Harmandir Sahib, Gurdwara complex in Amritsar, India
Harmandir Sahib is a pilgrimage site and worship complex in Amritsar. The central shrine rises from a rectangular water basin and shows marble cladding with gold-plated copper domes across four levels. Ornamental stonework and mother-of-pearl inlays decorate walls and pillars while narrow walkways connect the main sanctuary to the surrounding courtyard.
Guru Arjan began building in 1589 and asked the Muslim Sufi saint Mian Mir to lay the foundation stone. Afghan forces damaged the site repeatedly during the 18th century before Maharaja Ranjit Singh carried out extensive restoration between 1830 and 1839, contributing large quantities of gold.
This complex operates a free communal kitchen where thousands eat daily without distinction of religious background, caste, or social rank. Pilgrims from around the world gather for prayer and ritual while volunteers sustain operations and welcome guests with an openness that reflects core Sikh values.
Visitors must cover their heads and remove shoes before entering. Free headscarves are available at the entrances. The complex opens before sunrise and closes after midnight, with morning and evening ceremonies drawing particularly large gatherings. Lockers outside the main area store bags and cameras.
The four entrances at different cardinal points symbolize openness to all faiths and backgrounds, representing a revolutionary architectural statement in South Asia at the time of founding. Volunteers continuously clean the marble flooring of the surrounding courtyard using traditional methods and employ milk as a natural polishing agent.
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