KIRATPUR SAHIB Kiratpur Sahib (76°35′E, 31°11′N), a small town in the Sivalik foothills in Rupnagar (Ropar) district of Punjab, was founded by Baba Gurditta under instructions from his father, Guru Hargobind. According to the Bhatt Vahis, the foundation was laid by Baba Sri Chand, the aged son of Guru Nanak, on Baisakh Puranmashi, 1683 BK/1 May 1626, by ceremonially planting a twig on a tract of land acquired by the Guru from Raja Tara Chand of Kahlur, a small hill state. Guru Hargobind settled in Kiratpur after the battles of Kartarpur and Phagwara in 1635. It remained the seat of the Sikh Gurus until Guru Tegh Bahadur founded Chakk Nanaki (present Anandpur Sahib), 8 km further north, in 1665. The town hosts several shrines of historical significance.
GURDWARA CHARAN KAVAL PATSHAHI PAHILI Guru Nanak visited this site during one of his extensive travels. Here, he held religious discourse with a Muslim divine, Pir Buddhan Shah, who lived on goat’s milk, which he also offered to the Guru. As tradition goes, the Guru drank half of it and returned the other half to Buddhan Shah, telling him to keep it for a Sikh who would come to claim it. This, it is believed, referred to Baba Gurditta, who arrived over a hundred years later, during which Pir Buddhan Shah was still alive. The Pir’s grave (mazar) is located on a hilltop, about 200 meters east of Dehra Baba Gurditta Ji, and is visited by Sikh pilgrims to Kiratpur.
Gurdwara Charan Kaval stands on a high base, resembling a fortress due to its heavy stone walls and dented parapet. The main building was constructed by Raja Bhup Singh of Ropar during the early 19th century.
GURDWARA SHISH MAHAL Part of a complex of six shrines, Gurdwara Shish Mahal was the house where the holy family resided after Guru Hargobind moved to Kiratpur. Both Guru Har Rai and Guru Har Krishan were born and raised here. The original structure has been replaced by a tall and magnificent edifice adorned with panels of decorative reflecting glass along the entire interior—white on the ceiling and gold on the walls.
GURDWARA TAKHT KOT SAHIB This served as the seat of Guru Hargobind’s court, akin to the Akal Takht in Amritsar. Significant ceremonies, including the anointing of Guru Har Rai (8 March 1644) and Guru Har Krishan (7 October 1661), were conducted here. The Takht Sahib is a square room on a high plinth at the northern end of a flat-roofed hall, topped by a domed pavilion with a golden pinnacle.
GURDWARA SRI HARIMANDIR SAHIB PATSHAHI CHHEVIN This marks the place where Guru Hargobind meditated or rested in seclusion, surrounded by a garden called Naulakkha Bagh with an eight-cornered fountain. In this garden, young Har Rai brushed against a shrub, causing a flower to drop, which deeply upset him. His grandfather, Guru Hargobind, consoled him with the advice: “You should always take care.” This simple wisdom influenced Har Rai’s later actions as Guru.
The historic Gurdwara building, made of Sirhindi bricks and lime-cast, still stands, with the Guru Granth Sahib seated in a flat-roofed room.
GURDWARA DAMDAMA SAHIB This single-room Gurdwara, topped with a small domed pavilion, is located 20 meters west of Gurdwara Shish Mahal. It served as a site for daily gatherings during Guru Har Rai’s time.
GURU KA KHUH An old, narrow well about one meter in diameter, close to Gurdwara Shish Mahal. Narrow steps descend to its former water level, although the water table has since lowered. This well was the primary water source for Shish Mahal’s residents during the Gurus’ era.
GURDWARA CHUBACHCHA SAHIB To the southwest of Damdama Sahib, this low-domed building stands in a small compound. “Chubachcha” in Punjabi refers to a circular masonry trough used for watering or feeding animals. Guru Har Rai, obeying Guru Hargobind’s advice, retained a contingent of 2,200 mounted soldiers. While most were stationed near the village of Bunga, about 6 km south of Kiratpur, some of the Guru’s horses were housed here. Guru Har Rai would personally feed these horses.
Like other shrines at Kiratpur, this Gurdwara is managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
GURDWARA MANJI SAHIB This marks the residence of Guru Har Rai’s daughter, Bibi Rup Kaur, and her descendants. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee assumed its management only in 1975.
Bibi Rup Kaur married Bhai Khem Karan, son of Bhai Pheru Mall of Pasrur (now in Sialkot district, Pakistan), on Maghar Sudi 3, 1719 BK/3 December 1662. After marriage, the couple settled in Kiratpur. Guru Tegh Bahadur visited on Bhadon Sudi 10, 1721 BK/21 August 1664 to console Bibi Rup Kaur after the death of her brother, Guru Har Krishan.
The double-storeyed complex houses the Guru Granth Sahib on the first floor and holds sacred relics, including a handwritten pothi, a hand fan, an embroidered handkerchief, and an anchorite’s cap. The cap, initially given by Baba Sri Chand to Baba Gurditta, was later gifted to Bibi Rup Kaur by her grandmother, Mata Bassi.
GURDWARA BIBANGARH SAHIB The sacred head of Guru Tegh Bahadur, executed in Delhi on 11 November 1675, was brought to Kiratpur by Bhai Jaita (later Jivan Singh) on 16 November 1675. Guru Gobind Singh came from Chakk Nanaki (Anandpur Sahib) to Kiratpur to receive it. Gurdwara Bibangarh Sahib marks the spot where the head was placed on a decorated hearse (biban) and carried to Anandpur in a procession chanting sacred hymns.
BAOLI SAHIB or GURU KI BAOLI This is a large square-shaped well covered by a domed pavilion, with steep steps descending down to the water level. The well was sunk by Baba Gurditta when Kiratpur was founded, with the digging ceremonially begun by Baba Sri Chand.
GURDWARA DEHRA BABA GURDITTA JI Located atop a narrow plateau, this Gurdwara marks the spot where Baba Gurditta, eldest son of Guru Hargobind, passed away. Baba Gurditta established Kiratpur in compliance with his father’s wishes and was credited with miraculous powers. Sikh tradition recounts that during a chase, Baba Gurditta accidentally killed a cow and then revived the animal out of remorse. When Guru Hargobind admonished him for interfering with the Divine order, Baba Gurditta, deeply remorseful for upsetting his father, left quietly and passed away near the grave of Pir Buddhan Shah.
The family and Sikhs, grief-stricken, came wailing. Guru Hargobind advised calm and acceptance of God’s will, cremating Baba Gurditta’s body at this spot on Chet Sudi 10, 1695 BK/15 March 1638. The present Gurdwara building and steps were constructed by Raja Bhup Singh of Ropar. The outer compound is enclosed by high walls, entered through a double-storeyed gateway facing north, with domed turrets at the corners and decorative pavilions at the walls’ midpoints. The sanctum, housing the Guru Granth Sahib, stands on a two-metre-high pedestal, with arched doors and a low dome under an old neem tree believed to have sprouted from a stick Baba Gurditta planted.
GURDWARA TIR SAHIB Sacred to Guru Hargobind, this Gurdwara is situated on a hillock on the right as one ascends towards Gurdwara Dehra Baba Gurditta Ji. The hill offers panoramic views of the plains stretching toward the River Sutlej. Here, Guru Hargobind held archery competitions. Tradition holds that toward the end of his life, Guru Hargobind shot an arrow from this hilltop, which landed near the Sutlej bank—a site now marked by Gurdwara Patalpuri.
Gurdwara Tir Sahib was previously a small Manji Sahib. Due to the soft clay rock of Kiratpur’s hills and erosion concerns, the original structure was demolished, and a new building was constructed on a stone-riveted base.
GURDWARA PATALPURI SAHIB On the left bank of the River Sutlej, this site marks where Guru Hargobind passed away. It is recorded that, when Guru Hargobind sensed his end near, he had a hut constructed here, which was called Patalpuri. Designating Guru Har Rai as his successor, he retired to this hut, spending his time in meditation until his passing on 3 March 1644. Here, his body was cremated with due honors. Guru Har Rai, who passed away on 6 October 1661, was also cremated here.
Although Guru Har Krishan died in Delhi on 30 March 1664, his ashes were, according to the Bhatt Vahis, brought to Patalpuri and immersed in the Sutlej on Bhadon sudi 11, 1721 BK/22 August 1664. It has now become customary for Sikhs to immerse the ashes of their departed ones in the River Sutlej at this point.
Separate shrines for the three Gurus were originally constructed. In time, these were replaced by a new Gurdwara, which now features a vast hall on a high plinth. Towards the river-end of the hall is the prakash asthan (seat of honor) for the Guru Granth Sahib. Above the sanctum, two additional stories rise, crowned by a dome.
SANT NIVAS UDASI ASHRAM Near Baoli Sahib, this Ashram commemorates the visit of Baba Sri Chand, founder of the Udasi sect. It is said he gave a cap and cord, emblems of the sect’s headship, to Baba Gurditta here.According to the notice displayed at the Ashram, this visit took place on Har sudi Puranmashi, 1685 BK/7 July 1628. However, according to the Bhatt Vahis, Baba Sri Chand visited Kiratpur on Baisakh sudi Puranmashi, 1683 BK/1 May 1626. During that visit, he planted a sapling symbolizing the founding of Kiratpur and cut the ground for the baoli (stepwell).
References:
- Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi, Patiala, 1970
- Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Amritsar, 1927-33
- Tara Singh, Sri Gur Tirath Sangrah, Amritsar, n.d.
- Thakar Singh, Giani, Sri Gurmat Ottar, Amritsar, 1923
- Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Gurdwarian, Amritsar, n.d.
- Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion, Oxford, 1909
- Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the Sikhs, Delhi, 1994
