SA Travel Diaries: Covering Nanded by Nimrat Dhillon

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Nanded is a heavenly town in state of Maharashtra, India. It is 650 kms east of Mumbai by road: approximately an 11 hour drive and 250km from Hyderabad, Telangana. Sachkhand Express is a special superfast train which starts from Amritsar, Punjab and reaches Nanded in 34 hours 10 minutes roughly. Nanded is connected to all major airports in India, like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Delhi to name a few.
Medieval Miniature Painting showing
Guru Gobind Singh, Himachal State
Museum, Shimla
Sri Hazur Sahib is the principle Sikh shrine, and a part of five Takhts (throne). It marks the site where Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (The last Sikh Guru) had his camp in 1708 and left for his heavenly abode (Parlok Gaman). It was here in first week of September in 1708, when Guru Ji baptized Bairagi Sadhu Madho Das to Sikhism and named him Banda Singh Bahadur (Gurudwara Banda Singh Ji marks this event).
“The Eternal Father willed and I raised the Panth. All my Sikhs are hereby ordered to accept the Granth as their Preceptor. Have faith in the holy Granth, as your master and consider it the visible manifestation of the Gurus. He who hath a pure heart will seek guidance from its holy words.”
                                        -Last words of Sri Guru Gobind Singh 


Gurudwara at Nanded

The Gurudwara was constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, under Sardar Chanda Singh from 1832-1837. Its interior is artistically ornamented in the style of Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. The walls of inner room called Angitha Sahib have been covered with golden plates. The dome is polished and on the pinnacle is the Kalash made of gold plated copper. The Gurudwara is surrounded by a plaza which is called Yatri Niwas.




Six gates are built in the plaza for entry from six geographical directions. Another shrine inside the plaza called Bunga Mai Bhago Ji is built near the main Gurudwara. Water from the historical well (Bauli sahib) in front of the Darbar Sahib near Gate No. 1 is used to bathe historical weapons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. There are four Nishaan Sahib’s present in the vicinity of the plaza. The ceremonies start in dawn by 2:00 am and ends by 8:45 pm. Communal kitchen to the left of Darbar Sahib is active all-round the clock, to satisfy hunger of hundreds of pilgrims.
This shrine differs from other historical places of Sikh worship, as here all the ancient customs which were practiced at the time of the Guru are still practiced for example, sandal wood Tilak is still applied on the foreheads of priests and local devotees.
Sri Hazur Sahib is an all new experience not just for people of other religions, but for Sikhs too. This journey will always stay close to my heart and will always stay fresh in my memories.
 

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