My favourite place of worship in India.
The Golden Temple also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib is the holiest Gurdwara of the Sikhs.In 1578 ,the fourth Sikh Guru,Guru Ram Das built a tank - Amritsar which literally means the Tank of Nectar and the city of Amritsar grew up around it.In 1588 ,the fifth Guru,Guru Arjan initiated the construction of a Gurdwara in the centre of this holy tank.The foundation of the Gurdwara was laid by Hazrat Mian Mir on 28th December 1588.The construction was completed in 1604.Guru Arjan installed the Guru Granth Sahib in it.In the early 19th century Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab from external attacks and had the upper portion of this beautiful Gurdwara covered with gold.Hence the name Golden Temple.
The Golden Temple is open to people of all faiths and is visited by thousands of people from India and abroad everyday.
Source - Wikipedia

This was my second visit to Amritsar and like the first time I was again totally mesmerized by the beauty of the Golden Temple.It looks beautiful any time of the day but I feel the best time to visit it is in the evening.When we reached it this time it was glowing in the rays of the setting sun.Then gradually it became dark, the lights came on and the scene became totally magical.
More photos to follow.

I have been travelling and might have missed some of your photos.I will try and make up in the next few days.:-)

Tags:   Golden Temple Amritsar Punjab India Architecture Sikhism Religion Water Reflections

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A village bathed in warm evening light somewhere in Kangra valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.The building to the left of the shot (with the flat roof) would probably be the village school.
Kangra valley (average elevation around 2000 ft.) is my favourite place in Himachal.It is not as popular with tourists as Shimla and Kullu- Manali (thankfully) but I think in the springtime few places in India can rival its sublime beauty. With its picturesque villages with their houses of slate covered roofs, wheatfields of soothing green,orchards in blossom,gushing mountain streams and the glistening white peaks of the Dhauladhars as a stunning backdrop it is no less than a paradise on earth.:-)

Might be worth a look in large

Tags:   Himachal Pradesh House India trees Valley Village Kangra valley

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Wheat fields in the shadow of the Dhauladhar peaks in Kangra valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh,India.
Kangra is my favourite place in Himachal.It is (thankfully) not as popular with tourists as Shimla and Kullu- Manali but I think in the springtime few places in India can rival its sublime beauty. With its picturesque villages with their houses of slate covered roofs, wheatfields of soothing green,orchards in blossom,gushing mountain streams and the glistening white peaks of the Dhauladhars as a stunning backdrop it is no less than a paradise on earth.
However, like many other tourist places in India, in Kangra also the march of "development" is taking a toll on its once pristine beauty. Widespread building activity, four lane highways,too many vehicles and disappearing greenery made me wonder how long before my "paradise" will be like any other crowded place in India.:-(

Tags:   clouds Himachal Pradesh Himalayas House India Mountains nature trees Valley agriculture springtime

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A little village tucked away somewhere in the mountains above Kangra valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. We must have been at an altitude of nearly 7000 feet above sea level when I took this shot.
Have a wonderful day dear froends.

Tags:   mountains Kangra Himachal Pradesh houses trees agriculture India nature Village

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Naddi village (altitude above 6500 feet) near the hillstation of McLeodgunj in Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.In the background you can catch a glimpse of the snowcovered peaks of the Dhauladhar ranges.Sadly they were mostly covered by clouds when we reached here.McLeodgunj is the abode of the Dalai Lama.
Kangra is my favourite place in Himachal.It is not as popular with tourists as Shimla and Kullu- Manali (thankfully) but I think in the springtime few places in India can rival its sublime beauty. With its picturesque villages with their houses of slate covered roofs, wheatfields of soothing green,orchards in blossom,gushing mountain streams and the glistening white peaks of the Dhauladhars as a stunning backdrop it is no less than a paradise on earth.:-)
We went back here recently after a gap of 8 years and I wondered how I could have kept away so long.:-)

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