As I was astounded on seeing the outside structure of the temple, the feeling was further intensified on reaching the main centre of worship. I was already overwhelmed with the feeling of tranquillity, but I could not just stop admiring the intricate designs in gold that adorned the pillars and walls of the temple.
The sanctum sanctorum is a two-storeyed marble structure built on a 67-square foot platform with gold leaf adorning the outer walls of the structure and the inside also lined up with pure gold. With prayers being offered on all the storeys, the higher you go up taking the winding marble staircase you actually experience a sense of peace and fulfilment. Hence, given the chance, I could stay there for ever feeling so close to the almighty.
Every spiritual place will have some or the other history to narrate and the Golden Temple too has one, which is rather horrid. The shrine was desecrated in 1757 following Ahmed Shah Abdali's invasion.
I also could not miss that part of the temple (Akal Takht) which had been extensively damaged during the Operation Bluestar conducted by the Indian Army in 1984 to flush out armed terrorists that had holed up in the complex.
