Golden Temple facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sri Harmandir Sahib Golden Temple ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ
The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
Alternative names	Darbar Sahib Golden Temple of Amritsar(Harmandir Sahib)
General information
Town or city	Amritsar
Coordinates	31°37′12″N 74°52′37″E / 31.62000°N 74.87694°E / 31.62000; 74.87694
Construction started	December 1581
Completed	1589 (Temple), 1604 (with Adi Granth)

The Golden Temple, officially called Sri Harmandir Sahib, is the most sacred place for Sikhs. It is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. This beautiful temple is a special place of worship for people from all backgrounds and religions. More than 100,000 people visit this amazing monument every month.

The Golden Temple: A Sacred Place

The Golden Temple is often called the Golden Gurudwara. A Gurudwara is a Sikh temple, a place where Sikhs gather to worship God. The official name, Sri Harmandir Sahib, means "House of God." It is surrounded by a holy pool of water called a "sarover." This entire area is a very important pilgrimage site for Sikhs. It is also known as Sri Darbar Sahib.

History of the Golden Temple

The building of the Golden Temple began in December 1581. It was completed in 1589 by Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, the fifth Sikh Guru. In 1604, a copy of the Sikh holy book, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, was placed inside.

Later, in the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh made the temple even more special. He was the founder of the Sikh Empire. He covered the upper floors of the temple with real gold foil. This is why it is now known as the Golden Temple.

Inside the Temple Complex

The Golden Temple complex includes several important buildings. One of these is the Sri Akal Takht. This is the highest religious authority for Khalsa Sikhs. It is a very important place for making decisions about the Sikh faith.

Another special building is the langar. The langar is a community kitchen where free, simple vegetarian meals are served to everyone. It does not matter who you are or what your background is. Everyone is welcome to eat together. This shows the Sikh belief in equality and serving others.

Open to Everyone

The Golden Temple has four entrances. These entrances face the four main directions. This design is very symbolic. It shows that Sikhs welcome people from all over the world. It also means that people of all religions are welcome to come and worship God there.

Challenges and Rebuilding

The present-day Gurudwara was rebuilt in 1764. This was done by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and other Sikh groups. The Golden Temple complex faced damage from military actions in the 1980s. It was later repaired and restored.

Images for kids

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  Interior of Durbar Sahib with gold encrusted walls and featuring a golden chandelier

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  Maharaja Ranjit Singh listening to Guru Granth Sahib being recited near the Akal Takht and Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India.

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  The Golden Temple at twilight

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  An 1880 photograph of the Golden Temple, sacred pool and the nearby buildings. The walled courtyard and entrances were added later.

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  The Golden temple complex map

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  Side view of the causeway leading from the Darshani Deorhi (right) to the sanctum (left)

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  The historic Dukh Bhanjani Ber tree inside the courtyard, next to Ath Sath Tirath.

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  Volunteers helping prepare the food

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  Langar hall from inside

See also

In Spanish: Templo Dorado para niños