Anandpur Sahib is an emblem of historic and spiritual significance. The small town at the foothills of the Shivalik Range is truly blessed with the best bounties of nature. Owing to the popularity of the place among tourists a lot of budget hotels in Anandpur Sahib offer various lodging options at a very pocket friendly rate.
Shikh families from all over the country and world come to touch the sacred soil of this town where their leaders dwelled and created history. Others come to hear the stories of bravery and see the spots that tell tall stories about the past.
There are also many tour service providers in Punjab who make a very crisp and compact package for people to see and experience the birth place of the most dynamic religion in India – Sikhism.
In this articles, we will talk about five such tourist spots that make Anandpur Sahib a must visit for every travel enthusiast.
Keshgarh Sahib Gurdwara – One of the five Takhats of Sikhism, Keshgarh Sahib Gurudwara is a pilgrimage for the Sikhs. Takhat refers to as religious authorities. Built between 1936 to194, the Gurudwara has been built in a square structure – a 320 square feet courtyard that houses the Takht’s office and a Gurudwara. The square sanctum at the middle of the Gurudwara has the Sikh scriptures and the weapons used by Guru Govind Singh’s Kalsa. The Gurudwara also houses a langar, the free community kitchen and square sarovar or holy water for the pilgrims to take dip in it. The sacred vibes of this place is unmatched.
Gurdwara Sisganj – It gives goose bumps to even read the name. Thhis is the place where severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur was brought from Delhi to be cremated. His son Guru Gobind Singh only nine at that time was declared the 10th Guru. He had a shrine and a platform built at the site of the cremation. Each of these spots takes you back in time when this race was struggling for survival and how they had created each and every landmark for the future generations to come and learn about the tales of their bravery and sacrifices.
Anandgarh Fort – There were five forts built by the 10th Sikh Guru – Guru Gobind Singh on the border of this city. Qila Anandpur Sahib is the main fort and the one that the city is named after. Don’t get mislead by the peace and tranquility of the place when you visit it in the recent time. The present construct of the fort that we get to visit stands as an emblem of the grit and determination of not agreeing to accept defeat and save the race from recanting its faith.
Virasat-e-Khalsa – It is a museum that commemorates the birth of Khalsa Panth. The entire structure is divided into two complexes. As you enter the western complex, you come to an auditorium which further leads to a research and reference library and exhibition galleries. The eastern complex includes a round memorial building and a space for exhibition comprising of galleries in five clusters which uphold the Five Virtues of Sikhism. Virasat-e-khalsa is open for visitors from 10 am to 6 pm.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Museum – The museum is one of the notable tourist spots in Anandpur Sahib. It tells the tales of bravery ad sacrifice of the 9th Sikh Guru – Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib whose name and fame had reached so far and wide that the Mughal rulers could not tolerate. They behead him. This museum is home to 24 oil paintings that depicts his life and glory.
