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Question 102 of 136 · Monuments & Religious Places
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The Sri Akal Takht Sahib is located within the:

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Answer: Option C — Golden Temple complex, Amritsar

Detailed Solution

The Sri Akal Takht Sahib ("Throne of the Timeless One") is located within the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) complex in Amritsar, Punjab, directly facing the Harmandir Sahib.

About the Akal Takht:

  • It was founded in 1606 by Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, after the martyrdom of his father, Guru Arjan Dev.
  • It was originally called "Akal Bunga".

Guru Hargobind wore two swords, symbolising "Miri" (temporal authority) and "Piri" (spiritual authority). While the Harmandir Sahib represents spiritual authority, the Akal Takht represents temporal (political) authority.

It is the highest of the five "Takhts" (seats of authority) of the Sikhs.

Its head is called the "Jathedar". The Jathedar can issue "hukamnamas" (edicts) for the Sikh community.

It was badly damaged during "Operation Blue Star" in June 1984, when the Indian Army entered the Golden Temple complex to remove militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. It was later rebuilt.

The five Takhts:

  • Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar (Punjab).
  • Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib (Punjab): where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in 1699.
  • Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo (Punjab): where Guru Gobind Singh completed the final version of the Guru Granth Sahib.
  • Takht Sri Harimandir Ji, Patna Sahib (Bihar): birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh (1666).
  • Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded (Maharashtra): where Guru Gobind Singh died (1708).

About the Golden Temple:

  • Its foundation was laid in 1588-89 during the time of Guru Arjan Dev; the Guru Granth Sahib was first installed here in 1604.
  • The temple stands in the middle of a sacred pool, the "Amrit Sarovar".
  • Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered the upper floors with gold in the early 19th century.
  • It has four entrances, showing that it is open to people of all faiths and castes.
  • Its "langar" (community kitchen) serves free meals to about 1 lakh people every day.
  • The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), formed in 1920, manages the Golden Temple and other gurdwaras in Punjab.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Anandpur Sahib has Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib.
  • ✗Patna Sahib has Takht Sri Harimandir Ji.
  • ✗Bangla Sahib in Delhi is a famous gurdwara associated with Guru Har Krishan.

Quick tip

Remember: Akal Takht = inside the Golden Temple complex, Amritsar (founded 1606 by Guru Hargobind; Miri-Piri; highest of the five Takhts); Keshgarh Sahib = Khalsa 1699; Patna Sahib = birth of Guru Gobind Singh; Hazur Sahib = Nanded.

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Monuments & Religious Places — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Monuments & Religious Places, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India's important monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and pilgrimage sites, who built them and when, their architectural styles, and India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Questions ask who built a monument, where it is located, or which dynasty or style it belongs to. For example, the Qutub Minar was begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, and the Sun Temple at Konark was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. Revise the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a list, noting the most recent additions. Practise the monuments and religious places questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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