Amritsar: The Golden Temple and Beyond

Amritsar is a city that revolves around the Golden Temple, the holiest site in Sikhism, and it is one of the most welcoming places I have ever visited. The temple itself is stunning, a golden structure surrounded by a sacred pool. I arrived in the evening and walked through the marble causeway to the temple. The reflection of the gold in the water, combined with the continuous recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, created an atmosphere of profound peace. But what really sets the Golden Temple apart is the community kitchen, or langar. It is the largest free kitchen in the world, serving simple vegetarian meals to tens of thousands of people every single day, regardless of religion or background. I volunteered for a couple of hours, helping to roll chapatis and wash dishes. It was a humbling experience. After the temple, I visited the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, a somber reminder of a massacre that took place in 1919. It is an important part of Indian history. And no trip to Amritsar is complete without a visit to the Wagah Border for the flag lowering ceremony. It is a bit of a spectacle with lots of patriotic fervor, but it is entertaining and worth seeing once.