We are about half way there now, having started our walk at the langar (free community kitchen- see previous pictures earlier in this album) at the far end of the lake. And although I am not particularly religious, I do appreciate beauty. I loved the sacred atmosphere and serenity of the place, despite the surging crowd, and simply couldn't get enough of the fabulous structure. The legendary Golden Temple seen here is actually just a small part of this huge gurdwara complex (gurudwara is a Sikh place of worship), known to Sikhs as Harmandir Sahib. Spiritually, the focus of attention is the tank that surrounds the gleaming central shrine – the Amrit Sarovar, from which Amritsar takes its name, excavated by the fourth Sikh guru, Ram Das, in 1577. Ringed by a marble walkway, the tank is said to have healing powers, and pilgrims come from across the world to bathe in its sacred waters. I was surprised to get this info from Wikipedia as the temple website says that bathing or swimming in the lake is strictly prohibited. I did notice a spot where ladies could take a dip though.