ISKCON Temple, Amritsar

The ISKCON temple in Amritsar is a centre of the Hare Krishna movement, devoted to Krishna and run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It offers a Vaishnava counterpoint to the city's better-known Sikh shrines, with daily worship built around chanting and devotional music.

The interior is brightly coloured, with murals of episodes from Hindu mythology on the walls and ceilings, carved decoration and flowers arranged around the altars. Kirtan is sung to the mridanga drum and harmonium, and during aarti lamps are lit and circled before the deities while bells ring and prayers are recited. Vegetarian prasadam, food first offered to the deities, is cooked by volunteers and shared with visitors.