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?

My info could be a bit out of date, but I've stayed twice in the Golden temple complex on my own (could be more than 10 years ago).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!

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.

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.

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.

THE LINK IS

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

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 ...

I was went with my family...lovely place ...The Golden Temple is beautiful beautiful and has such a lovely welcoming atmosphere like no other religious place of worship,I love to watch golden temple,

Hi guys! Im visiting amritsar soon but just for the day and was wondering if it would be ok to leave my luggage at the hostel facility while i wonder around, i will be arriving early morning in amritsar and will leave late at night and dont wanna be hauling my bags around ?

hi all

i will be travelling from Srinagar to Amritsar via Jammu. There are 2 trains from Jammu, one reaching Amritsar at 7.15pm & another one at 1.50am. If i take the 7.15pm train, i may need to stay 1 night at Jammu but if i manage to catch the 1.50am train i am able to save 1 day. but i like to know how safe it is for a lone female traveller to arrive at Amritsar train station in the middle of the night? Is there even rickshaw around who can ferry me to my accommodation? Is the Golden Temple able to accept me to their dorm at odd hours?

I think staying one night at Jammu is safer and better than arriving at amritsar at well past midnight...

My main concern about staying in the dorm at the Golden Temple is where to keep my luggage. Anyone have any answers about what do with your bags when you are at the Golden Temple (both during the day and overnight)? Thanks a lot

The majority are of course devotees, who come for pilgrimage, come in groups, since many are sewadar, one or two stay back to look over communal and individual bags. The solo folks who I have seen at Harmandir Sahib, tend to be devotees with a simple wrapped-around mattress and blanket. Their material possessions are bag-like that they do deposit/store in a luggage room.

There are many inexpensive "niwas" lodges at the periphery of the Darbar Sahib complex. You could get a room there ?

When I stayed at the Golden Temple (in the foreigners section) 4 years ago there were cupboards for you to stash you bag in and then a lock could be fitted around the handles or through the lock plate. I did not leave my camera but left all the rest and felt reasonably safe with that.

If you are just visiting for the day the bag can be left with you shoes in the cloak room.

I love the Golden Temple, it is one of my favourite spots - I hope you enjoy your visit.

I am planning to visit the golden temple in November (during diwali time) and will probably take my father along (he is handicapped and not sure if he can walk over there and its cold in winter in Amritsar).
I have no idea about accommodation and lodging, I have heard about people living there as long as they want but I read on most forums that there is a 3 day limit to your stay in the hostels/dorms?
If I go there (travelling by train is a 40 hour journey and I cant afford the airfare) I would want to stay atleast 2 weeks in the temple (I have visited gurudwaras before and the bajan and sangeet is very soulful). Can someone offer any valuable advice on this? I guess it would be easier to mail me? is it alright to disclose my email address here (looks at moderators :P)