The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar, Punjab, was completed in 1604 by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev. The foundation was laid in 1588 by the Muslim Sufi saint Mian Mir, reflecting the inclusive ethos of Sikhism. The temple was built at a lower level than the surrounding ground to symbolize humility, and it became the central place of worship in Sikhism where the Guru Granth Sahib was first installed.

The Golden Temple is a central symbol in Sikh devotional poetry and the daily prayers of the faith, with the Guru Granth Sahib's hymns inseparable from the temple's spiritual identity. In modern Indian English poetry, the temple has been invoked as a symbol of resilience and spiritual peace, and its history of destruction and rebuilding has inspired poets reflecting on communal harmony and the enduring power of faith in the Punjab region.