Morning view of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India

© Adrian Pope/Getty Image

Celebrating Guru Nanak Gurpurab. Golden Temple

On the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, we are taking you to one of Amritsar's greatest attractions and its spiritual hub – Sri Harmandir Sahib – commonly known as the Golden Temple. This is the holiest temple in the Sikh faith. Guru Ramdas Sahib, the 4th of 10 Sikh gurus, constructed the temple and its pool in the 1500s as a place of worship for all. The temple has a unique Sikh architecture and has been renovated many times, adding features such as the marble inlays along the floor. Built at a level lower than the surrounding land level, the gurudwara teaches the lesson of egalitarianism and humility.

Guru Nanak Gurpurab, also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti, is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar as Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism. It is celebrated with much joy and fervour throughout the country and different parts of the world. The devotees visit different Sikh temples, offer prayers, and lit candles on the occasion today.