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Amritsar, India
Amritsar's Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is one of the most awe-inspiring religious sites on earth, and approaching it on foot through the clock tower entrance — when the gold-plated shrine first appears reflected in the sacred pool — is a moment of pure wonder. The temple complex operates the world's largest free kitchen (langar), serving up to 100,000 vegetarian meals daily to anyone regardless of background. The surrounding old city is a maze of narrow lanes and bazaars, with the Hall Bazaar and Katra Jaimal Singh selling everything from Phulkari embroidery to juttis (traditional shoes). Jallianwala Bagh, the site of the 1919 massacre, is a sobering memorial garden with bullet marks still visible in the walls. The Wagah Border ceremony, where Indian and Pakistani soldiers perform a dramatic flag-lowering ritual, is a short drive away.
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The Golden Temple is open 24 hours and most magical before dawn, when devotional hymns echo across the illuminated pool. Cover your head and remove shoes before entering.
October through March offers cool, comfortable weather. Baisakhi (mid-April) and Diwali are particularly festive times at the Golden Temple.