Tuesday, 22 October 2013

AMRITSAR & THE ' HOLY POOL OF NECTOR "


Golden Temple or Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji,is located in Amritsar, Punjab (India). The Golden Temple,also referred to as the Darbar Sahib, is of significant importance to the Sikh faith. The location of the Golden Temple, originally a small lake in a deep forest, has long been recognised as a place of spiritual significance. It is said that Buddha spent some time there, and later the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, meditated at the Lake. Subsequent Sikh Guru’s further developed the site, and soon the the city of Amritsar grew around the Harmandir Sahib. From simple beginnings to the current striking Golden Temple, it is a truly unique, and for the Sikh’s a central, place of worship.

As advised by Sri Guru Amar Dass Ji the 3rd spiritual leader, Guru Ram Dass Ji (4th Sikh Guru) started the digging of Amrit Sarovar (Holy Tank) in 1577 A.D., which was later on brick-lined by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (5th Sikh Guru) on December 15, 1588 and He also started the construction of Sri Harimandir Sahib. Sri Guru Granth Sahib (scripture of the Sikhs), after its compilation, was first installed at Sri Harimandir Sahib on August 16, 1604 A.D. A devout Sikh, Baba Budha Ji was appointed its first Head Priest.

Hope you enjoy the collection !
Please feel free to leave some comments and send in some interesting images !


Amritsar, Golden temple.
Rare Original real photo of the golden temple.
c1900s




Rare antique original albumen photo of the holiest Sikh shrine at Amritsar.
c1890s




Durbar sahib.
A rare original albumen photo of a Sikh guide at Amritsar.
c1910s




Rare view of the golden temple.
Real picture postcard.
c1905




Sri Akal Takht or 'Throne of the Immortal one ' built by Guru Hargobind ji as a seat of temporal authority for the Khalsa. The original 'Takht ' was destroyed by the indian government in 1984 during operation bluestar , then they rebuilt it only for it to be demolished Infront of a sangat of 500,000 at ' Sarbat Khalsa ' or declaration of Khalistan. It was then finally rebuilt according to Sikh traditions of ' Kar seva ' The work carried out took 9 years to complete.
Printed postcard.
c1905




Amritsar Golden temple.
Original albumen photo of the holiest Sikh shrine surrounded by the holy lake.
c1870s




Amritsar golden temple.
A group of Akali nihangs wearing traditional dress with their turbans adorned with various shasters and chakrams.
Real picture postcard
c1900s




A view of the golden temple Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1900




Original early albumen photo of the holiest sikh shrine.
c1870s




A old Sikh returning from worship at the golden temple.
Printed postcard
c1900




Akali Nihang at Amritsar.
Dressed in traditional Khalsa uniform. Turban adorned with various weapons
Snapshot photo.
c1890




Golden temple & Baba Atal
Rare magic lantern glass negative slide.
c1900s




Amritsar golden temple.
Birds - eye view of the temple and city of Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1905




Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib.
Rare early images depicting baba atal and the sacred tank at Amritsar , Golden temple. One of Amritsar’s finest architectural marvels and one of the Sikh religions most poignant places of worship is just a short walk from the famous Harimandir Sahib. Built some two centuries ago, the Baba Atal Gurdwara is a touching commemoration of the young life of Baba Atal Rai, the son of Guru Hargobind. Its nine storeys echo his nine years of life before his death in 1628.
Real picture Postcard.
Unknown publisher.




Baba Atal sahib.
Original albumen photo.
By Bourne and shepherd.
c1870s




Akali Nihang Singh.
Rare image of a Akali Sikh priest at Amritsar standing on the marble walkways pictured wearing a decorated 'daaster boonga' with a fortress of steel quoits.
Photo by W Kennedy.
Printed postcard.
c1905




Amritsar Golden temple.
Very rare photo showing a resting pilgrim at the entrance to the most sacred temple of the Sikhs.
Real Photo
c1880s-1900s




Amritsar Golden temple.
Rare real photo image depicting the sacred temple and lake. Many of the buildings in the background no longer exist.
Real photo postcard
c1900s




Amritsar golden temple.
A view of the golden temple and surroundings.
Real photo postcard.
c1904




Rare original albumen photo ' Udasi ' Sikh at Amritsar.
c1890s




Pilgrims at walkway to golden temple.
Original snapshot photo
c1890




Sacred temple and lake at Amritsar.
Original snapshot photo
c1890




Rare coloured view of the Golden temple.
Printed postcard.
c1900s




Views of the sikhs most sacred shrine.
Series of French colour photochrome lithographs.
c1890s





Group of Akali nihangs 'armed to the teeth' from a French postcard series.
Printed postcard.
c1914




Akali at Amritsar golden temple.
Rare image depicting a nihang Singh at Amritsar. On this head the ' dastaar boonga ' with decorated tiers of steel and wearing round his neck an assortment of chakram's one of the favoured weapon of early Akali warriors.
Real photo.
c1900s




Rare view of the Golden temple of Amritsar.
Real photo
c1900




Sikh priest at Amritsar.
Photo by the Bombay company.
Printed postcard.
c1900






Original albumen photo of the holist Sikh shrine at Amritsar.
c1880s




Group of Akalis at Amritsar.
Printed postcard by tucks.
c1900




Group of Akali nihangs at Amritsar.
Original albumen photo.
c1890s




The golden temple, Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
By Rigold & Bergman
c1905




Amritsar, general view of city and temple.
Printed postcard.
c1900s




A view of the Golden temple of Amritsar with Baba Atal tower.
Printed postcards , one Hand coloured.






Amritsar , Golden temple.
Real photo postcard.
Kapoor & sons Peshawar.




Golden temple, Amritsar
Printed colour postcard
c1920




Golden temple , Amritsar
Rare view of temple with boats floating on the sacred lake.
c1902




Golden temple of Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1900







General view Golden temple and tank.
Vintage colour and lithographed postcards dating from c1900s-1910.










Golden temple at Amritsar .
Original photo snapshot
c1900




Amritsar, golden temple.
Rare view of the most sacred sikh shrine from the darshani deorhi.
Original photograph.
c1890s




The Gateway at Amritsar.
Printed and colour postcards.
From c1900s-1910





Amritsar, golden temple.
Rare antique original albumen photo.
c1880s-1890




The Golden temple at Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1900s




Golden temple, Amritsar.
Vintage printed advertising card of sacred tank and temple for Dipak Knitters.
c1900s




Golden temple, Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1902




Golden temple , Amritsar.
Printed postcards.
c1900s




Golden temple, Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1902




The gateway at Amritsar, Punjab.
Rare Antique Original albumen photo of pilgrims outside the gateway to the holiest sikh shrine at Amritsar.
c1890




Amritsar, Golden temple.
Original Antique albumen photo of the Golden Temple of the Sikhs.
c1890s




Saraghari memorial, Amritsar Punjab.
Built in memory of the famous '21 Sikhs' who died at the saraghari fort fighting till there last breath defending the fort against invading Pathans, and Afgans.
c1900




Amritsar, golden temple.
Printed postcard.
c1900s




Amritsar , golden temple.
Printed postcard.
Unknown age.




Amritsar, Golden temple.
Printed postcard by tucks.
c1910




A view of the holiest Sikh shrine.
Printed colour postcard.
c1902




Khalsa college Amritsar.
Rare postcard.
c1900s by Lall Singh Amritsar.




Golden temple of Amritsar with Maharajas of India .
Printed colour postcard.
c1905




Plaque of Indian miniature paintings including the Golden temple of Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1900s




Golden temple, Amritsar.
Rare image from the 'kings subjects' series of native states.
Printed colour postcard.
c1910s




Amritsar, Golden temple.
Printed colour postcard.
c1930s




Amritsar, pilgrims bathing in the sacred tank.
Printed postcard.
c1950s




Akali nihang by the sacred tank at Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
c1950s




Rare views of Rambagh Gate, Amritsar.
Printed postcard.
Both c1902 - c1905





Birds eye view of the sacred temple and the holy city of Amritsar. The lost palaces destroyed by the British for the gothic clock tower can clearly be seen in the background.
Original Albumen photo.
c1860 or earlier. Private collection.




Amritsar, and the Golden temple.
Printed colour postcard.
c1905




Entrance to the sacred temple at Amritsar.
Printed colour postcard.
c1900s




Birds-eye view of city and holy temple at Amritsar. Rare magic Lantern glass slide.
c1900s




Rare London city council card depicting the holiest Sikh shrine at Amritsar.
c1900s colour printed.
Private collection






Main street in native quarter, Amritsar.
Original stereo view photo.
c1900s




Golden temple at Amritsar.
Original albumen photo of the sacred temple and tank.
c1900s or earlier




Rare collection of original photogravures of the Amritsar temple and surroundings.
c1910s
















Amritzar. Golden temple.
A rare and collectable tobacco card depicting the holiest Sikh shrine.
By Westminster tobacco co.
Real photo
c1900s






Amritsar the golden temple.
Printed postcard.
c1905




Aerial view of the temple and city of Amritsar with Baba Atal in background.
Real photo postcard.




The golden temple at Amritsar.
Printed vintage postcard.
c1904




A very rare view of pilgrims at the Gateway to the temple of Amritsar.
Printed in italy.
c1900s




Amritsar , and the sacred tank.
Printed colour postcard.
c1904




Amritsar , golden temple gate and city.
A very rare aeriel view of Durbar Sahib.
c1900s




The golden temple of Amritsar.
A rare colour postcard printed in germany, depicting the holiest Sikh shrine reflecting into the sacred pool. The reverse of the postcard has a interesting hand writen note - ' Relay of singing priests 24 hours a day allowed in if shoes removed '
c1918






Amritsar , the golden temple.
Printed colour postcard.
c1902




Amritsar golden temple.
A very unusual Christmas card depicting the holist Sikh shrine. Colour print , with intesting information about the temple within.
c1911






Golden temple reflecting into the sacred tank at the city of Amritsar.
Original stereo view photo.
c1900s





Golden Temple at Amritsar.
Original mid 19th century Indian Miniature Painting of the highest quality.
Painted on a piece of ivory or ' bone ' in the British company school style drenched in fine gold work.
Original antique miniature painting.
c1850s