Golden Temple, Amritsar is a place frequented by Sikhs all round the year. The pivot of Sikh community life, Golden Temple was envisioned by Guru Arjan. Siri Guru Arjan Dev reversed the prevalent practice of designing high temple plinths. By building the Harmandir at a level lower than the surrounding land, he wanted to emphasize the inner strength that was provided by the faith, rather than draw attention to its external manifestations.


Countless pilgrims visit Golden Temple to pay homage to the holy shrine. Golden Temple is also known as Hari Mandir meaning Temple of God. The Temple has a tank (Sarovar) that is believed to possess healing powers. Sikh Gurus founded new centers for the promotion of Sikhism and these centers became popular as Sikh pilgrimage sites. The temple's architecture draws on both Hindu and Moslem artistic styles yet represents a unique co-evolution of the two. During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), Hari Mandir was richly ornamented with marble sculptures, golden gilding, and large quantities of precious stones. Within the sanctuary, on a jewel-studded platform, lies the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs.


Sri Harmandir Sahib, is built on a 67ft. square platform in the center of the Sarovar (tank). It has a door each on the East, West, North and South. The darshani deori (an arch) stands at the shore end of the causeway. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the causeway or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide 'Pardakshna' (circumbulatory path). It runs round the main shrine and it leads to the 'Har ki Paure' (steps of God). On the first floor of 'Har ki Paure', there is continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib.


The Golden Temple, as is stands today with the luminous exterior plates with gold is chiefly the work of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. He took deep interest in getting the Temple artistically decorated .He invited skilled architects, masons and wood carvers from different part of the country. Yar Mohammad Khan Mistri was the technical expert for gold plating carried out in 1830. The entire Gold leaf covering was changed in 2003, exactly 173 years after it was first put into place.


Architecture of the Golden Temple Sri Harmandir Sahib is built on a 67ft. square platform in the centre of the Sarovar (tank). The temple itself is 40.5 ft. Square. It has a door each on the East, West, North and South. The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at the shore end of the causeway. The doorframe of the arch is about 10ft in height and 8ft 6inches in breath. The door panes 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.


The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide 'Pardakshna' (circumambulatory path). It runs round the main shrine and it leads to the 'Har ki Paure' (steps of God). On the first floor of 'Har ki Paure', there is continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib. The main structure of Sri Harmandir Sahib, functionally as well as technically is a three-storied one. The front, which faces the bridge, is decorated with repeated cusped arches and the roof of the first floor is at the height of the 26 feet and 9 inches.