The holiest site in Sikhism, plated in real gold and floating in the middle of a lake. Open to everyone, day and night, and the free kitchen serves tens of thousands of meals daily to anyone who sits down. Go after dark when it is lit and reflected. Cover your head, leave your shoes.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1589
- Status
- UNESCO tentative list
Before you go
- Shoulders and knees covered. Wraps are usually available at the entrance.
- Check current opening hours before travelling: sections close for restoration and ceremonies.
- This is a working place of worship before it is a sight. Quiet voices, no flash during prayer.
Facts checked against the Wikipedia entry for Golden Temple and Wikidata. Practicalities are general good practice, not a substitute for the temple's own notices.