The Harmandir Sahib, more commonly referred to as the “Golden Temple,” is one of India’s most famous attractions. Located in the city of Amritsar, the temple receives over a hundred thousand visitors per day—more than ten times that of the Taj Mahal—and is an absolute must-see for anyone looking to travel off the beaten path!

Originally built in 1574, the Golden Temple is made of 1500 kg of pure gold and is surrounded by an astonishing thirty-one million gallons of “holy water.” Despite its age, it is incredibly well-maintained, due in large part to an army of volunteers who wash its white exterior with milk each night. There is no cost to get inside, and surprisingly, no lines. Visitors may enter any of the four opposing gates between the hours of 6:00am and 2:00am by simply walking through a shallow pool of water intended to cleanse the feet and purify the soul.

Once inside, however, there are a few important rules to follow: You must remove your shoes and cover your head at all times. It is possible to check your shoes and borrow a bandana outside the temple, but I found it easier and less time-consuming to purchase one for 20 rupees (about thirty cents), and to stuff my shoes in my backpack for safe keeping. Also, while photographs are allowed, they may only be taken from the marble platform that surrounds the temple, never from the temple itself or the walkway that leads to it.

In addition to accommodating nearly forty-million tourists and spiritual seekers each year, temple volunteers also provide food to anyone seeking sustenance—no questions asked. Serving between sixty to eighty thousand people per day, volunteers of all ages fly through the cafeteria, zig-zagging between long lines of hungry visitors as chapati, a popular form of Indian bread, and dal, made predominantly of lentils, seem to fall from the sky and onto empty plates. The scale is mind-boggling and the experience is truly once-in-a-lifetime!

Also in Amritsar is the Lal Devi Temple, which was described as something like a McDonald’s play house for the spiritually inclined. Living up to its reputation, at first it seems a bit ridiculous as you climb through tunnels and wade ankle-deep through water, but it will inevitably win you over by the time you reach the end. As popular among Indian tourists as it is among foreigners, it is also not to be missed when visiting this holy city.