The Golden Temple, is the most sacred and holiest shrine of Sikhism. The official name of the Temple is “Harmandir Sahib”, or “Darbar Sahib”, which means literally “The Abode of God”. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas. It is located in Amritsar, the holiest city in Sikhism, in the state of Punjab, India. Sikh devotees, for whom the Temple is a symbol of infinite freedom and spiritual independence, come to the Temple from all over the world to enjoy its environs and offer their prayers. The fourth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Ram Das, excavated a tank (1577 AD) which subsequently became known as Amritsar meaning “Pool of the Nectar of Immortality” and gave its name to the city that grew around it. In due course, a splendid Sikh edifice, Harmandir Sahib meaning ”The Abode of God”, rose in the middle of this tank and became the supreme centre of Sikhism. Its sanctorum came to house the adi granth confining compositions of Sikh Gurus and other saints considered to have Sikh values and philosophies e.g. Baba Farid, Kabir, etc. The compilation of the Adi granth was started by the fifth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjun Dev.

History Earlier, in 1574 AD, a small lake in a thin forest, covered the site of the temple. The third of the six grand Mughals, emperor Akbar, who visited the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das at the neighbouring town of Goindval, was so impressed by the way of life in the town that he gave a jagir the land and the revenues of several villages in the vicinity, to the Guru's daughter, Bhani as a gift on her marriage to Bhai Jetha, who later became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. Guru Ram Das enlarged the lake and built a small township around it. The town was named after Guru Ram Das as "Guru Ka Chak", "Chak Ram Das" or "Ram Das Pura". It was during the leadership of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1581-1606), that the full-fledged Temple was built.

The great muslim Sufi saint of Lahore, Hazrat Mian Mir ji, who was a close friend of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, on 1st of Magh, 1645 Bikram Samvat,initiated the construction of the temple by laying the first foundation stone December 1588 AD. A mason then straightened the stone but Guru Arjan Dev told him that, as he had undone the work just completed by the holy man that a disasters might come to the Harmandir Sahib, it was later attacked by the Mughals. The temple was completed in 1604, Guru Arjan Dev, installed the Guru Granth Sahib in it and appointed Baba Buddha Ji as the first Granthi “Reader”, of it on August 1604 AD.

Jahan Khan, one of the general of Afghan’s Ahmed Shah Abdali, attacked in the mid of 18th century and had to be substantially rebuilt in the 1760s. However, in response a Sikh Army was sent to hunt down the Afghan force. They were under orders to show no mercy and historical evidence suggests none was shown. Both forces met each other 5 miles outside Amritsar; Jahan Khan's army was destroyed. He himself had his head decapitated by commander Sardar Dayal Singh.
Artwork & Monument Sculptures

Much of the present decorative gilding and marblework date from the early 1800s. All the gold and exquisite marble work were conducted under the patronage of Emperor Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. The Darshani Deorhi Arch stands at the beginning of the causeway to the Golden Temple, it is 202 feet (62 m) high and 21 feet (6 m) in width. The Gold plating on the Golden temple was began by Emperor Ranjit Singh and was finished in 1830 AD. The Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of the Punjab), was a heavy donor of wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with much affection by the Punjabi people in general and the Sikh community in particular. Maharaja Ranjit Singh also built two of the other most sacred temples in Sikhism. This was due to Maharaja Ranjit Singh having a deep love for the tenth Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh. The other two most sacred temples in Sikhism, which he built, are Takht Sri Patna Sahib (intiation or birth place of Guru Gobind Singh) and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib the place of Guru Gobind Singh's Sikh ascension into heaven.
Attractions around the Golden Temple
A visit to the Golden Temple is incomplete without a visit to the following among others:

• AKAL TAKHAT: Which is rightly faces the Golden Temple. Built by the Sixth Master Guru Hargobind (1606-44) in 1609, has been the nerve centre or the Sikhism ever since. All commandments affecting the community as a whole were and are issued from here. The Akal Takhat was used for holding court and Sikh congregations in the days of its builder.

The Akal Takhat was pulled down several times by the Muslim raiders. The ground floor of the present building was constructed in 1 874. Three storeys were subsequently added by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A number of weapons used by Guru Hargobind, Guru Gobind Singh and other Sikh heroes are preserved at Akal Takhat. In 1984 during Operation Blue Star Akal Takhat was badly damaged by the Indian Army.

• BABA ATAL: A nine-storeyed tower, built in memory of Atal Rai (D. 1628), a son of Hargobind, is called Baba Atal. Atal Rai died at nine. He was called 'Baba' (an old man) head over young shulders. The tower was built between 1778 and 1784. It is the only of its kind in the city with 108 ft. height.

• GURU KA LANGAR: A Sikh temple without a Community Kitchen is inconceivable. Cooked food is serviced in the kitchen of the Golden Temple 24 hours to all visitors irrespective of religion, caste, creed and nationality. The expenses are met out of the Temple funds. Approximately 40,000 visitors share the meals everyday presently.

• SRI GURU RAM DAS NIWAS: The Niwas is a free hostel for the pilgrims maintained by the Temple authorities. It has been built by the Gurdwara Committee. It has 228 rooms and 18 big halls. Unlike the ordinary 'Daramsalas' the Niwas supplies the facilities of free beddings, cots, lights and fans etc. to the lodgers. A lodger is not generally allowed to stay here for more than three days at a time. The doors of the hostels are open to all. The lodgers however must not do anything repugnant to the teachings of Sikhism.