Gurudwara Bangla Sahib has developed into a centre of pilgrimage for thousands of people every day. People from different religions, castes and places visit this holy place. The purity of this holy place increases with the presence of the holy "Sarovar" (Sacred Tank) within it. The Gurdwara and its "Sarovar" are now a place of great worship for Sikhs. It is a place for the worshippers on the birth anniversary of Guru Har Krishan. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is located at Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, Delhi. It is one of the well-known Sikh pilgrimage centres in Delhi.
History of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
The history of this gurudwara dated back to the 17th century. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib was built by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783. It was a bungalow at first belonging to Raja Jai Singh and was famous as Jaisinghpura Palace. The 8th Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan lived here in 1664. In that time, there was a wave of smallpox and cholera and Guru Har Krishan helped people by giving aid and fresh water from the well of this bungalow. Shortly he was also attacked by the disease and died on March 30, 1664. Later a small tank was constructed by Raja Jai Singh over the well; its water is now revered as having the healing properties and is taken by Sikhs throughout the world.
Architecture of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is a wonderful example of Sikh architecture. The whole building is carved out of subtle white marble, with the central dome covered in solid gold leaves. The front wall is decorated with projected carvings and has several smaller domes as well. The Nishan Sahib is a towering flagstaff which pompously waves the Gurudwara`s flag. The grounds of the Gurudwara has a number of structures inside its boundaries, like an art gallery, the shared kitchen, a higher secondary school and even a `Yatri Niwas` for tired pilgrims to settle down and cool down themselves. The Gurudwara is also provided with all amenities such as air conditioning, toilets and multi-parking space for the ease of the visitors.
Festivals of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Festivals of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are celebrated with great zeal and vigour. The yearly festivals start with Prakash Utsav, which is a celebration of the birth of Guru Gobind Singh who was the 10th Sikh Guru. Baisakhi, which is a celebration of the harvest season, is also celebrated here by thousands of believers. The birth of Guru Nanak and the birth anniversary of Guru Har Krishan are other major festivals celebrated here.
Visiting information of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is well connected with the other parts of the country. One can simply reach here through Blue line as well as Yellow line metro. Patel Chowk metro station is the nearest metro station on the Yellow line. Nearest Railway Station is New Delhi Railway Station.