India, April 8 -- When my cousin invited me for a short vacation in Amritsar I was really delighted; thrilled at the prospects of visiting the highly revered Sikh shrine, Sri Harmindar Sahib. The glistening Golden Temple in all its opulence stands in the midst of a square tank of holy water or amrit; the building is two storied and on top is a gilded dome surrounded by golden turrets.
Many of the doors, domes and walls are covered in gold from the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, hence Harmindar Sahib is also known as Golden Temple.
Facing the Harmindar Sahib, the seat of Sikh spiritual authority, is the Akal Takhat, the Throne of the Eternal, the seat of Sikh temporal authority.