Why is amritsar important to sikhs

Related Papers:. In: Eliade M ed. Encycl of Relig New York: Macmillan — Hist of Relig — Ann of Tour Res 1— Ann of Tour Res 33— Ann of Tour Res 18— Ann of Tour Res 51— Ann of Tour Res 68— Ann of Tour Res 79— Ann of Tour Res 92— Hist of Relig 3: — Natl Geogr J of India — Glob J for Res Anal 4: — Tour Recreat Res 65— The Mandir is built on a ft square of marble and is a two storied structure. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the upper half of the building built with approximately kg of gold leaf.

The Golden Temple is surrounded by a number of other famous temples like the Durgiana Temple. It is here that Sage Valmiki wrote the epic, Ramayana.

Rama and Sita are believed to have spent their fourteen-year exile in Amritsar, the epicenter of Sikhism. To the south of the temple is a garden, and the tower of Baba Atal. The number shoots up to , on special occasions. The Akal Takht also houses the ancient weapons used by the Sikh warriors. Pilgrimage is not compulsory for Sikhs, and so many Sikhs choose not to visit religious sites.

Many Sikhs believe that the money spent on pilgrimage could be used as part of Wand Chakna and sewa to help others. Nevertheless, for many Sikhs, going on a pilgrimage is important. Many Sikhs visit important sites in India and the Punjab, where Sikhism began.