One day in Mumbai isn’t enough obviously, but this tour is four weeks long and in order to fit a very varied itinerary into that time, this is what the tour company considers the right balance.
So on day three we’re already at the airport moving on to our next destination, which is about 1600km north of Mumbai. It’s a two hour flight, on a slightly older aircraft than we usually experience these days (cloth covered seats and antimacassars) but with a proper food service for everyone – and excellent tea!!
Before midday we touch down in Amritsar and are on our way to our next hotel. After our first Western lunch (cheese toastie and chicken burger) we take a walk round the neighbouring shopping centre – not that we need anything and our baggage allowance absolutely prohibits any unauthorised purchasing, unless we throw stuff away!
Then it’s an hour by the pool reading, shower and dress – but not for dinner, tonight it’s for respect – we meet Narendra and jump in a Tuk-Tuk which drives us the 4km back into town, an experience in its own right.
Our destination is the Golden Temple of Amritsar, which is best compared to Mecca or the Vatican – the pre-eminent spiritual site for Sikhism in the world. Funded by the C15 omnist king of the region – he gave a tonne of gold to each of the three local religions. The building was completed in 1577 and has been a site of pilgrimage since then.
Tomorrow we will return to look at another incredible aspect of this temple, but tonight we concentrate on the spirituality and beauty of this place, walking around the sarovar – holy lake – where pilgrims are allowed to take a dip.
Later we invite Narendra to join us for dinner which becomes a fascinating conversation and an insight into our next few weeks with him.
