The basic of the place Amritsar is still mysterious in the history. There are some legends that explain the existence of the pool of nectar (also called Amrit Kund). The History of Gurudwara Golden Temple in Amritsar can be traced in following steps of its growth.
Site of the Gurudwara
Originally the site of Golden Temple was a low-lying are filled with water in the centre (called Dukh bhanjani beri) and surrounded by a large number of shady trees in a jungle. The area formed a commercial link between India and Afghanistan, so it was visited by a number of traders. Still nobody talked about the pool before Sikh Gurus visited it.
Legends connected with the Sarovar (pool of nectar or tank)
Guru Amar Das Ji, third Guru of the Sikhs, discovered a herb to treat the ailment of Guru Angad Dev Ji, the second Guru of the Sikhs.
The story of Rajni, daughter of Rai Duni Chand has relatedness with Sarovar Sahib (tank). The story goes like this: Rajni was a devotee Sikh disciple of the Guru. One day her father brought some gifts for all three daughters. Other two daughters praised their father. Rajni said that the gifts were from God and their father was only a medium to deliver the gifts to them. Unfortunately, her father overheard the statement and in a fit of anger, he ordered her to marry a leper. She accepted her father's wish. She had to struggle stiff to sustain herself and her crippled husband. One day she laid the basket containing her husband near the pool of nectar and went for some work. In the meantime, her husband saw a black crow diving in the water and coming out metamorphose into white color. Spectacularly he watched all this and crawled towards the pool to take a dive. He became completely fine and handsome. The couple thanked God and went to their Guru to narrate the providential incident and seek his blessing. Guru Ram Das Ji found the place during his travels in the Majha region. He chose this place for founding a new Sikh centre. He was told by Guru Amar Das Ji to acomplish the plan for the construction of a Sikh Pilgrim Centre. Some experienced elders were told to assist Guru Ram Das. A large number of Sikh devotees came ahead for voluntary service.
Construction Work
Some cabin were constructed.
Excavation of the tank (Santokhsar) started.
After finishing of a part of the project, Bhai Jetha went to Goindwal to report regarding the progress of the work, he was told to dig another tank at the low level area near the site of the tank.Guru Ram Das Ji situated the site for the second tank. It was amidst a large number of Ber (Jujube) trees. This tank came to be known as 'Amrit Sarovar'.
Along with the construction work, Guru Ji called a number of persons belonging to various tribes and occupations to settle near the tank. Like this a whole new village came up. There was a market to supply essential commodities to the settlers. For drinking water some wells were dug. Each and every care was taken to help the immigrants.
Soon after the acomplish of the project, the pool of nectar and the Temple were recognized as places of religious significance. The project was executed under supervision of Guru Arjan Dev assisted by Baba Budha, Bhai Gurdas and some other prominent Sikhs.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled Guru Granth Sahib (holy book of Sikhs) and the original book was installed in the premises of the Temple.
Installation of Sacred Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Arjan Dev Ji prepared Guru Granth Sahib (holy book of Sikhs) in A.D. 1563-1606. Its first copy was calligraphed by Bhai Gurdas. Guru Granth Sahib include Guru Bani (precious words spoken by Guru). These verses or Guru Bani are highly respect deeply by the Sikhs. Even the Gurus revered Guru Bani and treated it as the verse of God. To make the fountain of motivation flow unobstructed and throughout the ages hence forth, Guru Arjan Dev Ji desired to pen down all the sacred principles and beliefs connected with Sikhism. He called Bhai Gurdas and told him to gather compositions of the Gurus as well as of some of the saints and Sufis. 
Bhai Gurdas went Goindwal fetch the pothis of hymns chanted by Guru Amar Das. A collection of hymns resided with Baba Mohan, son of Guru Amar Das. At his refusal to hand over the manuscripts, Guru Arjan Dev Ji went himself and sat in the street below Mohan's attic performing on his tambura. Baba Mohan came downstairs and gifted the pothis to Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In the Gurbilas it is mentioned that the pothis were carried in a bejeweled palanquin and Guru Arjan Dev Ji walked behind barefoot considering the pothis the spirit of Gurus (his four predecessors). At Khadur Sahib, Hargobind (son of Guru Arjan) joined him and they continued their journey towards Amritsar led by musicians, with flutes and drums.The compilation of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib was very hard task. The material used in compilation was the compositions of four Gurus preceding Guru Arjan Dev Ji, his own compositions, songs and hymns by differnt Hindu and Muslim saints. The material was then arranged in thirty various ragas (musical patterns). The compositions were arranged in symmetry. First place was given to sabads (in the order of the succession of the Gurus), then chhands, vars, and other poetic forms in a set order. All the compositions were written in Gurmukhi script.
The Granth with 7,000 hymns comprising compositions of the first five Sikhs Gurus and fifteen Bhaktas (devotees) and sufis from all over India, involing Sheikh Farid, Kabir and Ravidas came into existence. The place where the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib took place is now known as Ramsar.
To get the book bound, Guru Arjan Dev Ji ordered Bhai Banno, a dedicated Sikh who lived in Mangat, to go to Lahore. Banno thought to have another copy of Guru Granth Sahib for then followers who visit the Gurudwara (sangat). So, while their journey to Lahore, his companions begin transcribing the holy text. Till they arrived Lahore, a second copy was ready. He got both the copies bound and returned to Amritsar. Here Guru Arjan Dev told the Sikhs to equal the Granth with the Guru:
"Agya Bahi Akal ki, Tabhe chalayo Panth,
Sab Sikhan ko Hukum Hai Guru Manyo Granth
Guru Granth ji manyo pragat Guran ki deh
Jo Prabh ko milbo chahe Khoj sabad mein Leh"
Architecture of Gurudwara
Archaeological Survey conducted by the Government of Punjab revealed that the design of the Golden Temple after its rebuilding by Maharaja Ranjit Singh was supposedly borrowed from the shrine of Saint Mian Mir, near Lahore.
The Golden Temple was construct at a lower level. This was one of the distinguishing features of the Temple. The main area of Gurudwara lies in the midst of the holy pool of 150 meters square area. A 60 meters causeway is situated on the western slide of the pool. The causeway is decorated with marble and has pretty lamps on both the sides. The floor of Golden Temple has marble tiling whereas the ceiling is bedecked with intricate inlay work. As you enter you see Guru Granth Sahib on a lower platform under a dazzlingly beautiful canopy (Chandani Sahib).
Shish Mahal or Mirror Room is constructed on the second storey. It is gilded with mirrors and has intricate work of diverse patterns. It is designed in such a way that there is a square opening in the centre to see from there the ground floor. One more reason for having the area opened is to avoid stepping over Guru Granth Sahib. If you are on the second floor, and the sacred book is on the first floor, you should not step over the place where underneath Guru Granth Sahib is placed. If this is done, it is called sacrilege (beadabi of Guru Granth Sahib).
Above the Shish Mahal is a golden dome along with few miniature domes. The mural work in the Temple is characterized by floral patterns interspersed with animal motifs. The gates called Darshani Deorhi exhibit ivory inlay work. The gates are made of Sheesham wood.
Views of eminent persons and historians:
Louis Rousselet called it as a "handsome style of architecture".
Major Cole called it " an adaptation of Mohammedan styles, flavored with a good deal of Hindu tradition".
Rituals of Golden Temple
Golden Temple has fixed Rituals for a day. The day at Amritsar begins very early in the morning at around three o'clock. This pre dawn time is called Amritvela. The inhabitants of the city indulge in the routine action of bathing and getting ready to pay homage to The Golden Temple also called Darbar Sahib. Devotee Sikhs visit this shrine covering the distance on foot. After reaching Golden Temple they take off their shoes and hand them over to the persons performing service (seva) in the Joda Ghar (place to keep footwear before entering the Gurudwara premises). Then they purchase garlands of flowers or Batashe (a kind of sweet offering in the Temple). Cleaning their feet in a trough of running water they enter the Temple premises.
Descending the steps the visitors reach the place where Golden Temple stands as a symbol of Sikh faith and devoutness. Visitors bend down and touch their foreheads with the marble floor in reverence to the holy Shrine. As it is customary, they turn left for circumambulation of the Sarovar.
Along the marble path around the Sarovar, there is Dukh Bhanjani Beri (tree under which Rajni's husband got cured). The visit to the Temple is incomplete without taking a dive in the sacred pool. So, people take a dive at this spot in a hope that their pains and trouble swill shed off.
Palki Sahib's decoration for bringing Shri Guru Granth Sahib
Early in the morning, a palanquin (Palki) gilded with gold and silver is poised for bringing Shri Guru Granth Sahib from the Akal Takht. Fresh silk brocade, coverings and cushions are laid in the Palki. Then scented rose water is sprinkled. The head priest (head Granthi) appears with Guru Granth Sahib Ji on a cushion on his head and the worshippers bow their heads. He places Granth Sahib Ji on the cushions of Palki Sahib. Hymns accompanied with drums, nagaras fill the air with rhythm, music and piousness. There are so many people even at this time of the day that there is not enough place to stand properly. Within half an hour the worshippers reach the Darshani Deorhi along with Shri Guru Granth sahib. The head priest reverently carries Guru Granth Sahib in the inner chamber.
Parkash Ceremony
Guru Granth Sahib is placed underneath a velvet canopy (Chandani Sahib) gilded with the silver and gold on velvet cushions and silks laid on Manji Sahib. Very ceremoniously the head priest opens Shri Guru Granth Sahib. The worshippers (sangat) stand silently to listen the vaaq (message of the Lord) for the day.
Then recitation of compositions of Guru Granth Sahib starts with Asa Di War, followed by Ardas. Whole Day shabad and kirtans are performed by ragis in succession. A lot of visitors visit Gurudwara with the proceeding of the day.
A few people sit to listen to the hymns, other occupy themselves with the seva performed in the langar hall (kitchen of the Temple) or at Joda Ghar.
Evening time for Rahras Sahib and Aarti
In the evening Rahras Sahib Path (prayer) is performed. Then Aarti, Kirtan Sohila path concluding with Ardas at night ends the daily temple services. Just as Guru Granth Sahib is brought in the Temple, it is taken back to Akal Takht with same ceremony.
Around Golden Temple
There are several places to be visited around Golden Temple in Amritsar. A visit to the holy shrine of Golden Temple is incomplete without a visit to these places. About Golden Temple provides a list of these places for your help:
Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Guru, creation of Akal Takht in 1609. The weapons used by Guru Hargobind Ji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh and other Sikh heroes are preserved at Akal Takht.
Baba Atal is built in memory of Atal Rai Ji. Atal Rai was the son of Guru Hargobind Ji. He died at a very early stage (when he was nine).
Guru Ka Langar is a place where food (Langar) is poised. The service is offered 24 hours a day to all visitors without any distinction on the basis of caste, creed, religion or nationality.
Shri Guru Ram Das Niwas is a place for accommodation of the visitors. 230 rooms and 19 big halls constructed by the Gurudwara Committee. The facilities of bedding, fans, cots are provided free of cost. The visitors are not allowed to stay for more than three days.
Guru Nanak Niwas has 66 rooms including 24 rooms with baths. On every floor there are 12 bathrooms.
Akal Takht Rest House has 26 rooms with double beds with attached bathrooms on affordable rent.
Family related ceremonies :
Akhand Path
Akhand Path is performed on all occasions be it joyous or sad. It is a non-stop reading of the sacred Book Guru Granth Sahib. At the conclusion (Bhog), Karah Parsad is offered.
Gurupurbs
The birth and deaths of Gurus are celebrated as Gurupurbs. First installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden Temple by Guru Arjan Dev, Birth of Guru Nanak (traditionally celebrated in November), Birth of Guru Gobind Singh, Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Martyrdom of The Sahibzadas (the sons of Guru Gobind Singh) are celebrated with great zeal in Golden Temple.
Hola Mohalla
Hola Mohalla falls on the Holi Festival of the Hindus. Military exercises swordsmanship and horse riding like are displayed by Nihang Singhs. Varied competitions of Poetry and Music are held to celebrate this day.
Baisakhi
On Baisakhi Day, Guru Gobind Guru accrued thousands of people at Anandpur Sahib to found the Khalsa order by baptizing 5 brave Sikhs who were willing to give their life for the Guru. This day is celebrated as birthday of Khalsa.
Nam Karan Ceremony (Naming of a Child)
After a few days of the birth of the child, child and the mother are taken to Gurudwara to seek blessings and for (Naam Karan) naming ceremony of the child. Karah Prashad is poised and distributed by the family. The mother and the infant are given Amrit. From the first letter of the Hukamnaama (Lord's message) the child's name is chosen.
Funeral Ceremony
In Sikhism, display of grief over death is discouraged. After the death, the body is bathed and clothed by family members. Before taking the body to the cremation grounds, it is taken to the Gurudwara, to pay the last homage but it is not taken inside the premises. During the cremation process Kirtan Sohila is recited followed by Ardas. The ashes are disposed of in the river For Ten days Guru Granth Sahib is read at home or in the Gurudwara.
Other ceremonies
Amrit Sanskar, Baptism, Amrit Chakna
To become a Khalsa Sikh, one participates in the holy ceremony. After becoming Khalsa Sikh one has to recite the hymns of Japji, Jaap, Ten Sawayyas, Bainti Chaupai and 6 verses from Anand Sahib.
Sangrand
It marks the starting of a new month. At the Gurudwara, portions of Bara Maha, Song of the 12 Months are read.
Maghi
In the memory of the martyrdom of the Forty Immortals, Maghi is celebrated. Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed them salvation and cremated them at Muktsar.
