We headed straight to the Golden Temple, which offered free
accommodation and food. Visitors to the temple were required to
remove their shoes and cover their heads with scarves. Once inside,
the atmosphere was genuinely spiritual. The main temple was
covered in gold and stood in the middle of a sacred pool. The
continuous and melodious singing of hymns while devotees dipped in
the pool (said to have healing powers) added to the temple’s
immensely tangible spiritual vibe.
While I soaked up the tranquil atmosphere, Ernest, desperate for a
beer after three months without one, returned drunk, earning him a
reprimand from the monks and nearly got us expelled from the
dormitory. Urgh! How embarrassing.
Amritsar – Jalandhar - 78 km
In the company of other pilgrims, we ate our chapatti and dhal
breakfast with our fingers while sitting on the floor. Soon afterwards,
we continued our journey in a westerly direction towards Jalandhar. It
was a short and pleasant ride through lush green countryside, a sight
that never failed to inspire us.
Unlike in Pakistan or Iran, it was refreshing to see women confidently
riding scooters and bicycles, actively participating in daily life.
Generally, ladies wore the Shalwar Kameez, or sari, which added to
the colourful scenery.
The day's ride ended just outside Jalandhar, where our room felt like
an oven due to the stifling heat. Due to the frequent power cuts,
there was no air conditioning or fan to relieve the heat. These power
cuts occurred mainly in the afternoon and night, exactly when we
needed a fan the most. Phew!