Sri Harmandir SahibĀ (lit. "the abode of God"), also known asĀ Golden TempleĀ and theĀ Darbar Sahib, is the holiestĀ GurdwaraĀ and the most important pilgrimage site ofĀ Sikhism. The Golden Temple's architecture reflects different architectural practices prevalent in theĀ Indian subcontinent, as various iterations of temple were rebuilt and restored. The Temple is described by Ian Kerr, and other scholars, as a mixture of the Indo-Islamic Mughal and the Hindu Rajput architecture. Ranjit SinghĀ founded the nucleus of the Sikh Empire at the age of 21.Ā In 1802, at age 22, he took Amritsar from the Bhangi SikhĀ misl, paid homage at the Golden Temple and announced that he would renovate and rebuild it with marble and gold. TheĀ Temple was renovated in marble and copper in 1809, and in 1830 Ranjit Singh donated gold to overlay the sanctum with gold foil. In the early 1980s, the temple became a center of conflict between the Indian government led byĀ Indira Gandhi, some Sikh groups and a militant movement led byĀ Jarnail Singh BhindranwaleĀ seeking to create a new nation namedĀ Khalistan. In 1984, Gandhi sent in the Indian Army as part ofĀ Operation Blue Star, leading to deaths of over 1,000 militants, soldiers and civilians, as well as causing much damage to the temple and the destruction of Akal Takht. The temple complex was rebuilt again after the 1984 damage. Wikipedia #religion #history #architecture #india #vsco #vscocam #vscogrid #vscogood #vscogoodshot #vscoindia #delhigram #delhidiaries #delhighted #planhatke #delhi_igers #dfordelhi #explorecreateshare #theuncommonbox #delhifashionblogger #fashionphotographer #fashionphotography #inspiroindia #sikhism #vscoblackandwhite (at Harmandir Sahib)