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Golden Temple (Swarn Mandir) is also known as Shri Harmandir Sahib or Shri Darbar Sahib (its scenic beauty and golden coating on the outer walls of the temple). Sikhs living outside India wish regularly to pay visit atleast once to Amritsar in their life and to pay obeisance at Shri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas.

Guru Arjan Singh, the Fifth Guru of Sikhs, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Shri Harmandir Sahib. Earlier the planning to excavate the holy tank (Amrit Sarovar) was chalked out by Guru Amardas Sahib, the Third Guru of Sikhs, but it was executed by Guru Ramdas Ji under the supervision of Baba Budha Singh ji. The construction work on the tank (Sarovar) and the town started simultaneously in 1570. The work on both projects completed in 1577 A.D. Some people believe that the name of the city is coming from Amrit Sarovar.

Architecture of the Golden Temple is as traditional Hindu Temple, but unlike Hindu Temples, here is only one gate for the entrance and exit, Guru Sahib made it accessible to every person without any distinction of Caste, creed, sex and religion.

Sri Harmandir Sahib, is built on a 67ft. square platform in the centre of the tank (Sarovar). The temple itself is 40.5ft. square. It has a door each direction on the East, West, North and South. The door frame of the arch is about 10 feet in height and 8 feet 6 inches in breath. The door panels are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the causeway or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width.

On the top of the temple stands the low fluted ‘Gumbaz’(dome) having lotus petal motif in relief at the base inverted lotus at the top which supports the ‘Kalash’ having a beautiful ‘Chhatri’ at the end.

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