Akal Takhat (ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ) (31.6206°n 74.8754°e) means the Throne of the Immortal and is the highest political institution of the Sikhs. "Akal" means "The Timeless One" - another term for God. "Takhat" means "throne".

Sri Akal Takhat was founded by Sri Guru Hargobind Ji on June 15, 1606 (now celebrated on 2 July) and was established as the place from which the spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikh community could be acted upon.

Baba Budha Ji and Bhai Gurdas raised this celestial fabric with their unctuous hands. Politics and religion, designated as they are as miri-piri, bhagati-shakti, symbolise the divine seance of the dyad. Sri Akal Takht has gone a long way in promoting the sentiment of self-respect, freedom in relation to original Gurmat ideas and dauntlessness of the being in any situation. To be sure, the Almighty God 'Himself' has established this divine Takht so that one man may not strive to enslave another in the name of caste or religion; country or race, and each man may have the option to lead his life according as his own point of view is.

History testifies to the fact that for the realisation of this goal, the struggle as it was launched right from the eighteenth century under the guidance of Sri Akal Takht continues unabated to this day. Whenever and wherever human freedom and self-respect were at stake, the Gursikhs sought inspiration from Sri Akal Takht. Rightly enough, they bore in mind and upheld the sentiments of a righteous dharma. Echoes of high-spiritedness of the Khalsa and the slogan: 'The Khalsa shall rule...' rise from within Sri Akal Takht and resonate in the sky. From time to time, this very resonance has been striking a terror and shaking the powers that be in their shoes. Indubitably, with a view to crushing the Holy of the Holies Sri Akal Takht, its ideals and sentiments, every possible mean has been adopted but bootless. Strangely enough, governments have been devoured by the time with a careless gesture. Not a trace is left behind.

On the other hand, the saffron flag of Sri Akal Takht has been ever hoisting and touching skyey heights. Every Gursikh prays to the Almighty for the safety of the khalsa Panth and upholds its lofty ideas. His guardian is Sri Akal Takht Sahib. It is for this reason that any commandment issued from Sri Akal Takht Sahib is welcomed by every Gursikh.