April 10, 2010

harmandar sahib @ amritsar..

just visited harmandar sahib ( d golden temple) in amritsar.!
I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking to connect with oneself and god ! no need of venturing in the wilds.. near d sea shore etc. u just need one trip to amritsar.. the place will give u ample opportunity to explore ur food fetish.. experience spirutiality @ its best and shopping to ur heart's content..
the temple is hugeeee and consists of 28 buildings in its premises.. the design of the complex is square in size and every corner as a water serving facility wherein the kar sevaks ( explained later) serve water in small plates.. the water is of high quality and u shall forget the taste of mineral water.!
the main temple is situated in the middle of a lake which is called as amrit sarovar (pool of nectar).. a dip in this water is considered very auspicious.! surprisingly, there is too much shanti here which is bang in middle of chaos called amritsar..
the temple reflects sunlight brilliantly and its treat to view it. after a entire parikma of the complex , I stood in the line of darshan. after an hr i got my chance to pay obeisance to the revered 11th guru of sikhs, the guru granth sahib !
there was no pushing and shoving inside the sanctum sanctorum.. unlike tirupati balaji and other temples , it was a peaceful connect wit GOD.. u could pay ur respects according to ur heart's content..
there was a team of singers and devotees who were sitting next to the holy book and singing their devotional songs ( am sorry i dunno wht is it is called.. :( )
the ceiling of the sanctum sanctorum has a huge chandelier.. and the roof is painted richly..
i step out of it with tears in my eyes... i had d most beautiful darshan and amazing experience! a sip of amrit from the sarovar completed the ritual..!!!
in evening one could just sit near the sarovar and loose oneself in time.!!
It is unimaginable that Indira gandhi could execute operation blue star in this pious place. the seat of sikhism..!! the kar seva ( wherein u voluntarily do work for god) imbibed in people there touched my heart strings.. LANGAR serves more than 1 lakh people a day.. and has 2 chapatti makign machines.. which roll and bake the chappatis.. amazing service done to god's men by kar sevaks..probably sikhs are the only people who actually follow their religion to the T.. whereas other people just speak abt it...
one more thing.. every person..whether male or female.. whether kid or adult.. has to have their head covered.. my dupatta slipped for a second and i had 3 persons adomonishing me for it.. !

after darshan, we had food @ the famed kesar dhaba.. the food was ok.. had high expections.. but only d gulab jamun lived up to it... the amritsari kulcha is worth dying for .. so crisp and baked to perfection...
kulcha land opposite MK international hotel is highly recommended...super sexad food..
will always cherish this trip to amritsar.. where one indulged in lassi @ ahujas.. fruit cream in lawrence road.. shopping of papad and wariyan.. punjabi jhuttis and salwar kameezes.. and yes trip to the wagah border.. the feeling of patriotism was immense ..!! seeing the no man's land and pakistan's border and land.. was WOW..!!

3 comments:

  1. well it was amazaing the way u hav expressed, shared about ur experiences of ur trip to amrsitar temple. i would be needing ur help later on if i plan to remodel the temple..:)
    RAL

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  2. I hav heard so much abt this place..and ur post almost took me dr..as i cud imagine d place and d activities step by step..d way u described..
    I really wanna visit this place..

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  3. @ ral and yamini..
    iam glad my blog was helpful...!!

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