Who Built the Golden Temple? A Detailed Blog

The Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, is the most celebrated monument in Amritsar, India. It is the holiest pilgrimage site of Sikhism and a prime tourist attraction in the country. But who built this magnificent place of worship? Let’s delve into its history and find out.

The Golden Temple was built by Guru Arjan, the fifth guru of the Sikhs, in the late 16th century. The construction began in 1581 and was completed in 1604. The idea to create a central place of worship for Sikhs and to design the architecture of the temple was conceived by Guru Arjan himself. The land that became Amritsar on which the Golden Temple sits on was chosen by Guru Amar Das, the third guru. He appointed his disciple Ram Das to search for land to build a new town on, with the man-made pool being its central point.

Guru Ram Das succeeded Guru Amar Das, becoming the fourth Guru, and founded Amritsar, which was then known as Ramdaspur. He completed the pool under the supervision of Baba Buddha, a venerated figure in Sikhism. Guru Ram Das then appointed his son, Guru Arjan, as his successor.

The construction of the Golden Temple began in earnest under the leadership of Guru Arjan. The foundation stone was laid by the Sufi saint Mian Mir, a close friend of Guru Arjan. The construction was completed in 1604, and the first version of the temple took eight years to build. The temple has seen much renovation since then, caused by multiple attacks since its first build. It was first covered in gold in 1830 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh with 162kg of gold in seven to nine layers, coining its name the “Golden Temple.” From 1995-1999, it was covered in a further 500kg of gold in twenty-four layers by skilled artists.

In conclusion, the Golden Temple was built by Guru Arjan, the fifth guru of the Sikhs, in the late 16th century. The construction of this magnificent place of worship was completed in 1604, and it has been renovated multiple times since then. Today, it stands as a symbol of the Sikh faith and a testament to the rich history of the region.