Akal Takht, Temporal authority seat in Amritsar, India
Akal Takht is a five-story marble building with a golden dome located within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab, India. It rises opposite the main shrine across the sacred pool and serves as an architectural counterpart to the purely spiritual space of Harmandir Sahib.
Guru Hargobind founded this institution in 1606 by placing two swords on a masonry platform to symbolize spiritual and worldly authority. Over the centuries, the building experienced several destructions and reconstructions, the most recent following conflicts in the 1980s.
The name means "Throne of the Timeless," and visitors see ceremonial practices that express the balance between spiritual devotion and worldly responsibility. The hall hosts gatherings where community leaders address matters of faith and daily conduct that shape Sikh life across the globe.
Access is through the main entrance of the temple complex after removing shoes and covering head and feet. A visit lasting about one to two hours is enough to explore the space and witness the ceremonial proceedings.
The institution houses a library with old manuscripts and documents that preserve religious decrees and historical resolutions. Ceremonial drums and instruments announce the beginning and end of daily rituals that set the rhythm of the complex.
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