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Temples
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Ram Tirth, Amritsar
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| Location
11 Kilometres west of Amritsar on Chogawan road, dates back to the period of Ramayana,
Rishi Balmiki's hermitage. The place has an ancient tank and many temples. A hut
marks the site where Mata Sita gave birth to Luv & Kush and also, still extant
are Rishi Balmiki's hut and the well with stairs where Mata Sita used to take
her bath. The Bedis of Punjab (Guru Nanak Dev ji, the founder Prophet of Sikhism
was a Bedi) trace their descent from Kush and Sodhis (the 10th Prophet of Sikhism,
Guru Gibind Singh ji was a Sodhi) from Luv. A four day fair, since times immemorial
is held here starting on the full moon night in November.
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| Durgiana
Mandir, Amritsar : ( Lakshmi Narain Temple ) |
| Built
in the third decade of the 20th Century it echoes, not the traditional Hindu temple
architecture, but that of the Golden temple and, in a similar manner rises from
the midst of a tank and has canopies and the central dome in the style of the
Sikh temple. Its foundation stone was laid by one of the greatest reformers and
political leaders of resurgent India, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. It is a well-known
repository of Hindu scriptures.
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Shiv Mandhir, Gur-mandi,
Jalandhar |
| The
Mandir dates back of the Lodhi Era. It is said that the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi,
in whose territory the city of Jalandhar then fell hadeyed a newly married Hindu
girl whom he had wanted to make an object of his lust. She was the devotee of
lord Shiva whose serpent saved her honour. Awed by the appearance of this serpent
he had begged pardon from the girl and on her bidding he had got this temple built.
The temple has an unusual architecture. Its main gate is built in the style of
a mosque while the rest of the building is in Hindu style. |
| Gurudwaras
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| Sikh
gurudwaras are scattered all over the country and even abroad. Being the home
of Sikhism Punjab has numerous Gurudwaras. Only mportant ones have been listed
here. Most important of them today lie in two circuits, Amritsar and Roopnagar
(Ropar). For the convenience for planning a pilgrimage these Gurudwaras have been
grouped into Amritsar , Anandpur Sahib and others headings. Visit to Gurudwaras
in Amritsar circuit can be planned with keeping Amritsar as base point. Amritsar
has adequate number of star hotels and it is well connected by fast trains and
regular air service to New Delhi and other places in India. For Anandpur Sahib
Circuit one can plan his visit keeping Chandigarh as base point. Chandigarh has
all amenities of International standard available. |
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Har Mandir Sahib or Golden
Temple |
| Amritsar
City. With a part of the land granted by Emperor Akbar, the foundation stone laid
by a Muslim Sufi Saint, Mian Mir, the construction was completed in 1601. Free
kitchen and recitation of the divine word never cease here. Its four gates invite
everyone from all directions, the scripture is unique, it contain the divine message
as received by saints, bhagats and pirs of all the faiths of India. The
Baisakhi and Diwali fairs in April and October every year are celebrated with
great fervor and gusto. On the fair of Baisakhi all the jewelry in the
toshakhana (treasury) of the temple, which consist of indescribable ornaments,
is displayed around Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Diwali of Amritsar is out-of-the-world.
The entire Golden Temple is illuminated with traditional lamps of different colours.
The reflection of the temple in the shimmering water of the holy pool binds the
eye, to the many-a-splendoured pageant. Fire works display by the traditional
professionals recreates the glory of the times gone past.
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| Goindwal
Sahib |
| Within
easy reach of Tarn Taran was the centre of Sikh religion during the time of the
third Prophet, Guru Amar Das ji. The deep well (bauli) in the Gurudwara has 84
steps. Whoever takes a bath here and recites Japji Sahib (divine composition of
the first Prophet of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji ) at each step, and repeats
the recitation followed by bath in the Holy Well 84 times, attains moksh, because
he lives out 84,000 cycles of birth representing each specie created by God.
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| Tarn
Tarn |
| 24
Kms south of Amritsar. Founded by the 5th Prophet Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji the impressive
Gurudwara with gold plated dome has a holy pool. The guru used to run a leper's
home here. |
| Gurudwara
Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodi |
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This
is the Gurudwara built at the place where the first prophet Guru Nanak got enlightenment
and created Sukhmani Sahib while taking bath in the river Kali Bein.From Sultanpur
lodi only the Guru Nanak started his famous journeys. Sultanpur Lodi in Kapurthala
district is easily accessible from Jalandhar and Amritsar via Taran Taran and
Goindwal Sahib. One can plan his visit from both Amritsar( around 60 km away)
and Jalandhar(36 km away)
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Mosques
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| Mazaar,
Pir Baba Haji Rattan, Bathinda City
Situated between the Civil Hospital and the grain Market. It attracts devotees
from all faiths. Baba Haji Rattan had visited Mecca as an ambassador of Raja Bhoj.
On returning to India he had settled at Bhatinda. The Mazaar ( mausoleum) marks
the site where the Peer used to meditate. The place is halloed by the visits of
the 1st and the 10th Prophets of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh
Ji. |
| Rauza
Sharif, Sirhind |
| Can
be reached both from Patiala, 50 Kms north as well as from Chandigarh by road
and by train. The magnificent and spacious Rauza is a mausoleum which commemorates
the burial place of Mujadid-alf-Saani Sheikh Ahmed Farooqi, Kabuli, Sirhindi who
lived during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir from 1563 to 1634. The old mosque
in the vicinity is extant, so are several cenotaphs. The tomb of the Shah Zaman,
one of the Kings of Afghanistan indicates that the Rauza was once considered a
propitious burial place of high and mighty. Some Muslim sects place it, next only
to the Mecca in reverence. A great Urs is held here every August yearly.
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| Chilla
Baba Seikh Farid, Faridkot City |
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A small monument which commemorates
the visit of the great saint Baba Farid. Baba Seikh Farid Shakarganj was famous
as the Sufi Saint of Pakpattan, near Multan (now in Pakistan). On his way to Hansi
and Delhi, the Baba had halted at this place for some time. The city of Faridkot
is named after him. His divine couplets are included in the scripture of the Sikhs.
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| Qadian
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| Near
Batala on Amritsar-Gurdaspur road. Little over one hour's drive from Amritsar
can also be reached by rail. Qadian is the home of the Ahmediya sect of the Muslims
founded by Sheikh Ahmed Qadiani towards the end of the 19th Century. Quadian is
actually a town-ship with remarkable structures. The soaring Minar-i-Qadian, the
Ahmediya mosque and tomb of the founder epitomise its soul. Ahemdiya flourishing
all over the world congregate here in the last week of December.
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