Sri Harmandir Sahib is located in heart of Amritsar, about ten kms from the Railway Station and three kms from the Bus Stand.

Sri Harmandir Sahib, also called the Darbar Sahib and the Golden Temple, is the holiest of all Sikh religious places. The city of Amritsar, the pool of nectar, was founded by the Fourth Guru, Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji around 1564, when he had a tank dug in the Sultanwind area.

This was completed by the Fifth Guru in 1588 and was named Santokhsar. In 1574, Guru Ram Dass Ji set up his residence. He constructed residences here, which came to be called Guru ka Mahal, and the city was called Guru Ka Chak. In 1577, he commenced the construction of a holy tank, which however, remained incomplete. When Guru Arjan Dev Ji became the Guru, he invited merchants, artisans and other people to take up their residences in the new city, which was now called Ramdaspur. In 1586, Guru Arjan Dev Ji began work for the completion of the tank that had been started by Guru Ram Dass Ji. He had the tank lined with brickwork. He named the tank Amritsar, the pool of nectar, and the city also came to be called by the same name. In 1588, Guru Arjan Dev Ji laid the foundation for the Darbar Sahib in the middle of the tank. The foundation stone was placed by the Muslim cleric, Mian Mir. When the building was completed in 1604, the Granth Sahib was first established here and Baba Budha Ji was nominated the first High Priest of the Darbar Sahib. However, the Darbar Sahib had to suffer its share of violence. In 1761, Ahmed Shah Abdali captured Amritsar and had the building demolished and the tank filled up. In 1764, the Sikhs liberated Amritsar and under the leadership of Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, restored the Darbar Sahib to its former glory. In the year 1802, Maharaja Ranjit Singh began the work of rebuilding the shrine with marble and had it covered in gold, and thus the Darbar Sahib came to be also called the Golden Temple.

A number of other gurdwaras are located within the premises of the Darbar Sahib. In 1608, the Sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib set up the Akal Takht opposite the Darbar Sahib. This is the prime Takht, or temporal seat, for the Sikhs and all Sikhs are duty bound to obey the edicts issued from here. The other gurdwaras are the Dukhbhanjini Beri, the Lachi Beri, Damdama Sahib, Manji Sahib, Thara Sahib and a few others. Continuous kirtan and recitations from the Guru Granth Sahib make the entire shrine serene and calm.

The original gold covering on the Darbar Sahib has been replaced by new gold. Work is going on for covering the Darshani Deori with gold. Besides, the Akal Takht and the bungas, or towers, have been rebuilt. Work for renovation of the Parikrama and the Guru Ram Dass Serai is being done under the supervision of Baba Harbans Singh Ji.

The Manager,
Sri Harmandir Sahib,
Amritsar.
Pin Code 143001

Phone No: 91-183-553953