Punjabi's Pilgrims Paradise

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TEMPLES



Ram Tirth, Amritsar



Location 11Kilometres 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




http://punjabgovt.nic.in/tourism/toushiv.gifThe 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.



Panch Mandir, Kapurthala Town
It was got built by the founder of the Kapurthala State, Fateh Singh Ahluwalia. The prime dome in the centre is surrounded by several smaller temples dedicated to different deities. It is the most striking building in the city of wonder architecture.

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Kali Devi Temple, Patiala
Situated opposite Baradari garden on the Mall Road of Patiala. This Temple was built by the rulers of the Patiala State. Because of its beautiful wall paintings and icons the temple has been declared a national monument.

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MOSQUES


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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Qadian
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.



The Moorish Mosque, Kapurthala City
Situated near the railway station it was built in 1930 during the reign of the last Maharaja of Kapurthala, Jagatjit Singh. He had employed a French architect Manteaux who followed the design of the great Qutbiya Mosque, at Marakesh in Moracco. The inner dome of the mosque was decorated with designs composed by the artists of the Mayo School of Arts, Lahore.

Imam Nasir Mausoleum and Jamma Masjid, Jalandhar City
The beautifully designed mausoleum of Imam Nasir and the Jama Masjid are both located in the heart of the Jalandhar city. According to archaeologists the former is 800 year and the latter 400 years old.

Chilla Baba Seikh Farid, Faridkot City
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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GURDWARA'S

Gurudwaras
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








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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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Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur LodiThis 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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Gurudwara Babaan GarhBhai Jaita (Jiwan Singh after baptism), in defiance of the Mughal authority had managed to escape with the martyred head of the 9th Prophet,Sri Guru Teg Bahadur from Delhi after his martyrdom in 1675. It was first rested here. From Gurudwara TEER SAHIB the 6th Prophet had revealed Gurudwara Patal Puri by shooting an arrow. The 7th Prophet was created at Patal Puri and ashes of the 8th Prophet were immersed in river Satluj nearby. Gurudwara Baba GURDITTA is located on a close by hill.


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