Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Delhi A prominent Sikh Gurudwara in India is Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Kishan. It is a worship house for the Sikh religion believers but now it is a primary pilgrimage and tourist attraction in Delhi. There is a beautiful pool as well inside its complex which is named as Sarovar. It had come into existence as a small shrine by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783 who was supervising the construction of nine other Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same time.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is located near Connaught Palace on Baba Kharak Singh Marg and it is recognizable easily from a distance due to its golden dome and tall flagpole. Next, to it, there is the famous Sacred Heart Cathedral. The building was actually a bungalow belonged to Raja Jai Sing and got the name as Jaisinghpura Palace. Guru Har Kishan was living in Delhi during 1664 when there was smallpox and cholera epidemic spread in the society.
Guru helped the people by giving aid and fresh water from the well at his house. But he was also affected by the disease and died on March 30th, 1664. But Sikhs believed that the water from the well at Guru’s house had healing powers and they had taken the water to their homes. Gurudwara and its Sarovar are a prominent place for Sikhs now and they pay tribute to the eighth Guru on his birth anniversary Delhi Tour Packages.
History of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
In the seventeenth century, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib was known as Jaisinghpura Palace and was owned by Indian ruler Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur who held an influential position in the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s court. The area which is now known as Connaught Place, a popular area for shopping, eating out and events, was then Jaisingh Pura, a culturally rich area.
The story goes that a young Guru Har Krishan, the eighth Sikh Guru, resided in the bungalow when he came to Delhi in 1664. At the same time, there broke out a terrible epidemic of cholera and smallpox which quickly spread across the city.
The Guru helped the poor and diseased by carrying drinking water from the well and it is his kindness and compassion that comforted the hearts of those affected. Unfortunately, he could not be immune to the infection and he too was afflicted by the sickness Delhi Tourism.
On 30th March, 1664, Guru Har Krishan passed away. Raja Jai Singh later built a tank over the well from where the Guru had carried the water and to this date, the water from the tank is considered to have healing properties. The water is called “amrit” and is believed to cure the ill and is hence carried home by thousands of Sikhs.
The gurudwara itself was built by Sardar Bhagel Singh, a military general. Around the year 1783, he built 8 important Gurudwaras in Delhi and Bangla Sahib is perhaps the most prominent one of them.
Architecture of Bangla Sahib
The edifice of Bangla Sahib is a magnificent example of Sikh architecture. The entire building is carved out of delicate white marble, with the central dome covered in solid gold leaves. The front wall is embellished with intricated projected carvings and has several smaller domes as well.
The Nishan Sahib is a towering flagpole which proudly waves the Gurudwara’s flag. The grounds of the Gurudwara has several structures within its boundaries, such as an art gallery, the communal kitchen, charitable hospital, a higher secondary school and even a ‘Yatri Niwas’ for tired pilgrims to relax and refresh themselves. The Gurudwara is also equipped with all amenities such as air conditioning, toilets and multi-parking space for the convenience of the visitors.
Places to Visit Near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
- Jantar Mantar
Distance: 1 km
A marvel of astronomical invention built as a sundial, the Jantar Mantar is located only a kilometre away from Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. It is one of the five sites built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur and will be a pleasure to visit for anyone interested in astronomy, physics or scientific inventions.
- Connaught Place
Distance: 1.8 km
The inner circle of Connaught Place is less than 2 kilometres away and alongside your visit to Bangla Sahib, you can have lunch at one of the many famous restaurants at Connaught Place. If you’re in for a bit of shopping, do make your way to Janpath for ethnic wear and handicrafts.
- Birla Temple
Distance: 1.4 km
Birla Temple of Delhi, also known as Laxminarayan Temple, is dedicated to the Hindu Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. It is another example of architectural excellence in a unique way as the materials used to construct it are quite modern. If you manage to go here in the evening, the aarti and bhajans will surely capture your heart!
- Rashtrapati Bhawan
Distance: 2.5 km
The President House is one of the most illustrious locations in Delhi and stands as a landmark of Indian democracy and the political system. It is best to visit it if you can hire a taxi in Delhi as you will be able to drive up to the main gates and have a look inside the grounds.
- India Gate
Distance: 3.5 km
If you hire a taxi in Delhi, you can cover India Gate along with Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is one of the liveliest places at all times of the day but evenings are when families come here to have picnics, enjoy a game of cricket and snack on the tempting street food stalls.
How To Reach Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
The Gurudwara is located in Connaught Place, also known as the heart of Delhi. One can easily reach here via Blue line as well as Yellow line metro. Step down at Rajiv Chowk if you are travelling by a blue line metro. Furthermore, take an auto-rickshaw to reach the Gurudwara which is 2.8 kilometres away from the station. Patel Chowk metro station is the nearest metro station on the Yellow line.
It is situated at a distance of 2 kilometres from Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. This attraction has a dedicated bus stop as well, so you can get off there and walk a distance of about 1 kilometre to reach your destination. Alternately, you can hire a cab to reach Gurudwara Bangla Sahib as well.
By Road- The gurudwara is located near Connaught Place and being in Central Delhi, it can be conveniently reached through public transport or private vehicles.
By Metro: Rajiv Chowk metro station on the Blue/Yellow line and Patel Chowk station on the Yellow line are the nearest metro stations to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. From there, you can get an auto-rickshaw or walk the distance.
Distance from New Delhi Railway Station: It is around 1.5 km away from the New Delhi Railway Station and you can take an affordable auto ride.
Distance from Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 1: It is around 13.1 km the Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 1 and in case you are coming on an extremely short trip, then a cab ride from the airport would cost you around 300 rupees.