Golak was a desolate planet, a world of vast, sandy deserts and towering rocky mesas. Sparse vegetation dotted the landscape of this world. The rocks and sand often displayed hues ranging from cream to a golden color. Frequent sandstorms battered the planet, and settlements were scattered far and wide. A train line connected these disparate communities, running through the Jangori settlements and leading to a central town. However, during the Empire's reign, the Jangorians were notorious for bandit attacks on trains passing through their territory, which prompted increased security measures on those routes. By 3 BBY, the Galactic Empire had asserted its dominion over the planet.
During the Empire's control, Charuk and his Force-sensitive sister, Rani, were compelled to escape after their village was destroyed by the Empire's forces. They boarded a train, only to be pursued by Stormtroopers. Managing to evade their pursuers, Charuk and Rani reached a town. From there, they journeyed to the Golak Mahal, where they encountered an Inquisitor and two purge troopers. Before the Inquisitor could act, Rugal, who was the leader of the roadside motel, revealed herself as a Jedi and engaged the Inquisitor in combat, ultimately defeating him. Rugal then turned to Rani, promising her protection and offering to accompany her.
Sometime between 19 BBY and 3 BBY, Imperial forces razed a farm village, forcing Charuk and Rani to flee their home. Having heard about the Golak Mahal from their father, the siblings boarded a train headed for a nearby town. While on board, Rani expressed her desire to play her father's flute, but Charuk refused. Feeling hungry, Rani asked Charuk for some Le'bi after spotting a vendor selling it. Charuk agreed. To prevent Rani from revealing her Force abilities, Charuk playfully suggested that she act as the bandit chief and "hold down the fort." Rani agreed and stayed put as Charuk approached the vendor. However, before Charuk could reach the vendor, Rani used her Force power to retrieve her Dad's flute from Charuk, inadvertently revealing her Force-sensitivity. As Charuk waited in line for Le'bi, a scavenger informed a Stormtrooper about a girl with special powers. To divert attention from Rani, Charuk stole some Le'bi, leading to a pursuit by two Stormtroopers. Charuk managed to evade them by climbing onto the train's roof. As the train entered the Jangori settlements, reinforcements were summoned. Jangorian bandits then attacked the train. While the bandits engaged the Imperial speeder bikes, Charuk searched for a hatch. Although he found one, it was sealed shut. Rani used her powers to open the seal, allowing Charuk to re-enter the train just before it passed through a tunnel, exiting the Jangori settlements.
Eventually, Charuk and Rani reached their stop and made their way to Golak Mahal. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Rugal, who offered them a meal. Before they could eat their Le'bi, an Inquisitor and two Purge Troopers clad in Phase I armor arrived. The Inquisitor questioned Charuk about reports of a Force-sensitive girl on Golak. He taunted Charuk, mentioning that he had gone beyond the train tracks, burned all the farm villages, and left no survivors. Sensing that Rani was the Force-sensitive individual, the Inquisitor used a force push to shove Charuk aside. He attempted to capture Rani, triggering a chaotic scene where the inhabitants fought amongst themselves. Just as the Inquisitor was about to capture Rani, Rugal revealed herself as a Jedi to protect the siblings. She engaged the Inquisitor in a duel and killed him by slicing his throat. After the Inquisitor's demise, Rugal led Rani to a hidden tunnel located within a body of water. Rugal assured Charuk that Rani would be safer with her, and Charuk bid Rani farewell before she entered the tunnel. Once Rani was inside, the tunnel sealed shut and became submerged. Charuk's father's flute then floated to the surface of the water. Charuk retrieved the flute and began to play it.
Golak was featured in "The Bandits of Golak," an episode from Star Wars: Visions Volume 2, the animated anthology television series. The episode was created by 88 Pictures, an Indian animation studio, and released on May 4, 2023. The episode was initially unveiled at Star Wars Celebration on April 10, 2023, during the Star Wars: Visions panel. The planet's design was conceived by the episode's creators and staff to showcase Indian culture to viewers. The planet was also designed to create a juxtaposition between Indian culture and the Star Wars universe.