The Golden Temple

Yesterday the 13th we took a tuk tuk to see the Sri Harmandir Sahib also known as the Golden Temple and the Darbar Sahib. This is the holiest gurdwara and the most important pilgrimage site of Sikhism. The temple is built around a man-made pool where pilgrims come to bathe. In the early 1980’s the temple became a centre of conflict between the Indian government led by Indira Gandhi and some Sikh groups and militants seeking to create a new nation named Khalistan. In 1984 Gandhi sent in the Indian army which led to the deaths of over 1,000 militants, soldiers and civilians as well as causing much damage to the temple. This military operation eventually led to Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguard. Over 100,000 people visit the holy shrine daily for worship.

One thought on “The Golden Temple

Leave a Reply