Historical Gurdwaras

Gurdwaras are Sikh places of worship. The word Gurdwara means "doorway to the guru". Many gurdwaras are associated with significant events in Sikh history.

Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar, Punjab)

• Harmandir Sahib is the most important religious center for the Sikhs.
• It has doors in all four directions indicating that it is open to all people.
• Built by Guru Arjan Dev.
• It is called the Golden Temple because of the gold plating on it.
• Harmandir Sahib is also called Darbar Sahib.

The Akal Takhat (Amritsar, Punjab)

• Faces the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
• The Akal Takhat is the highest seat of justice for Sikhs.
• Founded by Guru Hargobind.
• The Guru used to address all important gatherings - religious, social and political - from the Akal Takhat.
• One of the five Sikh takhats (seats of authority).

Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib, Punjab)

• Located where Guru Gobind Singh set up the Khalsa on Vaisakhi in 1699.
• One of the five Sikh takhats (seats of authority).
• Some of the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh are displayed here.
• The annual Sikh festival of Holla Mohalla is celebrated here.

Patna Sahib (Bihar)

• Commemorates the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh.
• Also known as Harmandir Sahib.
• One of the five Sikh takhats (seats of authority).
• Built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Patna was also honored by visits from Guru Nanak as well as Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Hazur Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra)

• Located where Guru Gobind Singh died in 1708.
• One of the five Sikh takhats (seats of authority).
• Built over the place where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated.
• Some of the sacred relics of Guru Gobind Singh are preserved here.

Damdama Sahib (Sabo ki Talwandi, Punjab)

• Guru Gobind Singh stayed here for nearly a year and prepared the revised and authentic version of the Guru Granth Sahib.
• The hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru, were added into the Guru Granth Sahib at this location.
• One of the five Sikh takhats (seats of authority).

Sri Nankana Sahib

• Birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev.
• The town of Nankana Sahib was originally known as Talwandi.
• Located in present-day Pakistan.
• Thousands of Sikhs go on a pilgrimage there every year.

Bangla Sahib (New Delhi)

• Dedicated to the memory of Guru Harkrishan who stayed at this place during his travel in Delhi.
• While Guru Harkrishan was staying here, smallpox and cholera broke out in the city. The Guru gave water from a well to the sick. Now a sarovar at this Gurdwara stands whose water is believed to have curative powers.

Sis Ganj Sahib (New Delhi)

• The Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is built at the site in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi, where Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.

Rakab Ganj Sahib (New Delhi)

• Situated where the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur was cremated after he was martyred at Sis Ganj.
• Lakhi Shah Vanjara, a disciple of Guru Tegh Bahadur, burnt his own house to cremate the body of the Guru.

Shaheed Ganj Baba Deep Singh (Amritsar, Punjab)

• Situated where Shaheed Baba Deep Singh was wounded while fighting to protect the Golden Temple from the Moguls.
• This gurdwara is also known as Gurdwara Shaheedan. It is located about 1.2 km from the Golden Temple.