Late medieval · Sikh · India

Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)

ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ

Amritsar, Punjab · 31.6200°, 74.8765°

Guru Granth SahibSikhSikh (Indo-Islamic fusion)
Sacred since
1581 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1581–1604; rebuilt 1764; gilded 1830s
patron: Guru Arjan; Maharaja Ranjit Singh (gold)

History & significance

The holiest gurdwara of Sikhism, floating on the Amrit Sarovar with doors open to all four directions and all peoples. Guru Arjan installed the Adi Granth here in 1604; destroyed in Afghan invasions and rebuilt in 1764, it was clad in gold under Ranjit Singh. Its langar feeds some 100,000 people daily, the largest free kitchen in the world; the Akal Takht faces it as the seat of Sikh temporal authority.

Sthala katha — the legend

The pool's site was an amrit spring in older lore — a dip healed the crippled Rajni's husband; Guru Arjan had the Sufi saint Mian Mir lay the foundation stone, and set the shrine lower than its surroundings, so all must step down in humility to approach God.

Reaching there

Central Amritsar; Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee airport ~11 km; free langar & saran (pilgrim lodging).

Official site ↗Open in Google Maps ↗Wikipedia ↗View on the atlas map

Related sites

Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, Patna
Patna City · India
rebuilt 19th c. & 1950s

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Sikh