30/06/2026
Day 14 ~ After a hot, mainly main road drive from Dharamshala to Amritsar we arrive at our hotel with a lobby full of Indian dignitaries and body guards, we think an important governor was possibly about to arrive. A very different atmosphere to our last few days!
Our nightly plans take us to the holiest Sikh shrine — The Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) which is adorned with over 500 kg of gold leaf. The women in the group respectfully cover up, leggings, skirt, tshirt and a scarf over my head. The temperature is 40 degrees? and it is hot hot hot. I cannot imagine how people visit during in the heat and walk on the marble floors there. Shoes left outside, hands washed on entry, we walk through a shallow trough of water down steps (symbolising a humble gesture) to the most amazing view. We are the only white faces and people stop us to smile, have photos with us and openly stare! It is with curiosity and non aggressive. Walking around the perimeter takes 20 minutes and the inner circle of the temple over the water is too much of a wait time to attempt. However the loud, busy (even hotter!) kitchen showed us the effort it takes to feed whoever wants to eat here… fed by the volunteers.
Over 100k people visit the temple each day and over 90% sit and have a meal. There is no hierarchy and it all flows. The word of the day ~ community.
Kitchen people & group photo 🙏 Saran
