid its foundation
stone. 
Ram
Tirath Temple is located at
a distance of 11 kilometers
West of Chogawan road,
Amritsar. The Temple dates
back top the period of
Ramayana. There is an
ancient tank at this place.
A number of Temples are
scattered in the area.
Keshgarh
Sahib is the birthplace of
Khalsa (link to Khalsa Panth).
On the occasion of Baisakhi
in the year 1699, Guru
Gobind Singh Ji called a
very large gathering of
Sikhs at Anandpur Sahib.
Here Guru Ji baptized five
beloved ones (Panj Pyaraas)
who offered their heads on
Guru.
