Anandpur Sahib is one of the most important shrines of the Sikhs. The historic Gurudwara witnessed the birth of the Khalsa 300 years ago. And has continued to be
the venue for significant religious and political gatherings.
LOCATION
About 85 kms north-west of Chandigarh, district Ropar (Rupnagar) Punjab - India, connected both by rail and road. Hot in summer, pleasant in spring and autumn and cold in
winter.
POPULATION
10,674 (1991 census)
KESGARH
SAHIB - ANANDPUR SAHIB
Anandpur Sahib—the holy City of Bliss—is one of the most important sacred places of the Sikhs and is closely linked with their religious traditions and history. It is located on the lower spurs of the Himalayas surrounded by picturesque natural scenery, with the river Satluj forming a shimmering and shiny blue border on the south west barely four miles away. So far as the historical significance of Anandpur Sahib is concerned, it is second only to Amritsar, the city of Golden Temple. Anandpur Sahib was founded in the year 1664 by the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji, near the ruins of an ancient place, Makhowal. The Guru purchased the site from the ruler of Bilaspur.
The town achieved its finest glory in the times of Guru Gobind Singh ji who spent almost 25 years of his life at this very place. It was at this place where five Sikhs volunteered
their heads at Guru Gobind Singh ji’s bidding, creating the nucleus of the self-abnegating, brave and casteless fellowship of the Khalsa. It is thus the Birthplace of the Khalsa. The present building of the Takht Kesgarh Sahib was constructed during 1936-44 under the supervision of Sant Hari Singh Kaharpuri. The Takht Sahib proper is a square hall with a balcony in front overlooking a spacious courtyard on a lower level. In the iddle of the inner domed room are placed some weapons preserved as sacred relics. The space being limited on the top of the hill, the sarovar is on the plain
ground west of the Takht Sahib. A large spacious pavilion is also around for larger congregation. Although the town is small but on the occassion of Hola Mohalla every year in the month of March it booms into boisterous activities and recaptures its old glory and splendur.
Courtesy CD A journey from Sikh to Khalsa
HOLA MOHALLA AT ANANDPUR SAHIB
Anandpur Sahib comes to life every year on the occasion of Hola Mohalla. This tradition dates back to the times of the 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Guru decided that the occasion of the festival of Holi, fun and frolic and colour splashing, be the occasion for the display of the martial spirit of his people and he gave this festival of Holi a more masculine name of HOLA MOHALLA. Each year Hola Mohalla marks the congregation of lacs of devotees from all over
the country for a festival of colour and gaiety. The Nihangs (members of Guru's army) in their colourful attire are the greatest attraction for the people visiting the Hola Mohalla. In deep blue robes with saffron girdles, high conical turbans decorated with steel rings, flowing beards, twisted moustaches, the nihangs enact mock battles on this occasion armed with spears and swords. Their army halts at many places to show off their art of fencing, tent-pegging and jousting to thousands of people gathered from all over the country at Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Hola Mohalla.
Baisakhi 1999 at Anandpur Sahib had been significant as it marked the completion of 300 years of the Birth of the Khalsa. It was on Baisakhi day in 1699 that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji baptised the ‘Panj Pyaras’ at Anaandpur Sahib at the place where Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib stands.
Genesis
Having purchased the dune of Makhowal from dowager Rani Champa, wife of late Raja Deep Chand of Kahlur-Bilaspur State, the 9th Guru of the Sikhs, Sahib Sri Guru Teg Bahadur had laid the foundation of a new town on the 19th June, 1665. He called it Chak Nanki
after the name of his mother.
Quietly, the Chak had grown into a poverty free, self sufficient and a progressive State within the Mughal State of India. Run on the basis of divine principles of love and liberty, it became a heaven for the people oppressed by the fanaticism of Emperor Aurangzeb. On 25th May, 1675, tyrannized Kashmiri Brahmins under the leadership of Pt. Kirpa Ram came here to seek solace and salvation and the greatest Arabic and Persian Hindu scholar of the time Bhai Nand Lal Goya, who had also served as a tutor to the sons of Emperor Aurangzeb, sought shelter at Sri Anandpur Sahib when threatened with forcible conversion. It is widely believed that the name of Chak Nanki was changed into Anandpur Sahib by Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The miseries of the Kashmiri Brahmins and others had prompted the 9th Guru to offer a unique martyrdom in the annals of the world for upholding the humanity's right to freedom
of conscience.
OTHER PLACES OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE
GURUDWARA GURU-KA-MAHAL(BHORA SAHIB)
Residence of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur inherited by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji; the sahibzadas- the holy
sons of the 10th Guru were born here. There is an underground room cut off from the din of life where the 9th Guru used to meditate.
GURUDWARA THARA SAHIB
The 9th Guru used to deliver sermons from this raised platform. There is place to mark the spot where the Kashmiri Brahmins came to seek protection.
GURUDWARA SIS-GANJ SAHIB
In November, 1675, the martyred head of the 9th Guru which was heroically brought by Bhai Jaita (Bhai Jiwan Singh) after taking holy nectar according to Sikh rites (baptism) in exultant defiance of the Mughal authorities was cremated here, ceremoniously.
AKAL BUNGA
After cremation of the holy head of his father, followed by a prayer to the Almighty, the 10th Guru had rested here with his relations and followers.
GURUDWARA DAMDAMA SAHIB
The 10th Guru was given the Guru Gaddi, here. It was from here that he had declared the end of the institution of the Masands-the priestly agents of the former Gurus.
GURUDWARA MANJI SAHIB
The Sahibzadas received their education and military training at this spot. Military exercises
were also rehearsed here.
GURUDWARA TAKHT SRI KESGARH SAHIB
In 1699, on the occasion of the festival of Baisakhi, Guru Nanak's mission was fulfilled by the 10th Guru, Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, when, through baptism of the double-edged-sword the Sikh was consummated as the Khalsa-Saint Soldier - in direct commune with the Guru and God. Still more astonishing is the fact that the Guru had got himself baptised by the Panj-Pyaras, the five
beloved ones, who had offered him their heads to uphold Dharma - the righteous cause.
CENTRAL FORT SRI ANANDGARH SAHIB
This fort with a deep well was built in the year 1686. It was attacked several times by the combined
forces of the hill chiefs and local Moghul officers and every time attackers were put to flight, licking dust.In 1704, however, when the Rajas of Bilaspur, Kangra, Kulu, Mandi, Nurpur, Guler, Chamba, Jammu and Garhwal, in tandem with the Mughal Governors of Delhi, Lahore and Sirhind attacked Anandgarh,
although the Fort held out, but for lack of ration and ammunition the inmates were reduced to dire straits. When the besieged Khalsa insisted and the enemy vowed safe passage, the fort was vacated. Since the vows were not kept, the exodus from the fort spelt disaster in which the 10th Guru's four sons, several intrepid warriors and financial and literary treasures were lost.
LOHGARH FORT
It was Sri Anandpur Sahib's Armoury, weapon manufacturing factory and martial training ground.
HOLGARH FORT
A sentinel that acquired a colourful hue on the day of Hola-Mohalla.
FATEHGARH FORT
Stood guard over the highways which connected Sri Anandpur Sahib to Sirhind and Lahore in the north and to Delhi in the south.
TARAGARH FORT
Kept watch over the hill states. This fort was built to prevent any attack from the side of the
hill State of Bilaspur.
SACRED PLACES NEAR SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB
GURU-KA-LAHORE
It is 11 kms on Sri Anandpur Sahib-Ganguwal route leading to the State of Himachal Pradesh. On 25th January, 1686, the 10th Guru's wedding to Mata Jito Ji was celebrated here.
Two almost pinhead springs still functional, were pierced by the 10th Guru by lancing the rocky mountains.
GURUDWARA MATA JITO JI
Not far from Holgarh Fort. Mata Jito Ji was cremated here.
BHAI GHANAIYA JI: HIS BAOLI / SPRING
Across the now almost dried up rivulet Charan Ganga and below the Taragarh hill, Bhai Ghanaiya Ji had anticipated the RED CROSS almost two centuries before its formation in the modern times. He used to render first aid to friends and foes, alike-something unknown in the world, then.
Sri Anandpur Sahib is the bastion from where the stoutest defence was put up to maintain liberty from the bigoted slavery of the Mughals and their tributory chiefs of the
surrounding hills. | 
