About the Gurudwaras
Goindwal: About 45 kms away from Amritsar, popularly known as an axis of Sikhism since the place is associated with three Gurus, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan Dev. Located on the bank of River Beas the Goindwal Sahib gurudwara has a pond in which a devotee reaches with 84 steps purportedly to attain
salvation (moksha).
Guru Amar Das, the third Sikh Guru, who set up this place, stayed in Goindwal for 33 years where he
established a new centre for
preaching Sikhism. A Baoli (stepwell), paved with 84 steps was constructed there. Some devout believe that by reciting Japji Sahib, the divine Word revealed to Guru Nanak Dev at each of the 84 steps after taking a bath in the Baoli provides Moksha, liberation from 84,00,000 cycles of life of this world and unity with God (mukti). Goindwal is the place where Guru Amar Das met Guru Ram Das, the next Guru. Guru Arjan Dev was also born there on April 15, 1563
Tarn Taran: About 25 kms from Amritsar, the historic gurudwara here was founded by 5th Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, and it has the largest pond attached to any of the Sikh gurdwaras. In the 18th century, the town was
centre of activities of Baba Deep Singh and Baba Budha Singh who defied the Afghan invaders. Later Maharaja Ranjit Singh renovated the gurudwara.
Anandpur Sahib: About 70 kms from Chandigarh it is the place close to the Sutlej river where the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh founded “Khalsa” in 1699 to wage a war against the Mughals. Anandpur Sahib was founded in June 1665 by the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, who previously lived in Kiratpur, about 15 kms from here. After Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, was coronated here .
After the Golden Temple in Amritsar, this is the second holiest Sikh place and the gurudwara here is called Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib.
The town also has a massive “Viraasat-e-Khalsa” museum depicting the struggle of the Sikh gurus and
various high points of “Khalsa” achievements.
Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib: Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib is another historically important Sikh gurdwara located about 45 kms from Chandigarh. Also known as Sirhind, this place marks the 1710 conquest of the city by the Sikhs under the leadership of Banda Bahadur Bairagi who defeated the then Governor of Sirhind Wazir Khan. Wazir Khan had earlier walled to death two sons of Guru Gobind Singh ji. They were Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. In bereavement, Mata Gujari had also lost her life here.
At this site, Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh ji, the two younger sons of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh and their mother were kept in confinement by Wazir Khan.
About 25 kms from here the state government has built a memorial in the honour of Banda Bahadur at Chappar Chiri where he fought the battle against Wazir Khan.
How to Reach
As Goindwal Sahib and Tarn Taran fall close to Amritsar, the holy city of Golden Temple, one can visit both the shrines by road which fall within a distance of 45 kms from each other. For the other two gurdwaras in Anandpur Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib one would carve a separate circuit, maybe with Chandigarh as a base. n
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