Anandpur Sahib

State

Anandpur Sahib, known as "the holy City of Bliss", is a holy and sacred city for the Sikhs. It is the birthplace of the Khalsa and is one of the 4 seats of authority of the Sikh religion and has about 40 Gurudwaras within the city. It is located on the lower spurs of the Himalayas surrounded by picturesque natural scenery, with the river Sutlej forming a shimmering and shiny blue border on the south west barely four miles away.

Image Credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasleen_kaur/2385693929/

History

Anandpur Sahib was founded in the year 1665 by the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, near the ruins of an ancient place, Makhowal. On May 13, 1665, Guru Tegh Bahadur went to Bilaspur to attend the mourning for Raja Dip Chand of Bilaspur State. The Dowager Rani Champa of Bilaspur offered to give the Guru a piece of land in her state. The Guru bought the site on payment of five hundred rupees. The land consisted of the villages of Lodhipur, Mianpur and Sahota. Here on the mound of Makhowal, Guru Tegh Bahadur raised a new habitation. The ground was broken on 19 June 1665, by Baba Gurditta Randhawa. The new village was named Chakk Nanaki after the Guru's mother, Nanaki. The place later came to be known as Anandpur Sahib.

Accessibility

Air: Nearest Airport at Chandigarh (75km away)

Rail: Nearest railhead at Nangal. The Delhi-Una Himachal Express is a direct and very convenient train from Delhi to Anandpur Sahib. Another convenient option is to come from Delhi to Chandigarh by Hawrah-Kalka Mail, Shatabdi Express/Himalayan Queen and then to travel from there to Anandpur Sahib by road a distance of 85 kms.

Road: There are ample buses plying at regular intervals from Delhi and Chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib. All buses going to Una in Himachal Pradesh pass through Anandpur Sahib.

Accommodation

There are very good Sarais (Inns) available to house visiting pilgrims. Hotel accommodation at Anandpur Sahib is not ready so far. However, Kissan Haveli is a good place for overnight stay.

For further information you may contact the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation at :
Tel.Nos- 0172-781138, 781147, 781179, 781091, 548828 (Fax)

Attractions

Hola Mohalla: Anandpur Sahib comes to life every year on the occasion of Hola Mohalla. This tradition dates back to the times of the 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Guru decided that the occasion of the festival of Holi, fun and frolic and colour splashing, be the occasion for the display of the martial spirit of his people and he gave this festival of Holi a more masculine name of Hola Mohalla. Each year Hola Mohalla marks the congregation of lacs of devotees from all over the country for a festival of colour and gaiety.

Baisakhi 1999 at Anandpur Sahib had been significant as it marked the completion of 300 years of the Birth of the Khalsa. It was on Baisakhi day in 1699 that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji baptised the 'Panj Pyaras' at Anaandpur Sahib at the place where Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib stands.

District
Rupnagar
STD Code
01887
Best time to visit
September to March
Famous For
One of the holiest Sikh Shrines