A Gurdwara is the place of worship for Sikhs. Gurdwara means "The House of the Guru". There are many things that make a Gurdwara special and unique. Usually Sikhs would visit the Gurdwara every day.
Usually a Gurdwara has four doors to show that is open to people from all four points of the compass and people from all castes are equally welcome. Outside the Gurdwara they fly the Sikh flag. It is yellow/orange and has The Khanda (the Sikh symbol) in the middle. When you enter the Gurdwara you must remove your shoes and any dirty feet must be washed. Then you should cover your head and any person carrying cigarettes, alcohol or other intoxicants, any consumption is strictly forbidden.
When you enter the Gurdwara, there is a large dining hall. People from the community come here to eat and drink. The Sikhs prepare a special meal called the Langar. It is a communal, vegetarian meal which is shared during a service. People cook the food voluntarily.
Just before you enter the Prayer Hall, you should remove your shoes and place them on the rack. Then you should cover your head. This is a sign of respect to God. In the Prayer Hall, there is a red carpeted floor, a stage and a raised platform where the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy book) is placed. The stage is where music is performed. Everyone sits on the floor to show equality. The Prayer Hall is where worship and services take place. During services, a sweet holy food called prashad is distributed. The services include sermons, ballads, religious poems and Kirtan (hymns with music).
FUN FACT: To cook the Langar they use a huge pan and a spoon at least a METRE long!!
Some of this information was found from a website that provides you with a virtual tour of a Gurdwara. The website address is provided below:
http://www.kirklees-ednet.org.uk/subjects/re/faiths/sikhism/gurdwara/index.htm
