Staying In The Golden Temple

the opoponax · Feb 19th, 2008, 17:26

I'm headed towards Amritsar in a few days, and I read in Lonely Planet and heard from many sources that it's possible for foreigners to stay directly in the Golden Temple's guesthouses.

The only hitch is that another traveler I met told me that young foreign women are discouraged from staying in the temple guesthouses alone. Is this true? I'm not so much worried about silly women's safety issues, but whether I'll be turned away.

Anybody know the deal?

JuliaF · Feb 19th, 2008, 18:31

My info could be a bit out of date, but I've stayed twice in the Golden temple complex on my own (could be more than 10 years ago). The first time I was in a big dormitory-type room sharing with one other foreigner- an English guy who'd been cycling in Pakistan - and it seemed that this room was where they put foreigners. It was in a shocking state, loads of rubbish, even alcohol bottles (how disrespectful can people be? made me really angry). So as my contribution I gave it a good sweeping. This room was upstairs.
The second time I was there there seemed to be a different system in that all foreigners were in a room on the ground floor with a Sikh 'guard' outside. I'm not really sure what his role was - whether to 'protect' the foreigners or to make sure we behaved!

I never felt any safety issue in the hostel/dharamsala (I can't remember its name, it's named after one of the gurus but which one?...is it Guru Ram Dass Niwas?) or in the area around the Golden temple generally.

I very much doubt you'd be turned away as hospitality to all people including non-Sikhs is so important.

I really loved the Golden Temple, hope you do too.

And Amritsar had the thickest, creamiest curd I've ever tasted. Yum!

the opoponax · Feb 20th, 2008, 17:37

thanks for the reassurance!

in taking this trip, there's a big part of me that wants to write the single woman's guide to traveling india. because there is SO MUCH misinformation out there, especially regarding safety issues. for instance i just got back from seeing a movie, alone - something even the lonely planet warns against. perfectly safe, though i'm not sure i can say the same for the local girl sitting next to me who was there with her boyfriend. i saw a little 'one tight slap' action going on, there!

personally, i think i'm having an easier time as a solo woman than most people i've seen traveling in groups.

Nuala · Mar 30th, 2008, 22:26

Just a bit of info about staying in Amritsar Golden Temple accomodation:

I am also a female solo traveller and I am in Amritsar right now. I was not sure about staying overnight at the dorm provided for foreigners in the Golden Temple but I have to say it is quite safe and I have had no problems.

There are about 15 or 20 beds divided in 3 or 4 rooms and 2 guards inside most of the time registering new lodgers and making sure everything's fine.

The dorms are quite spartan, but for 1 or 2 nights they're ok. There are lockers inside the dorm, just bring your lock with you or buy one on the streets. The toilets are outside ( squat toilets shared with other lodgers) and there's a bathroom inside the dorm with a basin and 2 separate taps (one with hot water) and a bucket.

It's free but donations in an outside donation box are appreciated. Just next door there's a little clinic with a lovely lady doctor ( consultation and meds also free )and internet and refreshement shops are also quite nearby.

The best of all is that you get to be just next door from the Golden Temple.

By the way I asked about the single and double rooms but they seem to be always fully booked with Sikh pilgrims therefore foreigners only get to stay in the dorm.

Hope this was helpful.

Daydream Believer · Mar 30th, 2008, 22:54

Slightly OT, but this thread has reminded me of my own wonderful experience when I stayed in the temple complex.

I was traveling with my boyfriend (that's why this is OT), and when we arrived there was a festival on (this was 10 years ago, and my memory is pretty hazy due to recent illness, so I don't remember which one), and when we arrived not only were the rooms full, but also all dorms, in fact there was nowhere to stay at all.

So... we ended up sleeping on the concrete, in the open courtyard, under a slight overhang so we didn't get rained on (this was during the monsoon). We were completely surrounded by the poorest of the poor pilgrims, who found us and our hi tech sleeping bags most interesting. We felt so welcome, and safe, and not for one second did I feel one single item of ours was at risk of being stolen. There was a Sikh guard there some of the time - not sure if he was there for our or the other pilgrim's protection.

The whole complex had a no shoes policy, and as this was during the monsoon, this meant wading through knee deep water with no shoes on at times, but we put it all down to fun and life experience.

We stayed there for 2 or 3 days, ate there as well, and generally had a wonderful time talking to people and learning.

Happy days.

amit2821 · Mar 31st, 2008, 00:01

THE LINK IS

http://www.sgpc.net/sarai-booking/index.asp

Brisso · Mar 31st, 2008, 05:10

I've stayed there, as previous poster - shared downstairs dorm of 30-40 beds. Perfectly fine for short stay and secure, if a little claustrophobic.

Wonderful hospitality at the temple - what an incredible machine the running of the place is ...

Feb 19th, 2008, 17:26	#1
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,022	Staying In The Golden Temple I'm headed towards Amritsar in a few days, and I read in Lonely Planet and heard from many sources that it's possible for foreigners to stay directly in the Golden Temple's guesthouses. The only hitch is that another traveler I met told me that young foreign women are discouraged from staying in the temple guesthouses alone. Is this true? I'm not so much worried about silly women's safety issues, but whether I'll be turned away. Anybody know the deal?

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Feb 19th, 2008, 18:31	#2
JuliaF Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Co Cork, Ireland Posts: 52	My info could be a bit out of date, but I've stayed twice in the Golden temple complex on my own (could be more than 10 years ago). The first time I was in a big dormitory-type room sharing with one other foreigner- an English guy who'd been cycling in Pakistan - and it seemed that this room was where they put foreigners. It was in a shocking state, loads of rubbish, even alcohol bottles (how disrespectful can people be? made me really angry). So as my contribution I gave it a good sweeping. This room was upstairs. The second time I was there there seemed to be a different system in that all foreigners were in a room on the ground floor with a Sikh 'guard' outside. I'm not really sure what his role was - whether to 'protect' the foreigners or to make sure we behaved! I never felt any safety issue in the hostel/dharamsala (I can't remember its name, it's named after one of the gurus but which one?...is it Guru Ram Dass Niwas?) or in the area around the Golden temple generally. I very much doubt you'd be turned away as hospitality to all people including non-Sikhs is so important. I really loved the Golden Temple, hope you do too. And Amritsar had the thickest, creamiest curd I've ever tasted. Yum!

Feb 20th, 2008, 17:37	#3
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,022	thanks for the reassurance! in taking this trip, there's a big part of me that wants to write the single woman's guide to traveling india. because there is SO MUCH misinformation out there, especially regarding safety issues. for instance i just got back from seeing a movie, alone - something even the lonely planet warns against. perfectly safe, though i'm not sure i can say the same for the local girl sitting next to me who was there with her boyfriend. i saw a little 'one tight slap' action going on, there! personally, i think i'm having an easier time as a solo woman than most people i've seen traveling in groups.

Mar 30th, 2008, 22:26	#4
Nuala You cannot walk straight when the road bends Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London -Madrid....Now in Delhi! :) Posts: 29	Just a bit of info about staying in Amritsar Golden Temple accomodation: I am also a female solo traveller and I am in Amritsar right now. I was not sure about staying overnight at the dorm provided for foreigners in the Golden Temple but I have to say it is quite safe and I have had no problems. There are about 15 or 20 beds divided in 3 or 4 rooms and 2 guards inside most of the time registering new lodgers and making sure everything's fine. The dorms are quite spartan, but for 1 or 2 nights they're ok. There are lockers inside the dorm, just bring your lock with you or buy one on the streets. The toilets are outside ( squat toilets shared with other lodgers) and there's a bathroom inside the dorm with a basin and 2 separate taps (one with hot water) and a bucket. It's free but donations in an outside donation box are appreciated. Just next door there's a little clinic with a lovely lady doctor ( consultation and meds also free )and internet and refreshement shops are also quite nearby. The best of all is that you get to be just next door from the Golden Temple. By the way I asked about the single and double rooms but they seem to be always fully booked with Sikh pilgrims therefore foreigners only get to stay in the dorm. Hope this was helpful.

Mar 30th, 2008, 22:54	#5
Daydream Believer Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London Posts: 90	Slightly OT, but this thread has reminded me of my own wonderful experience when I stayed in the temple complex. I was traveling with my boyfriend (that's why this is OT), and when we arrived there was a festival on (this was 10 years ago, and my memory is pretty hazy due to recent illness, so I don't remember which one), and when we arrived not only were the rooms full, but also all dorms, in fact there was nowhere to stay at all. So... we ended up sleeping on the concrete, in the open courtyard, under a slight overhang so we didn't get rained on (this was during the monsoon). We were completely surrounded by the poorest of the poor pilgrims, who found us and our hi tech sleeping bags most interesting. We felt so welcome, and safe, and not for one second did I feel one single item of ours was at risk of being stolen. There was a Sikh guard there some of the time - not sure if he was there for our or the other pilgrim's protection. The whole complex had a no shoes policy, and as this was during the monsoon, this meant wading through knee deep water with no shoes on at times, but we put it all down to fun and life experience. We stayed there for 2 or 3 days, ate there as well, and generally had a wonderful time talking to people and learning. Happy days.

Mar 31st, 2008, 00:01	#6
amit2821 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 25	THE LINK IS http://www.sgpc.net/sarai-booking/index.asp

Mar 31st, 2008, 05:10	#7
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 339	I've stayed there, as previous poster - shared downstairs dorm of 30-40 beds. Perfectly fine for short stay and secure, if a little claustrophobic. Wonderful hospitality at the temple - what an incredible machine the running of the place is ...

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