TAKHT SRI PATNA SAHIB FACTS

Location: Patna, Bihar, India

Best time to Visit: Late September and March
Significance: The Birthplace Of Guru Govind Sahib, One of the Five Takhts.
Patna, ancient Patliputra, now capital of Bihar State is reverently called Patna
Sahib by the Sikhs because of its consecration by Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Tegh
Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. The latter was born here during Guru Tegh
Bahadur’s tour of eastern Bihar, Bengal and Assam from 1666 to 1670. Patna
Sahib is situated on the right bank of the River Ganges.
The Past
Takht Sri Patna Sahib is the second accepted and acknowledged Takht of
the Sikhs. It was 'Sher-e-Punjab' Maharaja Ranjit Singh who, first of all,
undertook the task of raising a monumental Sikh Temple at this place. As a result
of an earthquake, the celestial edifice came to be a heap of dust. With the co-
operation of the Sikh masses, the golden fabric, as it stands today, has come into
its own. Patna Sahib is regarded as the centre for propagating Sikhism in the
east.
How to Reach Takht Sri Patna Sahib
• Air: Patna being the capital city of Bihar has excellent air connection to many
important Indian cities like, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata.
• Rail: Patna is a key railway station in the Eastern Railway division in India.
Many important trains links the city to other significant railway stations all over
India, like Kolkata, Delhi, Varanasi, Siliguri (New Jalpaiguri).
• Road: An extensive road network links Patna to major cities and tourist
detonations within Bihar and neighboring states

NANDED
Location: 650-kms From Mumbai, On East-Central Part Of Maharashtra
Also Spelt As: Nander
Previously Known As: Nandigram
Main Attractions: Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded Fort

Nanded City forms a part of east central Maharashtra and lies along the Godavari
River. Nanded is situated 650-km away from Mumbai and 270-km from
Hyderabad. It is also spelt "Nander" and derives its name from "Nanda Tat"
("Nanda border"), a term that refers to the boundary of the Magadha kingdom
during the 7th century BC.
Nanded is also a district headquarter and second largest city in Marthawada after
Aurangabad. Latur and Parbhani districts surround Nanded on the west and
Yavatmal district on the north: the state of Andhra Pradesh lies to the east and
Karnataka State to the south.
Nanded was earlier known as "Nandigram". It is near about equi-distance from
some important cities like Aurangabad, Hydrabad, Solapur, and Nagpur.
Nanded is famous as center of Sanskrit learning and is important due to its
historical, social and political background. The tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind
Singhji held his court and congregation over here. This is the place where he
recovered after assassins that attacked him. A Sikh gurdwara was also built on
the same site. The Maharashtrian Heritage Nanded has a great cultural heritage.
It was the birthplace of three Maratha saint-poets - Vishnupant Shesa, Raghunath
Shesa, and Vaman Pandit. The Swami Ramanand Teertha Marathwada Vidyapeeth
was established in 1994 in Nanded.

The Government of Maharashtra is developing Nanded as a Holy City. An action

plan has been made for developing infrastructure and other facilities for the
convenience of pilgrims visiting the various Gurudwaras of Nanded, particularly
Gurudwara Sachkhand throughout the year. In ancient time it was a famous
center for teaching of Vedant studies, classical music, dramas, literature, and
arts. History In ancient period the district was included in Vidarbha region along
with the modern districts of Amravati, Akola, Buldana, Yavatmal and Parbhani. In
the same period under the rule of Bahamanis the district of Nanded formed part
of the province of Bidar and Telangana. It includes the towns and districts of
Bidar, Kandhar (Nanded district), Indur, Kaulas, Kotgir and Medak.
A part of Nanded district, north of the river Godavari and south of Penganga
formed part of the province of Bidar.

From the excavations in the neighboring district of Ahmednagar, it is suggested

that Nanded region be inhabited in the early Stone Age. With subsequent
migrations the region went through different rules formed by the rules of ancient
period (such as Satavahanas, Chalukyas of Badami, Rashtrakutas and Yadavas of
Devgiri), Mediaeval period (like Bahamanis, Nizam Shahis, the Mughals and
Marathas) and modern period (such as Nizams of Hyderabad and British).
Under the Mughals, Nanded district was roughly composed of two district viz.
Mahur and Nanded. Nanded was at that time the district headquarters. The
district was passed under the Nizams sovereignty. More than one third of the
district was Jagir area under the Nizams reign. The Nizams own estate was called
"Sarf-e-khas", which along with the other jagirs were merged with the
government area in 1949 under the Hyderabad Regulation, and the district
formed part of the Hyderabad State.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Nanded has a personality of its own due to its mythological, historical, social and
cultural importance. The river Godavari flows through the city. Temples and Ghats
on the banks of Godavari have made Nanded one of the holiest places for Hindus.

Takhat Sachkhand shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib: Takhat Sachkhand Shri

Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib is the main Gurudwara situated in Nanded. It is one of
the four High seats of Authority of the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th
and last Guru of the Sikhs who held his court and congregation here. He died in
Nanded, and his ashes are buried in the Sach Khand Shri Huzur Gurudwara on
the side of the river Godavari.
Maharaja Ranjit Singhji, the great Ruler of Punjab between 1830 to 1839 A.D,
built the Gurudwara. The Gurudwara houses the mortal remains of the 10th Guru
and number of weapons of various kinds are exhibited here. Also on display are
the swords of Maharaja Ranjit Singhji and other Sikh Generals.

Nanded Fort: located at a distance of about 4-km from the Nanded Railway
Station this dilapidated fort of Nanded is surrounded by Godavari River on three
sides. The fort has a good garden and water works.

Shrikshetran Mahurgad: Mahurgad is a pilgrim center of great significance,

which is located in Nanded district. Famous as the Third Shaktipeeth in
Maharashtra, Muhurgad is popularly known as Mahur.
About a mile and a half from the village there is the fort of Mahur, which stands
with majesty of its ramparts. It is built along the ridge of two hills, which run
parallel to each other, towards the south of the village, which lends a very
charming view and attracts the attention of the visitors form a long distance.
There are many temples in Mahur like Anusaya Temple, Kalika Temple and the
most important among them is the temple of Renuka Devi. It occupies a special
place in the Hindu pilgrimage

Renukadevi Temple At Mahur: Renuka Devi temple is situated on a hillock at a

distance of about 2.5-km away from the village of Mahur. It is believed that a
Yadava king of Devgiri about eight or nine constructed the temple hundred years
ago.

Parli Vaijnath at Parli: Vaijnath is located about 130-km from Nanded. There
are twelve Jyotirlingas, which are the most significant places of pilgrimage for
Hindus. Among them five happen to be in Maharashtra and Vaijnath is one of
them. Shiva has been worshipped in these places for centuries.

Hazrat Nawab Sarfaraz Khan Sahid Masjid: the Masjid known as the Hazrat
Nawab Sarfaraz Khan Sahid Masjid is said to have been constructed about 330
years back. Sarfaraz Khan was an officer in the army of Aurangzeb. The Masjid is
situated in Biloli Town, which is constructed out of a stone.

Unkeshvar: Unkeshvar is situated on the bank of river Penganga. The village is

famous for its hot water springs. It is situated at a distance of 19-km from
Ambadi, a railway station on Mudkhed - Adilabad railway route. At Unakdeva,
there is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva.

Kandhar: Kandhar Town in Nanded district is famous for its fort, which is situated
in the heart of town. Its construction is attributed to the Rashtrakuta King Krishna
III of Malkhed who styled himself as "Kandharpuradhi Swar". Encircling the fort is
a ditch filled with water.
The ruins of this majestic and historic fort are located at a distance of 50-km from
the Ranthambhore National Park.
Malegaon: Malegaon a small village in Loha Taluka is famous for a very big fair
held in honour of Lord Khandoba. This big fair namely " Malegaon Yatra " is held
yearly. Malegaon is situated at a distance of about 57-km from Nanded.

Hottal: Hottal is situated in Degloor Taluka. There is a very beautiful Temple

dedicated to Lord Siddheshwar, which is known for the characteristic Art of the
Chalukya Era. Hottal is 8-km away from Degloor.
HOW TO GET THERE
Nanded is mainly known as pilgrim center for Sikhs. The central bus stand and
Railway Station are at the heart of city. Tourist places located around Nanded are
easily approachable by State Transport buses as well as private travels starting
from Kalamandir.
Air: Considering development of the city, the national airport authority has
approved a plan for expansion of the airport. Aurangabad is a convenient airport
from where daily flights to Mumbai (40min) are operated by various domestic
airlines.
Rail: Nanded is having direct connectivity by train from Mumbai, Pune,
Bangalore, Delhi, Amritsar, Bhopal, Indore, Agra, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ajmer,
Aurangabad and Nashik.
Road: It is very easy to access Nanded by bus, State Transport or private Travels
is also very convenient because of large frequencies of buses. State Transport
Buses are available from Mumbai, Aurangabad, Pune, and Hyderabad to Nanded;
Distances from other cities: Mumbai is 650-km, Aurangabad is 265-km, and
Hyderabad is 270-km.
Local Transportation: One can conveniently go to any part of the city by shared
Auto Rickshaws (3 wheelers) and also by City Buses.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Maximu Minimu
Temperature Range (Deg °c)
m m
Summer: 45° C 29º C
Winter: 26° C 6° C
18° 15 ' to 19°
Latitude:
55'
Longitude: 77° to 78° 25'
Light Cotton
Clothing: and Woolen in
winter
STD Code: 07369/02462
2,75,083 (1991
Population:
Census)
Climate: Tropical
Average 897.8
Rainfall:
mm

NEARBY CITIES
Mudkhed:23-km
Ayudh:64-km
Parbani:59-km
Malegaon:57-km
Unkeshwar:52-k m

GURU KA TAL (AGRA)

Guru Ka Taal:
This place is said to be visited by four of the ten Sikh gurus so Gurudwara in Agra
have great importance in Sikh's community. Guru ka Taal is an important pilgrim
place for Sikhs and every year thousands of devotees congregate into the Agra
city. This splendid gurudwara is situated in the confines of Sikandra in Agra. It is
on the national highway at the entrance of the Agra City.
The gurudwara has been built over the stop where Guru Tegh Bahadur offered his
arrest to the Mughal king Aurangzeb. The splendid gurudwara which stands in the
precincts of Sikandra is due to the noble contributions and efforts of Sant Sadhu
Singh Mauni during 1970's. The place is an important pilgrim place for Sikhs and
every year thousands of devotees flock into the Agra city. For these people the
land out there is blessed.
History of Guru Ka Taal:
Guru Ka Taal in Agra was constructed in 1970s. Sant Sadhu Singh Mauni was the
person, whose contributions and laborious efforts completed this splendid
Gurudwara. The historical records disclosed that it was constructed at the site
where Guru Tegh Bahadur was kept arrested in Mughal emperor Aurangazeb
time.
Guru ka Taal was constructed by red stone and it is also reckoned in the
magnificent architecture in India. In last few years, its some buildings have been
refurbishment with good stones and marbles. It looks great at Gurpurnima night.
There is arranged a good fair for celebration of Guru Nanak Birth Day. Today,
there is arranged Langar (food for all Pilgrimage).
How can reach:
There are two ways to reach Guru Ka Taal. One is by Road and second is by Train.

By Road: Guru Ka Taal is situated at National Highway-2 (Delhi -Agra Highway).

It will be at Sikandra area, at the entrance of the Agra City.
By Train: it is near to Raja Ki Mandi Railway station. You can hire auto rickshaw
or taxi for Guru Ka Taal. It will take only Rs. 40 to 50 from Raja Ki Mandi railway
station. If you are coming from Agra Cant Railway station, there are prepaid taxi
or auto facilities to reach Guru Ka Taal.

AMRITSAR
General
The Golden Temple is considered holy by Sikhs because the eternal guru of
Sikhism, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, is always present inside it and its
construction was mainly intended to build a place of worship for men and women
from all walks of life and all religion to come and worship God equally.[1][4] The
Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the holiest literature in the Sikh religion,[4] the tenth
guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh, on 7 October 1708 at Nanded made it the
eternal Sikh Guru and the leader of Sikhism.[4] Anywhere in the world where the
Guru Granth Sahib is present is equally holy and precious to Sikhs. Amritsar is
the location of Harmandir Sahib.
History
Its name literally means Temple of God. The fourth guru of Sikhism, Guru Ram
Das, excavated a tank in 1577 AD which subsequently became known as Amritsar
(meaning "Pool of the Nectar of Immortality"),[5] giving its name to the city that
grew around it. In due course, a splendid Sikh edifice, Harmandir Sahib (meaning
"the abode of God"),[6] rose in the middle of this tank and became the supreme
centre of Sikhism. Its sanctum came to house the Adi Granth comprising
compositions of Sikh gurus and other saints considered to have Sikh values and
philosophies, e.g., Baba Farid, and Kabir. The compilation of the Adi Granth was
started by the fifth guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan Dev.
The Amritsar area
The city of Amritsar lies in Majha ,often called the cradle of Sikhism.Amritsar is
located in the Majha region of the Punjab. Majha is also known as the Bari Doab,
since it is the Doab (Do = two, ab = rivers) or the fluvial tract of land which lies
between two of the five great rivers of the province, the Ravi and the Beas. As
such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region, comprising Gurdaspur,
Batala and Tarn Taran Sahib, as well as Amritsar.
Construction of the Harmandir Sahib

The Harmandir Sahib at night

Dukh Bhanjani Beri & Ath Sath Tirath -

Originally built in 1574, the site of the temple was surrounded by a small lake in a
thin forest. The third of the six grand Mughals, Emperor Akbar, who visited the
third Sikh guru, Guru Amar Das, in the neighbouring town of Goindval, was so
impressed by the way of life in the town that he gave a jagir (the land and the
revenues of several villages in the vicinity) to the guru's daughter Bhani as a gift
on her marriage to Bhai Jetha, who later became the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram
Das. Guru Ram Das enlarged the lake and built a small township around it. The
town was named after Guru Ram Das as Guru Ka Chak, Chak Ram Das or Ram
Das Pura.
During the leadership of the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1581–1606), the full-
fledged Temple was built. In December 1588, the great Muslim Sufi saint of
Lahore, Hazrat Mian Mir, who was a close friend of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, initiated the
construction of the temple by laying the first foundation stone (December
1588 AD).[1][7] A mason then straightened the stone but Guru Arjan Dev told
him that, as he had undone the work just completed by the holy man, a disaster
might come to the Harmandir Sahib. It was later attacked by the Mughals.
The temple was completed in 1604. Guru Arjan Dev, installed the Guru Granth
Sahib in it and appointed Baba Buddha Ji as the first Granthi (reader) of it on
August 1604. In the mid-18th century it was attacked by the Afghans, by one of
Ahmed Shah Abdali's generals, Jahan Khan, and had to be substantially rebuilt in
the 1760s. However, in response a Sikh Army was sent to hunt down the Afghan
force. They were under orders to show no mercy and historical evidence suggests
the Sikh Army was decisively victorious in the ensuing battle. Both forces met
each other five miles outside Amritsar; Jahan Khan's army was destroyed.[8] He
himself was decapitated by commander Sardar Dayal Singh.[8]
The Harmandir Sahib Complex and areas in its vicinity

Map of the Harmandir Sahib

Wide-angle view of the Harmandir Sahib

The Harmandir Sahib's eastern entrance gate

The temple is surrounded by a large lake, known as the Sarovar, which consists of
Amrit ("holy water" or "immortal nectar"). There are four entrances to the
temple, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness; ostensibly, this
concept is reminiscent of the tent of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham, whose
tent was open on all four sides in order to be able to welcome travelers from all
directions. Inside the temple complex there are many shrines to past Sikh gurus,
saints and martyrs (see map). There are three holy trees (bers), each signifying a
historical event or Sikh saint. Inside the temple there are many memorial plaques
that commemorate past Sikh historical events, saints, martyrs and includes
commemorative inscriptions of all the Sikh soldiers who died fighting in World
Wars I and II.
In 1988, after Operation Black Thunder, the government acquired a narrow
peripheral strip of land (including buildings) in order to use their space as a
security buffer. The acquisition process involved the displacement and relocation
of a large number of residences and businesses. However, the project met with a
strong resistance from both moderate and militant Sikh organisations and had to
be abandoned following the murder of a senior government-employed engineer
connected with the project. The project was revived only in 1993 by the Deputy
Commissioner Karan Bir Singh Sidhu, who was also appointed as the project
director of what became popularly known as the Galliara Project. He changed the
concept of the periphery from that of a security belt to that of a second
parikarma and created a serene landscape that was fully consistent with the
ethereal beauty of the Harmandir Sahib. This was done in quiet consultation with
the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). Present-day pilgrims
can travel by foot in the Galliara; no vehicles are permitted.
In keeping with the rule observed at all Sikh temples (gurdwaras) worldwide, the
Harmandir Sahib is open to all persons regardless of their religion, colour, creed,
or sex. The only restrictions on the Harmandir Sahib's visitors concern their
behavior when entering and while visiting:
• Maintaining the purity of the sacred space and of one's body while in it:
• Upon entering the premises, removing one's shoes (leaving them off
for the duration of one's visit) and washing one's feet in the small pool
of water provided;
• Not drinking alcohol, eating meat, or smoking cigarettes or other
drugs while in the shrine
• Dressing appropriately:
• Wearing a head covering (a sign of respect) (the temple provides
head scarves for visitors who have not brought a suitable covering);
• Not wearing shoes (see above).
First-time visitors are advised to begin their visit at the information office
highlighted in the map and then proceed to the Central Sikh Museum near the
main entrance and clock tower.
Artwork and monument sculptures

North Entrance gate near Ath-sath Tirath (68 Sacred Places) (Point 15 on map)
Much of the present decorative gilding and marblework dates from the early 19th
century. All the gold and exquisite marble work were conducted under the
patronage of Hukam Singh Chimni and Emperor Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the
Sikh Empire of the Punjab. The Darshani Deorhi Arch stands at the beginning of
the causeway to the Harmandir Sahib; it is 202 feet (62 m) high and 21 feet (6
m) in width. The gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was begun by Emperor
Ranjit Singh and was finished in 1830. The Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of the Punjab)
was a major donor of wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with
much affection by the Punjabi people in general and the Sikh community in
particular. Maharaja Ranjit Singh also built two of the other most sacred temples
in Sikhism. This was because Maharaja Ranjit Singh had a deep love for the tenth
guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh. The other two most sacred temples in
Sikhism, which he built, are Takht Sri Patna Sahib (intiation or birth place of Guru
Gobind Singh) and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, the place of Guru Gobind Singh's Sikh
ascension into heaven.

Amritsar

Amritsar known for its Golden Temple, the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs,
welcomes you to come and spend a peaceful holiday with your loved ones.
Amritsar derived its name from the water pool (Pool of Nectar). Amritsar is the
most revered place of the Sikh Community. Once a dense forest, Amritsar was
sanctified by Guru Nanakji who blessed a local herd boy to preach the tenets of
Sikhism to his fellowmen; who grew up to be the first 'granthi' of the famous Har
Mandir Sahib or the Golden Temple that was constructed by Guru Arjan Devji in
the center of Amrit Sarovar.

Amritsar town is also known worldwide for the occurrence of massacre, in the
historic Jallianwala Bagh by the British General Dyer's. Today, Amritsar is not only
a historical or religious city, but also an industrial city with numerous small and
medium scale industries. Amritsar houses several Textile Industry, paint industry,
machine tools, rice, fan industry, etc., which place a significant role in the India
economy.

Sightseeing at Amritsar :

Golden Temple : Golden Temple is the most sacred temple of the Sikhs built by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The lower portion of the temple displays white marble
inlay work and the upper portion is embellished with copper coated over by gold
plate. Devotees from all sects of life irrespective of their cast and creed come
here to pay homage to the temple. The other attractions inside the shrine is the
Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikhs and the 24 hr running kitchen,
which feeds about 10,000 pilgrims every day, the kitchen is run on a voluntary
basis.

Jallianwal Bagh : Nearby is the Jallianwala Bagh (a memorial), where during the
British rule in India, General Dyer opened fire on innocent people causing a
massacre on 13th April 1919. The place is now a national monument. Its walls
bears the bullet marks of this tragedy.

Jallianwala Bagh Ram Bag : Ram Bag is a beautiful garden consisting of an

amazing palace called as the summer place of erstwhile Maharaja Ranjit Singh in
the city of Amritsar. The garden treasures 'Darshani Deorhi' a magnum opus, with
its outstanding architectural splendour. There is also a beautiful museum named
after Maharaja Ranjit Singh exhibiting unique oil paintings, miniatures, coins,
weapons and objects relating to the Sikh period.

Best Season to Visit : Through out the year. But the best time to visit Amritsar
is during the Guru Nanak Jayanti (Guru Purnima).

How to Reach :

Air : Amritsar is connected with domestic and international flights.

Rail : Amritsar is well connected by rail routes.

Road : You can reach Amritsar by road from all the nearby cities and places. It
has well defined roads.