Golden Temple is a gurdwara that is built around a man-made pool (sarovar) that was completed by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das in 1577. Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, the fifth Guru of Sikhism, requested Sai Mir Mian Mohammed, a Muslim Pir of Lahore, to lay its foundation stone in 1589. In 1604, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji placed a copy of the Adi Granth in Durbar Sahib. The Gurdwara was repeatedly rebuilt by the Sikhs after it became a target of persecution and was destroyed several times by the Mughal and invading Afghan armies. Founder of the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, rebuilt it in marble and copper in 1809, overlaid the sanctum with gold foil in 1830. This has led to the name the Golden Temple and "Har Mandir" meaning "Golden Temple" in Hindi and dialects of Punjabi, which was popularised by Hindu to Sikh converts during the Sikh Misls era, Sikh Empire era and British colonial India, where it became frequented by common Hindu priests as well leading to the 1904 building of the imitation Durgiana Temple.
The Golden Temple, also known as Shri Durbar Sahib or Darbar Sahib, meaning "abode of God" and "exalted court", is a gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism.