Amritsar Golden Temple

Amritsar Golden Temple – Everyone Should See It!
Amritsar is the sacred city of Sikhs, founded by the fourth Guru Ram Das in 1577. The city got its name from the holy pond in the center of which Harmandir Sahib, often called Amritsar Golden Temple, is located. In accordance with the Sikhs’ creed, serving people and true worshipping the god are the main aspects of life of a man; work in the community and active life are also honored.
Sikh religious practices are committed by the priests, not by the warriors, and according to Sikh faith, communion with God lies through the soul of a man and does not need any intermediaries. The Sikh religion has been founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539), who spent almost a quarter-century wandering, promoting a new religion and proclaiming the ideals of work, equality, active life and mutual support. In process of time, the well-organized Sikh community has managed to resist the external enemies, led by the Guru it was turning into a cohesive paramilitary organization.
In the year of 1699 a general congress of the Sikhs was held, where the community was announced to be equal (which is called Khalsa) and the general meeting – the highest authority. In the early eighteenth century Khalsa led the struggle of the peoples of Punjab against the Mughal empire, which resulted in creation of an independent state in the year of 1765. The state lasted until 1849, until the British troops invaded the region.
Undoubtedly, the greatest attraction of Amritsar and the main shrine of the Sikhs is The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), which houses the holy book of “Guru Granth Sahib”. It sets out the teachings of ten gurus, involved in the creation of Sikhism. It is rumored that about 400 kg of gold was used to cover the dome. The temple is surrounded by the artificial lake, which waters are believed to be sacred – it heals both physical and mental wounds and gives enlightenment.