Anandpur Sahib Day trip
A small town in Punjab and one of the holiest Sikh sites was founded by Guru Tegh Bahadur. It was here around 300 years back where Guru Gobind Singh Ji formed the Khalsa Panth.
Days required– Day trip from Chandigarh
Nearby places to go – Naina Devi Temple
Best time to visit – From October to February. Hola Mohalla is celebrated every year in March around Holi
How to reach – 90 Km from Chandigarh, this place can easily be reached by road and rail route. The bus stand and railway station are situated nearby the Kesh Garh Gurudwara.
How we traveled – We self drove to Anandpur Sahib as we covered Naina Devi Temple on the same trip.
Where to stay – If you are traveling from Chandigarh, there is no need to stay here and you can reach Chandigarh by night, otherwise there are plenty of budget options here to stay for a night.
How to go around – Anandpur Sahib is a small town with all tourist destinations nearby. If you are boarding a bus, the main gurudwara is just a walk away. You can also use the local taxis or auto-rickshaws for roaming around.
Places to visit
- Gurudwara Keshgarh Sahib – It is the most sacred place for Sikhism in the town. It is the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji formed the Khalsa Panth. Anandpur Sahib Fort – this town was once fortified by majestic five forts. Of these, the main fort built in red brick is still standing.
- Virasat-e-Khalsa – this museum was built to commemorate the 300 years of the Khalsa Panth. It has two complexes- western and eastern complex connected by a footbridge and large pool and cafeteria. Galleries inside the complex tell the history of Punjab and Sikhism.
Where to eat – we didn’t try any local eateries here but you should eat at the Langar(Community Kitchen at Gurudwara). You can also offer your service in the kitchen if you have time.
Itinerary – we first headed for Naina Devi temple, one of the 52 Shaktipeeths. You can reach the temple by bus or your vehicle. Also, there is a cable car service to reach the temple. Enjoy the beautiful views on the way to the temple.
From there, we reached Anandpur Sahib in an hour. We rushed to Virasat-e-Khalsa as it is the only place with a time limit and closes by 5 pm. Entry is free but you have to pay for the parking. It is spread over the large area and takes 2-3 hours to cover. There are large water pools with gardens all around it. Inside the complex, there are so many beautiful galleries explaining Sikh history and culture. You can also get a free audio guide(machine) if you are interested in knowing all about the Sikhism. The only disappointing thing about the place is that photography is not allowed inside the galleries.
From there, we reached Keshgarh Gurudwara. It is a large complex with a main gurudwara in the center and sacred pool and ground on the one side and large parking space and langar hall. You get to see the personal belongings and weapons of the Guruji inside the Gurudwara. Visiting this place in the evening has its perks as you get to see the sunset and the illuminations and eat at the langar.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
- Naina Devi Temple – Avoid coming here on weekends and festivals otherwise you have to wait to hours for the Darshan.
- Virasat-e-Khalsa is closed on Mondays.
- If you are visiting Anandpur Sahib in March for Hola Mohalla Festival, you will find a huge amount of crowd( lakhs of people visit during that time).
Overall rating (it is subjective and my personal opinion) 7.5/10
- Travel Expense 1/10 – there is no expense here other than traveling and meals.
- Travel ease 8/10 – it is easily reachable from Chandigarh and trains and buses are connecting this town to many cities in Punjab and Himachal.