So, we are leaving the green and peaceful Faroe Islands, and I promised you some glitter and glory today didn't I? Well, I will keep my promise and take you with me to a dream destination of my own. A place I had longed to see long before I moved to India, and the urge to go there has just grown stronger and stronger.. Yes, today we are headed back to India and to the magical Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
Living in India has brought me new insight on religions and cultures I knew little about before. One of them is sikhism. The more our sikh friends have shown us about their way of living, the more fascinated I have become. It seems now un-avoidable for me to visit The Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, the holiest shrine for the sikhs. I know I just have to go there.
Now, of course, the newly discovered diva in me is beyond excited just by the whole Golden theme idea. Is it really gold? Wonder how it will shine? Must be magnificent.. Huh, can you believe that lady?
On pictures, the temple looks like a pure vision - with white and golden stone walls it is mirroring itself in the water surrounding it. It glitters and sparkles and looks so beautiful (the Diva gets ecstatic..). The temple was built in the 16th century in the unique sikh architecture. The holiest text of sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, is always present inside the temple which is visited by over 100,000 people daily.
I find our sikh friends to be very inclusive and open, as is their religion. The Golden Temple has four entrances, from all four directions, to show that all people are welcome here. No matter where you come from or what religion or belief you have. So, in a way, the Golden Temple is not only a sacred place for the sikhs, but also a symbol of human sisterhood and brotherhood and equality. Every human being is welcome in the temple to seek spiritual solace and religious fulfillment.
Living in India has brought me new insight on religions and cultures I knew little about before. One of them is sikhism. The more our sikh friends have shown us about their way of living, the more fascinated I have become. It seems now un-avoidable for me to visit The Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, the holiest shrine for the sikhs. I know I just have to go there.
Now, of course, the newly discovered diva in me is beyond excited just by the whole Golden theme idea. Is it really gold? Wonder how it will shine? Must be magnificent.. Huh, can you believe that lady?
On pictures, the temple looks like a pure vision - with white and golden stone walls it is mirroring itself in the water surrounding it. It glitters and sparkles and looks so beautiful (the Diva gets ecstatic..). The temple was built in the 16th century in the unique sikh architecture. The holiest text of sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, is always present inside the temple which is visited by over 100,000 people daily.
I find our sikh friends to be very inclusive and open, as is their religion. The Golden Temple has four entrances, from all four directions, to show that all people are welcome here. No matter where you come from or what religion or belief you have. So, in a way, the Golden Temple is not only a sacred place for the sikhs, but also a symbol of human sisterhood and brotherhood and equality. Every human being is welcome in the temple to seek spiritual solace and religious fulfillment.
So, dear reader, that is a destination I dream of traveling to. One day... One day....
I hope you enjoyed the journey to the Golden Temple? Tomorrow I will lead the way to a place that I have already visited, but to which I would not at all mind going back to! Anytime! H......... here we come!
Until then!
1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow.
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Liked the informative post and the journey along...yes, once you get closer of anything, you get to know the inner circles of it. Good one.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Jayanta:-)
DeleteNice post Eli. The pictures are terrific too.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Michelle:-)
DeleteDearest Eli,
ReplyDeleteThat indeed would be a very worthwhile trip for many reasons.
Enjoy your dream till than.
Hugs,
Mariette
Thanks dear Mariette, so happy to see your kind words:-) Hugs
DeleteWOW, what an amazing looking place! Loved reading about it and seeing the picture♥
ReplyDeleteThanks dear Kathy:-)
DeleteEli Beautiful post, I have a long standing wish to get to the Golden temple too. My dad is a Punjabi and I've never visited Punjab, yet, so some day soon :). and it does look gorgeous :) love your understanding of the ideals that Sikhism is based on. The essence of every religion is similar I feel- marred by meddling.
ReplyDeleteAwwe, Sunila, I am so happy for your very kind words and for sharing your experience! Hope you get to go also, dear:-)
Deletewow! The Golden Temple is beautiful!! It's always been on my list of places to visit.. but never got around to it.. hopefully will visit it in the future
ReplyDeleteYour post is very informative as well Eli! :) Thank you for sharing it with us :)
So happy you enjoyed today's destination:-) Hopefully you'll get to visit it also:-) Hugs
Deletevery well written n equally supported by beautiful pictures !
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Mahesh:-)
DeleteWe visited Golden Temple a few years ago and it was a divine experience. I remember the peace and serenity that we experienced there. Have you tasted the food at the langar, Eli... that's simply awesome too :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Shilpa, thanks for sharing your experience:-) You make me wanna go even more now- if possible:-) :-)
DeleteI have visited this temple and your write up and picture brought nostalgic memories
ReplyDeleteThat's great, thanks for following:-)
DeleteThis is one place we kept meaning to go to and it just didn't happen. I hope to go there too one day!
ReplyDeleteSo we share that dream then, dear Amelia.. Well, one day..:-)
DeleteHave been there. Infact, it was one of the first few places I had visited soon after the wedding. Such peace and calm you get once you reach there. A must visit-at least once in yur life-time. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteShalzzz|Loving Life
Check out my latest at TaleofTwoTomatoes
How wonderful:-) Thanks for sharing - you make me wanna go even more now:-)
DeleteAwesome post and pics!!!
ReplyDelete~S(t)ri
Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
Smile, it makes (y)our day!
Thanks dear:-)
DeleteYes, I too wish to go there some day! I have been to Punjab a few times but never to Amritsar. When you go there, don't miss their Langar (the free meals distributed to all the visitors). A great post, Eli, as always!
ReplyDeletehttp://letbeautybeyourconstantideal.blogspot.in/2014/04/g-is-for-gradual-law-of-graduality.html
Thank you so much for your kind words dear Beloo. I like it when you say "when you go" Not if..:-) Thanks for the tips also, noted down:-)
DeleteI am bookmarking all the places you've been listing :-) this is one of those which was on the list before this challenge started. Thank you for reminding me Eli :-)
ReplyDeleteSo, we are sharing that dream:-) Happy to see you here:-)
DeleteHey come over to Delhi and I'll take you to the Golden Temple... Delhi to Amr is about 7 hrs... :) I've been there once, the whole aura of the place is so serene and majestic! Come...come :D
ReplyDeleteYaaay, Aditi!:-) I might take u up on that, be careful... :-) Thanks for your sweet words dear and nice invitation:-) :-) Hugs
DeleteThe way you have encapsulated the idea of openness in the Sikh religion is beautiful, Eli. I haven't been there myself. Need to plan a N.India tour now :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much dear Shailaja:-) Hope you get to go also:-)
DeleteI have never been there but my parents have and it is beautiful I hear as well....Loved the pictures... :)
ReplyDeleteRandom Thoughts Naba
Thanks Nabanita and for sharing:-)
DeleteThe Golden Temple is absolutely splendid and I have been wanting to visit it. Although I visited Punjab en route to Shimla I couldn't stop long enough to visit it :( My Loss :(
ReplyDeleteAaaa - maybe another time Prasanna?:-) Happy to see you here:-)
DeleteThis is been on my to-visit list too.. maybe we could do it together :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Mina - that would be so fun!:-)
DeleteI hope you get there soon, and bring a camera. What a spiritual place, and how cool that it opens in four directions for everyone to enter.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Rhonda, I hope so too, and with camera for sure:-)
DeleteI have always wanted to visit the Golden temple...the four doors welcoming all religions is a lovely idea...beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Sulekkha, so we share that dream:-)
DeleteI want to wear a sari. They are so beautiful and elegant. Another interesting post, thank you
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Cecilia:-)
DeleteEli...I haven't been there, but your description gave me a feeling of purity which one could find only being at these places....and the picture is mesmerizing.....
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot- happy to see you here:-)
DeleteI am so jealous, Eli. I dream of visiting the beautiful Golden Temple in Amritsar and hope one day my wish shall come true. Heard so much bout the Golden Temple which is a jewel in the state. So, beautifully written and I believe religion should unite rather than divide people, my grievance with religion..hehe
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Vishal - yes, it looks amazing. Hope you get go as well:-)
DeleteI have been to Golden Temple. Your words here are apt for the place. Its serene, beautiful, a symbol of brotherhood and sisterhood. I am just remembering my visit, it was 15 years back! May be I should go there again soon...
ReplyDeleteAww- that sounds like a wonderful memory:-) Happy to see you here:-)
DeleteWow, the temple looks gorgeous! You are really starting to convince me to put India at the top of my travel bucket list :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Calli... Yes, please come:-)
DeleteH for... Hawaii??
ReplyDeleteHe he he my Jeena:-) Try again:-)
DeleteLooks fabulous! Have you seen the Mysore palace? It's even bigger!
ReplyDeleteYeah? wow, that must be amazing. Thanks, Danny:-)
DeleteGolden temple is such a beautiful sight! :)
ReplyDelete