The friendly Sikhs and the golden temple of Amritsar

With a few days to spare before going to Nepal we decided to make a trip to Amritsar. A 500 year old city founded by Guru Ram Das the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. We had heard there was an amazing Golden temple the center of the Sikh religion. The bus left Dharamsala at 5am and it was an 8 hour trip. The usual unusual bus trip of near accidents, unowned cows wandering the streets and rule-less roads that have no lane dividers and simply act as a surface to drive in any manor you like with a sort of the biggest vehicle rules system. We finally arrives in Amritsar where a friend of ours had organized accommodation at the pilgrims lodge at the temple. We went to the information office (strictly shoes off) and where greeted by a very friendly Sikh gentleman who kindly told us to please sit while he sent someone to get tea served in gold rimmed china. He told us just to wait while he fixed up the accommodation. Sikhs came and went with there daggers shining from their belts and their turbans giving them an extra bit of height to give them a sort of imposing but passive stature. Just watching the passing characters was enough in its self. Sorted in a place to stay, (perfectly nice and unbelievably cheap because it is subsidized by the temple) we set off to see the famous golden temple. It was not far as the place we where staying was in the temple complex.

To enter the golden temple you must take off your shoes and socks and cover the top of your head. The shoes are stored in an enormous shoe storage room, which has to be big as during peak periods more than 80 000 people visit the temple each day. After removing shoes you then  must wash your hands and feet. The first impression of the place is unforgettable. It is more incredible than the Taj Mahal. It is gilded with hundreds of kilos of gold and is mesmerizing. Surrounding the temple is an enormous pool that means the temple is always reflected in the water which is very clean. Surrounding the temple and the pool is a marble walkway that is probably close to 1km long. The walkway is marble with intricate inlay of semi precious stones. People walk around the pool on this walkway saying prayers or just chatting, everyone just soaking up the atmosphere of something magic. The Punjab state is not just home to a great MC but also a brilliant temple! Next it was off for lunch, some great Punjabi food, the best being a sort of basted grilled local cheese delicious!

That evening we went again to see the temple at nite. This was my favorite, it was so well lit it glowed and the reflection was just as brilliant. A half moon had just risen over the outer walls and begun to cast another color over the temple complex. There where still many people around but the feeling was more peaceful at nite. Many people just came to introduce themselves and ask “and which country you belong?” the people of Amritsar are so friendly. One woman was friendly that she invited us to a restaurant she liked for dinner that nite. So they took us there and bought us a great dinner. The next day it was breakfast her treat again with her family. She gave us gifts and said if we ever go to Amritsar again we must visit her and stay in her home.