Guru Amardas Sahib, the Third Nanak was born at village Basarke Gillan in Amritsar district on Vaisakh Sudi 14th, (8th Jeth), Samvat 1536 (5th May 1479). (Some chronicles mention the month of April 1479). His father Tej Bhan Bhalla and mother Bakht Kaur (also reffered as Sulakhani and Lakhmi Devi) were orhtodox Hindus and used to pay annual visits to the Ganges river at Haridwar. Guru Amadas Sahib was married to Mata Mansa Devi ji and had four childern: two daughters; Bibi Dani ji and Bibi Bhani ji (she was married to Guru Ramdass Sahib), and two sons; Mohan ji and Mohri ji.
 Once Guru Amardas Sahib heard some hyms of Guru Nanak Sahib from Bibi Amro Ji, the daughter of Guru Angad Sahib. He became too much impressed and immediately went to see Guru Angad Sahib at Khadur Sahib. Under the impact of the teachings of Guru Angad Sahib, Guru Amardas Sahib adopted him as his spiritual guide (Guru). Then he started living at Khadur Sahib. He used to rise early in the morning, bring water from the Bias River for Guru's bath and fetch wood from the Jungle for 'Guru ka Langar'.
 Guru Angad Sahib appointed Guru Amardas Sahib as third Nanak in March 1552 at the age of 73. This was a result of his services and devotion to Guru Angad Sahib and his teachings. He established his headquarters at newly built town Goindwal. There he propagated the Sikh faith in a very planned manner. He divided the Sikh Sangat area into 22 preaching centres. (Manjis), each under the charge of a devout Sikh. He himself visited and sent Sikh missionaries to different parts of India to spread Sikhism.
 He strengthened the tradition of 'Guru ka Langer' and made it compulsory for the visitor to the Guru saying that 'Pehle Pangat Phir Sangat'. Once the emperor Akbar came to see Guru Sahib and he had to eat the coarse rice in the Langar before he could have an interview with Guru Sahib. He was too much impressed from this system and expressed his desire to grant some royal property for 'Guru ka Langar', but Guru Sahib declined it with respect. Guru Amardas Sahib persuaded Akbar to waive off toll-tax (pilgrim's tax) for non-Muslims while crossing Yamuna and Ganga, Akbar did so. Guru Amardas Sahib maintained cordial relations with emperor Akbar.
 He preached against Sati and advocated widow-remarriage. He asked the women to discard 'Purdah' (veil). He introduced new birth, marriage and death ceremonies. Thus he created a fence around the infant like Sikhism and there upon met stiff resistance from the Orthodox Hindus and Muslim fundamentalists. He fixed three Gurpurbs for Sikh celebrations: Dewali, Vaisakhi and Maghi. Visiting of Hindu pilgrimage centres and paying tributes to the Muslim places were prohibited.
 Guru Amardas Sahib constructed Baoli at Goindwal Sahib having eighty-four steps and made it a Sikh pilgrimage centre for the first time in the history of Sikhism. He reproduced more copies of the hymns of Guru Nanak Sahib and Guru Angad Sahib. He also composed 869 (according to some chronicles these were 709) verses (stanzas) including Anand Sahib, and Guru Arjan Sahib made all the Shabads part of Guru Granth Sahib.
 Guru Amardas Sahib did not consider anyone of his sons fit for Guruship and chose instead his son-in law (Guru) Ramdas Sahib to succeed him. Certainly it was practically a right step not as emotional, because Bibi Bhani ji and Guru Ramdas Sahib had true sprit of service and their keen understanding of the Sikh principles deserved this. This practice shows that Guruship could be transferred to any body fit for the Sikh cause and not to the particular person who belonged to the same family or of other. Guru Amardas Sahib at the ripe age of 95 passed away for heaven on Bhadon Sudi 14th, (1st Assu) Samvat 1631, (September 1, 1574) at Goindwal Sahib near District Amritsar, after giving responsibility of Guruship to the Fourth Nanak, Guru Ramdas Sahib.
 This was the first center of Sikhism and was established by Guru Amar Das. The Hindus went on pilgrimage to Hardwar and Benaras but the Sikhs needed a place of their own. Understanding this Guru Amar Das purchased the land and personally helped in the construction of the Gurdwara and Baoli (well) with 84 steps leading down to it. Guru Amar Das said that whoever recited the entire Japji prayer of Guru Nanak on each of the 84 steps with a pure heart before bathing in the Baoli would receive spiritual emancipation.
Goindwal is situated at a distance of 30 km south-east of Amritsar city. Here, are two historic Gurdwaras, associated with the third Guru Sri Amar Das. He provided a place of pilgrimage, alternative to Hardwar and Benaras, where God alone was to be worshipped. He planned to construct a 'Baoli'-a well with descending steps, in Goindwal. He purchased some land and laid the foundation of the 'Baoli' with due religious ceremonies. His devoted Sikhs joined in the work on self-help basis and many willingly came forward to provide food for the volunteers engaged in the digging operation. The Baoli had eighty-four steps. The Guru decreed that whoever should attentively repeat Japji on every step, should escape from the travail of wandering through eighty four lakhs births and rebirths.
 Thus the Baoli at Goindwal Sahib, became an object of pilgrimage to Hindus as well as Sikhs. This Gurudwara is considered the first great Sikh center of pilgrimage. The entrance to the Baoli has been artistically decorated. There is a row of frescoes, depicting scenes from Sikh history. A dip in the Baoli is considered most holy. Adjoining the Baoli, a magnificent Gurudwara has been built. Besides, there is 'Langar' the famous community kitchen of Guru Amar Das, where each visitor is offered food free of cost. It has been recorded by a Sikh historian that Emperor Akbar also took meal in the Langar, before meeting the Guru.
 Devotees bathing in Baoli Sahib
 A Baoli is a staircase leading to water. The Baoli Sahib was contructed by Guru Amar Das Ji after Sikhs were prevented from fetching water from a local source. The digging started in 1556 and completed in 1559. The Baoli Sahib was completed with 84 steps
 Gurdwara Chaubara Sahib, Goindwal, Dist. Amritsar
 
 This was the family home of Guru Amar Das who founded the town of Goindwal and settled down here upon becoming Guru on the advice of Guru Angad Dev. In this same house Guru Ram Das was installed as Guru in 1574 and Guru Arjan Dev was born here in 1563. Guru Amar Das left this world here in 1574 and Guru Ram Das left this world here in 1581.
 
 Gurdwara San Sahib, Basarke, Dist. Amritsar
 
 Guru Amar Das was forced to leave Goindwal by Datu the son of Guru Angad who was jealous at not being named the Guru by his father. Datu told Guru Amar Das to leave Goindwal, and being the humble person that he was, Guru Amar Das returned to his family village of Basarke. Here the Guru shut himself up in a small hut with a note on the door, 'He who opens this door is no Sikh of mine, nor am I his Guru.' When a delegation of Sikhs lead by Baba Buddha finally found the hut they were perplexed as what to do. Finally they decided to make a hole in the wall so as not to go against the Gurus injunction. Once inside they pleaded with the Guru to return to Goindwal as only he was their true beloved Guru and the Sikhs could not live without him. Guru Amar Das finally relented and returned with the Sikhs. The hole in the wall is still preserved today inside the Gurdwara.
 Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, Goindwal, Dist. Amritsar
 This was the first center of Sikhism and was established by Guru Amar Das. The Hindus went on pilgrimage to Hardwar and Benaras but the Sikhs needed a place of their own. Understanding this Guru Amar Das purchased the land and personally helped in the construction of the Gurdwara and Baoli (well) with 84 steps leading down to it. Guru Amar Das said that whoever recited the entire Japji prayer of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on each of the 84 steps with a pure heart before bathing in the Baoli would receive spiritual emancipation.