TALVARA, locally known as RampurTalvara because of its close proximity to a village called Rampur, lies near Sri Hargobindpur (31041`N, 75029`E) in Gurdaspur district of the Punjab. It claims a historical shrine, Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, dedicated to Guru Hargobind, who is said to have preached here after the batttle of Ruhela, as Sri Hargobindpur was then called. The Gurdwara has a domed sanctum, octagonal in shape, in the middle of a walled compound entered through a two storeyed gateway, with residential suites on either side.
BACHCHHOANA, village 7 km northeast of Budhlada Mandi (29°55\'N, 75°33\'E), is sacred to Guru Tegh Bahadur, who, according to Sakhi Pothi, came here from Barhe and stayed for seven days under a pipal tree on the bank of a pond. The Guru was accompanied by a large sangat and the Ranghar in habitants of Bachchhoana served them ample quantities of milk and curds. Guru Tegh Bahadur expressed delight at the extensive green pastures around the village and blessed the villagers for their good milch cattle.
BAZIDPUR, village 7 km southeast of Firozpur Cantonment (31° 55`N, 74° 36`E) along the FirozpurLudhiana highway, is sacred to Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), who passed through here in 1706 after the battle of Muktsar. Gurdwara Gurusar, formerly known as Tittarsar after a legendary partridge (tittar, in Punjabi), marks the site where Guru Gobind Singh had encamped, and was first constructed in the form of a small Manji Sahib by Bishan Singh Ahluvalia, an official under Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839).
BILGA, village 14 km west of Phillaur(31°1`N, 75°47`E) in the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Arjan, who passed through it in June 1589 on his way to Mau where he got married. According to local tradition, Bilga was then a small settlement of only a few huts. The Guru changed his apparel here and gave away the discarded articles to the poor hutdwellers who, it is said, preserved them as sacred relics. These are now exhibited in Gurdwara Panjviri Patshahi located inside the village.
CHAPPAR CHIRI (30° 45`N, 76° 40`E), Ban and Chhoti (senior and junior), are twin villages in Ropar district, along KhararBanur road, now officially named Banda Singh Bahadur road. This area was the scene of a historic battle. Gurdwara Baba Banda Bahadur is situated between the two villages by the side of the metalled link road joining them. The battle took place around here on 12 May 1710 between the Sikhs led by Banda Singh Bahadur and Wazir Khan, the imperial faujdar of Sirhind. The latter was killed and the Mughal army routed.
DIKKH, village 12 km to the north of Maur Kalan (30° 4`N, 75° 14`E) in Bathinda district of the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Tegh Bahadur, who visited it during his travels in these parts. According to Sakhi Pothi, an humble Sikh entreated the Guru to come and put up in his house. The Guru accepted his invitation. He blessed his host who had served him with complete devotion. The Sikh, who was childless, had four sons thereafter.A memorial platform raised in honour of the Guru, about 200 metres west of the village, was later buried under sand; but, as memory of the Guru`s visit survived, it was uncovered again and a singleroom gurdwara established on the site in 1917.
Explore the history and charm of Kot Shamir, a village significant for Guru Gobind Singh's visit in 1706, with the revered Gurdwara Patshahi Dasamt.
