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Hanuman 2018

Back to the Indian subcontinent for two months in Spring 2018.

With Sri Lanka, Mumbai, the Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Amritsar and Delhi on the menu, we had many sweet experiences sprinkled with some sour ones.

Read on to learn how we fared.

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Thinking of our next destination: Italy and Portugal come to mind, or maybe the time has finally come for a US road trip…

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Path: Photos > The Golden and Silver Temples in Amritsar
Tags: Hanuman  2018  India

The Golden and Silver Temples in Amritsar

 

(vero;2018-Nov-11)

Amritsar had long been on our list of places to see. We were not disappointed: the Golden Temple is truly magnificent and the town is pleasant enough to spend a few days.

Hari Mandir Sahib, Sikhism's holiest temple, stands in the middle of a sacred pool, Amrit Sarovar (meaning pool of nectar). It was built between 1589 and 1601, got nearly destroyed by Afghan invaders in 1761 and was finally rebuilt during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1801 - 1839). It is made of white marble, decorated with fine pietra dura works and its lotus-shaped dome is covered with 100 kilos of gold donated by the Maharaja in 1830.
Hari Mandir Sahib is where the Sikhism's Holy Book is kept during the day. Pilgrims reach Hari Mandir Sahib by crossing the sacred pool over a 60 metres long marble causeway. The white building in the background is the clock tower built over the temple compound's main entrance. Close-up of Hari Mandir Sahib. Photography is only allowed from the Pakarma, the (often slippery) marble walkway surrounding the outside of the sacred pool. Hari Mandir Sahib with the twin pink white-domed watch towers of Ramgarhia in the background. Devotee bathing in Amrit Sarovar, the pool built in 1577 by the fourth guru Ram Das. View of Hari Mandir Sahib, the causeway and Darshani Deorhi, the gateway pavillion. The white building with the golden dome in the background is Akal Takhat, the seat of the supreme governing body of the Sikhs housing the guru's swords and flagstaffs as well as Sikhism's Holy Book at night. Devotees getting ready or returning from their ablutions in Amrit Sarovar. Note the man holding a bottle filled with holy water. Hari Mandir Sahib shimmering in the sunlight. Hari Mandir Sahib's reflection in Amrit Sarovar. Crowds of pilgrims queuing in front of Darshani Deorhi, the temple's gateway before they enter the causeway. Note the gender separated queues: women to the right, men to the left. Close-up of Akal Takht, the seat of the supreme governing body of the Sikhs. A marmor panel with pietra dura work in the Akal Takht. Detail of the fine pietra dura works in the Akal Takht with semi-precious stones and mother-of-pearl. They can rival the ones from the Taj Mahal. An other adorned panel in the Akal Takht. Darshani Deorhi pavillon with Hari Mandir Sahib in the background. As customary in all Sikh temples, the Golden Temple has a langar, which is a community dining room where food is provided free of charge to all visitors of any religion. Amritsar's langar serves vegetarian meals (thalis) for an estimated 50,000 pilgrims a day (even more during holy festivals). It all happens like clock-work as described in this article and the dining halls are amazingly clean. After the meal, free tea is served in the front of the langar, again available to all. Hari Mandir Sahib by night. The illuminated clock tower. Close-up of Hari Mandir Sahib by night. You might be fooled at first sight, but this not the Golden Temple. This is Sri Durgiana Temple, the Hindu answer to the Golden Temple. Built in the 16th century, it is also called Silver Temple for its exceptional silver doors. The entrance to the inner shrine of the Silver Temple. There are many similarities with the Golden Temple: the golden upper part, the white marmor lower part adorned with pietra dura, but its silver doors are unique. One of the silver doors. Adorned deity in the Silver Temple. Silver carving. Some details of the silver door panels.

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$ updated from: Photos.htxt Fri 16 Aug 2024 15:40:09 trvl2 — Copyright © 2024 Vero and Thomas Lauer unless otherwise stated | All rights reserved $