Exploring India 2009 – Amritsar
Oct 14
I continued my journey up North to a city named Amritsar. I arrived with a couple from South Korea who was on their way to Pakistan. After Taj Mahal, I felt like there was nothing else I wanted to see. What else could be more interesting than the seven wonders on the World? I was so wrong. India is more than Taj Mahal. There are many more interesting places and the Golden Temple in Amritsar is one of them. In fact, Golden Temple is more than a tourist attraction to me. It changes my whole perception of India. Before this, I see suffering, desperation, hunger and poverty. But here, no one is hungry and everyone lives peacefully. Honesty and generosity are abundant. On the first day I arrived, I met a good Samaritan who offered to be our tour guide around the temple for few hours without asking for any money. Even though we insisted on giving him some tips, he declined politely. Everyone can sleep and eat in the temple for free and they are also encourage to contribute to the temple by volunteering or donations. Separate dorms are provided to foreign travelers. For food, everyone eats on the floor in a huge dining hall. Only vegetarian foods are served.
Golden Temple is the most important and holiest temple for the Sikhs. As the name suggest, the temple is covered in gold, which is also its most distinguish feature. To enter the temple, everyone has to cover their hair and remove their shoes. Priests will keep up a continuous chant from the Sikh holy book and this is broadcast around the temple complex by loudspeakers from dawn to night which can be seen in the following video…
I shared a van with some travelers to Atari to witness the India-Pakistan border closing ceremony around sunset. It was one of the most bizarre ceremony I have ever seen. Before the ceremony begin, patriotic songs were played loudly and every spectators cheers like it is independent day. Some spectators can be seen dancing in the middle of the road. It doesn’t matter young or old, every spectators displays an incredible show of patriotism. It was very funny to see how the guards marched toward the border gate during the closing ceremony. Unfortunately, I was too far to see the whole process clearly.
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- Arriving at Amritsar
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- Everyone grabbed a plate and bowl before going into the dining hall for lunch
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- Volunteers preparing the delicious yellow rice
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- Lunch in serve... on the floor
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- Having lunch on the floor with your fingers.
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- That's how we eat
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- Yummy!
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- Anyone wants a second serving?
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- Volunteers preparing tonight's dinner
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- Just pass your empty plate here.
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- Everyone is happy with full stomach
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- Presenting the Golden Temple. Time for free tour around the temple.
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- The golden temple complex
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- The pool is so clean that the fishes are so big and fat...
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- ...and to take bath
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- Cute Punjabi boy. He was camera shy.
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- Akal Takhat
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- View of Golden Temple from another angle
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- The bread making machine
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- Kitchen that bakes the bread
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- Tonight's dhal
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- Anyone can volunteer in the temple including cooking
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- The India-Pakistan border closing ceremony at Atari.
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- The sense of nationalism is very strong here. Spectators cheers at the national guards and jeers the Pakistani one.
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- View of Golden Temple at night
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- The Guru Granth Sahib, the original copy of the Sikh holy book being carried out from Hari Mandir Sahib to Akal Takhat.
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- Golden Temple at dawn. Waiting for sunrise...
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- Waited and waited but the sun never came out that day. I went back to bed not long after that.
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