SIKH

ARCHITECTURE

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

LOCATION:

The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) precinct in Amritsar, India is an important site for Sikh pilgrimage and tourism.

It is located amidst a very densely built, mixed use/residential Fabric.

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Sikhs very own -Vatican City'.

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Fig: Harmandir sahib precinct amidst tightly-knit fabric

There is a loop road, called Galiara Road around the precinct and five main gateways into the precinct – one of them is at right angles to the north-western face of the precinct.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

Fig: Harmandir sahib precinct amidst tightly-knit fabric

The area around the precinct has a large amount of traffic of varied nature – motorised including cars, buses and two-wheelers and slow moving like rickshaws and ox / horse carts. This precinct is a rich source of architectural and cultural heritage.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

Fig: Harmandir Sahib precinct

1.CENTRAL SIKH MUSEUM

2. HISTORICAL SEAT

3. DUKH BHANJANI BERI

4. ATH SATH TIRATH

5. GURU KA LANGAR

6. DIWAN HALL MANJI SAHIB

7. SHAHEED BUNGA BABA

-DEEP SINGH

8. ELACHI BER

9. TOSHA KHAANA

10.HAR KI PAURI

11. AKAL TAKHT

12. GURDWARA THARA SAHIB

13. BER BABA BUDHA JI

14.SIKH REFERENCE LIBRARY

15.GURDWARA BABA ATAL RAI

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

1 .FIG: CENTRAL SIKH MUSEUM

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

This is located at the north-eastern entrance gateway to the precinct. The gateway has got the luggage storage centre and information office in its vicinity.

2.FIG: HISTORICAL SEAT

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It is a structure that comprises the notional historical seat of the Sikh religion.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

3. Fig: DUKHBHANJINI BER

Bibi Rajani,

This is a jujube (ber) tree considered sacred by Sikhs.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

4. Fig: ATH SATH TIRATH

It is a shrine, if visited allows one to realize the dream of visiting 68 holy places of India.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

5. Fig: GURU KA LANGAR communal dining hall

This is the free community kitchen, which is a tradition started by Sikh Gurus and still popular in all major Sikh temples

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5. Fig: . GURU KA LANGAR Community Kitchen

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

6. Fig: . DIWAN HALL MANJI SAHIB congregation hall.

This is a Gurudwara situated in the Guru Ka Bagh and is now turned into a very spacious lecture hall.

This is a place where the fifth Sikh guru recited holy verses.

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7. Fig: . SHAHEED BUNGA BABA DEEP SINGH

The place is in the memory of Baba Deep Singh’s (A Great Sikh Warrior) who sacrificed for the dignity of Sri Harmandir Sahib while fighting with Mughals in 1762.

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8. Fig: ELACHI BER

The jujube tree where the fifth guru supervised the construction of Harmandir Sahib.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

9. Fig: TOSHA KHANNA

a treasury or secured storehouse

Vernacular word for treasure house, located on the fifth floor of Darshani Deorhi, contains gifts donated to Harmandir Sahib by devotees

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

10. Fig: HAR KI PAURI

steps of Almighty God, on the backside of the sanctum sanctorum Harmandir Sahib

The stairs literally mean the ‘God’s staircase’ – meaning that God himself took part in the construction of the precinct at this place

The word ‘Akal’ means, time-less (often used for Almighty-God) Takhat means a throne (seat) where the kings, emperors used to sit. Hence Akal Takhat : the seat of Almighty.

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11. Fig: AKAL TAKHAT SAHIB

The highest temporal seat of Sikh religion was set up here by the sixth Sikh guru.

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12. Fig: GURDWARA THARA SAHIB

The ninth Guru sat and prayed at this point

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14. Fig: BER BABA BUDHA JI

The first head priest of Harmandir Sahib, Baba Budha ji supervised the construction of the sarovar – the holy water tank under this tree

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14. Fig: SIKH REFERENCE LIBRARY

Houses research material on Sikh History, raremanuscripts and hand written Guru Granth Sahib

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15. Fig: GURDWARA BABA ATAL RAI

Gurudwara Baba Atal is basically a smadh (cenotaph) to the memory of Baba Atal

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

PARIKARMA

Parikarma (the circumarnbulatory path all around the Water Pool) - The Parikarma has a raised platform towards the sarovar and a colonnaded space and series of rooms onto the other side.

There are four shrines, which define the inner periphery of the Parikarma and stand as a symbolic sign within the core precinct – Lachi ber, Baba Budha ji ber and Dukh Bhanjini ber and the holy shrine of Baba Deep Singh.

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Fig: Aerial view of Harmandir Sahib precinct

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Fig: AERIAL VIEW

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Fig: Aerial view of Harmandir Sahib precinct

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

Fig: Aerial view of Harmandir Sahib precinct

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Fig: Harmandir Sahib precinct

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Fig: Harmandir Sahib precinct

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

Fig: Harmandir Sahib precinct

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Fig: THE AKAL TAKHAT - the religious governing body of the Sikhs

This precinct has intrinsic environmental qualities and site characteristics.

The construction started in 1588 and completed in 1604.

The street pattern in the vicinity developed as a result of the lifestyle at that time – no vehicles, horse riding and travel on foot.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

Thus the lanes are tight and are lined by mixed use development.

The precinct contains many Gurudwaras. Some of them are built around water pools and some around sacred trees.

The architectural style of these gurudwaras is an amalgam of Hindu and Muslim styles with some local adaptation.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

The precinct contains many Gurudwaras. Some of them are built around water pools andsome around sacred trees. The architectural style of these gurudwaras is an amalgam ofHindu and Muslim styles with some local adaptation.

SIKH ARCHITECTURE

The main temple is a three storey structure resting on a rectangular platform located in thewater pool – the Sarovar and is constructed in white marble. Visitors bathe in these waterswhen visiting. It is reached on a causeway known as the Guru’s Bridge.

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The lower storey is inlaid with precious stones depicting animals and flowers - a technique known as‘pietradura’ and the ceiling is elaborately embellished. It houses the Guru Granth Sahib – the holy book.

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The upper storey is gold plated and there is a solid gold dome on top of the third storey, in form of an inverted lotus flower. The lowermost floor is submerged in the sarovar.

The entire building including the external facade is richly decorated with floral design either inlayed in marble, painted in tempera or embossed in metal.

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The size of the quadrangle (the main Sarovar with the Parikarma around) is around 170m square and the circulation path around is around 10m wide. It is finished in white and black marble tiles. The shrine is open from all four sides and has a passage all around it. Towards the eastern side are the flights of steps, known as har- ki pauri descending into the sarovar.

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On the same axis of the temple and the causeway is the ‘Akal Takht Sahib’, the highest seat of authority in the religious hierarchy of the Sikhs, which stands facing the principle entrance. This is a five storied structure, where ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is placed during night.

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It also houses the weapons belonging to Sikh Gurus and renowned warriors. It is skewed and is oriented towards the east. In front of this is the open multi activity space, also known as Gurmath space, used for congregation activities.The rooms abutting the Gurmath space is karha prasad room (where the Prasad is prepared and served).

RAJPUT

ARCHITECTURE

RAJPUT ARCHITECTURE

1.Amber Fort