Golden Temple

Harmandir Sahib, universally known as the Golden Temple, is the holiest shrine of Sikhism and one of the most visited places of worship in the world, receiving more daily visitors than the Taj Mahal. Located in Amritsar, Punjab, the temple was built in the 16th century under the guidance of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who installed the Adi Granth within it in 1604. The gilded sanctum sits at the centre of the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar), connected to the marble-paved circumambulatory path by the Guru's Bridge. The lower two floors of the sanctum are covered in gold leaf donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early 19th century. The Langar at the Golden Temple complex serves free vegetarian meals to over 100,000 people every day regardless of caste, religion, or background, making it one of the largest free kitchens in the world. The Palki Sahib ceremony, where the Guru Granth Sahib is ceremonially carried to rest for the night, is a deeply moving ritual witnessed by thousands each evening.