Call it the serendipity of travel or divine providence, we found ourselves in the hallowed premises of the famous Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara, the Takhat Shri Keshgarh Sahib one fine day. The Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, located in the historic city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, India, is one of the Five Takhts of Sikhism. Beside the Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, the other four are the Akal Takht in the Golden Temple in Amritsar; the Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, Punjab; Takht Patna Sahib in Patna, Bihar; the Takht Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra.

The Sacred Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib | Kesgarh Qila

Punjab is a land where bravery and sacrifice are in the air. The blood of countless martyrs has sanctified the land of the five rivers. Anandpur Sahib is a city built by the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, who was later beheaded in Delhi

You are enveloped in an aura of divine serenity as soon as you enter the premises of the sacred Gurudwara, and the strains of Gurbani that greet you make for a heavenly experience. in fact, as soon as you enter the city of Anandpur Sahib, you feel that you are in a special place. Clean and wide tree-lined roads with sparkling white Gurudwaras and other buildings greet you, as you drive towards the main Gurudwara Shri Anandpur Sahib.

However, before we actually set our feet inside the sacred Sri Keshgarh Sahib Gurudwara, it is but in the fitness of things, to know about the history of the place, and why it holds such an important place in the Sikh religion.

Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara History – Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib | Kesgarh Qila

The history of the Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib and the city of Anandpur Sahib itself is inextricably linked with the lives of the last two of the 10 Gurus of Sikhism, a lineage of Sikh spiritual masters that began with Guru Nanak.

To understand the importance of Anandpur Sahib and its significance in Sikh history and religion, we shall have to travel back in time to the 17th century, to the times of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Tegh Bahadur who was born in Amritsar, purchased land from the then ruler of Bilaspur, Rani Champa and founded a city which he named after his mother as Chakk Nanaki.

It was this city that was later expanded and developed as Anandupr Sahib, by the 10th Guru and son of Guru Teg Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh. The Sri Kesgarh Sahib is the place where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in the year 1699.

Visiting Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib | Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara

There are more than 10 Gurudwaras in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, but the most important of them all is the Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, it stands today as a symbol of faith and resilience of the Sikh religion at the same place where once stood a fort that had been constructed by Guru Gobind Singh. Hence the place is also referred to as Kesgarh Quila or Anandpur Fort. This was one of the many forts that were erected by Guru Gobind Singh as a defence against the Moghuls and the surrounding Hill states, which were constantly at war with the Sikhs.

As soon as you reach the parking lot of the Gurudwara Shri Kesgarh Sahib, you are swept away in waves of spiritual bliss. The sweet notes of Gurbani greet your ears and the sight of the imposing structure of the holy Takht fills your eyes.

Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara Sarovar 

Right next to the parking lot is the sacred Sarovar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib also referred to as Anandpur Sahib Sarovar. It is a large waterbody, very clean and well maintained. The huge sarovar is surrounded on all sides by a collonaded corridor. A visit to the holy Anandpur Sahib Sarovar is a must when you are visiting the Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara. It was empty and we were the only ones there when we visited.

The rays of the afternoon sun caressed the crystal clear waters of the Sarovar, as we watched. We spent some tranquil moments of solitude at the edge of the Sarovar, before making our way towards the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara.

Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara Path

A steep and wide cobbled path leads to the entrance of the sacred Sri Keshgarh Sahib Gurudwara. We joined the stream of humanity that was devoutly flowing towards the Gurudwara. Towards our left, there was a small market that had shops selling their colourful wares. You can buy souvenirs including pictures of the Sikh Gurus or small figurines, scarves to cover your head, dry fruits, and a whole lot of other interesting things.

We soon arrived at the counter where you need to leave your footwear. Beyond this point, you need to go barefoot. You also need to cover your head when you enter the Gurudwara. Photography is not allowed inside the Gurudwara, and you will be asked to refrain from taking pictures.

A large open courtyard is located before the main entrance to the Gurudwara Shri Kesgarh Sahib. On most days it is buzzing with activity. You can see people sitting cross-legged in orderly lines, sipping coffee that is served by volunteers dressed in blue. There are counters here where you can buy the famous Kada Prasad.

Sanctum Of Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara

A few steps lead to the entrance to the Gurudwara, from where another flight of stairs take you to the top level. You emerge in a large open courtyard, and the sanctum stands in this courtyard. Silence wraps the sanctum, bar the chanting of Gurbani. Inside the sanctum presides the holy Granth Sahib which is worshipped as an embodiment of the Gurus.

Inside the sanctum of the Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara are also kept the weapons that were used by Guru Gobind Singh. The relics include a dagger known as Katar, the symbol of the Sikh faith Khanda, a Saif which is a tapering sword with double edges, a musket, a spear which is known as Karpa Barcchha, and a spear known as Nagani.

Langar or Community Kitchen of Gurudwara Sri Keshgarh Sahib

On the lower level which can be accessed by a flight of stairs is the community kitchen or Langar. The community kitchen is an integral aspect of Sikhism. It is a place where everyone is fed, irrespective of class, creed, or colour, and everyone sits side by side and partakes of food. Near the Langar, there are rooms for pilgrims to stay, called Dashmesh Nivas.

How To Get To Gurudwara Shri Kesgarh Sahib | Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara Location

The Gurudwara Shri Keshgarh Sahib is located in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib in the Rupnagar district of Punjab, India. You can easily visit Anandpur Sahib on a day trip from Chandigarh.

• Anandpur Sahib is at a distance of about 82 kilometres from the capital of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh
• Anandpur Sahib is about 313 kilometres from India’s capital city Delhi
• Anandpur Sahib is 206 kilometres from Manali in Himachal Pradesh
• Shimla is at a distance of about 119 kilometres from Anandpur Sahib
• Anandpur Sahi is about 100 kilometres from Mandi

Reaching Anandpur Sahib By Air

The nearest airport to Anandpur Sahib is the Shahid Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh at a distance of about 100 kilometres. You can fly to Chandigarh and travel by road to Anandpur Sahib. Chandigarh is well-connected to the main cities of India and has flights to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, and others. There are international flights to and from Sharjah and Dubai.

Reaching Anandpur Sahib By Rail

The nearest railway station to Anandpur Sahib is the Kiratpur Sahib Railway Station at a distance of about 9 kilometres. Trains to and from places like Delhi, Haridwar, Ambala Cant, etc., pass through Kiratpur Sahib Railway Station.

Reaching Anandpur Sahib By Road

Anandpur Sahib is well connected by a good road network to cities in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. If you are in Chandigarh, Manali or Shimla, you can conveniently include Anandpur Sahib in your road trip itinerary. There are also public buses from Chandigarh, Delhi, and other places to Anandpur Sahib.
If you are planning a visit to the hallowed city of Anandpur Sahib,  you can book a cheap flight through Cleartrip or Makemytrip or CheapAir or Priceline right here. You can fly to Chandigarh and then drive to Anandpur Sahib.

Where To Stay At Anandpur Sahib | Accommodation In Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara

There is an accommodation option for pilgrims at the Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara in the rooms of Dashmesh Niwas. There are also other hotels in Anandpur Sahib, where you can stay during your visit. You can also stay in any of the Chandigarh hotels and travel to Anandpur Sahib on a day trip.

If you are looking for hotels near Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara or anywhere else in Anandpur Sahib or Chandigarh, you can book them right here through any of the below options, at the location of your choice here – TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or  makemytrip or  goibibo or  Booking.com or  HotelsCombined or  Agoda and save a lot by getting the best deals on booking your stay.

Other Gurudwaras In Anandpur Sahib

The Sri Keshgarh Sahib Gurudwara is the seat of one of the five Takhts of Sikhism and the most important of the Gurudwaras in Anandpur Sahib. However, there are many other Gurudwaras which are as sacred and significant in terms of history and the Sikh faith. Here are some of the other important Gurudwaras that you must include in your Anandpur Sahib itinerary.

Gurudwara Sisganj – Gurudwara In Anandpur Sahib

This sacred Gurudwara known as Gurudwara Sisganj stands at the very place where the severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur was cremated. He was beheaded in Delhi on the orders of Aurangzeb, and his head was brought to Anandpur Sahib by a faithful follower. The Gurudwara Sisganj was built by the legendary Sikh King, Maharajah Ranjith Singh.

Gurudwara Thara Sahib – Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara

The Gurudwara Thara Sahib stands at the place where Kashmiri Pandits led by Kripa Ram Dutt met Guru Tegh Bahadur to seek protection from the atrocities of Aurangzeb and his men.

Gurudwara Bhora Sahib – Gurudwara In Anandpur Sahib

The Gurudwara Bhora Sahib marks the place which was once the residence of the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Gurudwara Akal Bunga Sahib – Gurudwara In Anandpur Sahib

The Gurudwara Akal Bunga Sahib is built at the place where Guru Gobind Singh delivered a sermon, after the cremation of the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal – Gurudwara In Anandpur Sahib

The Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal was the first building that was built when Guru Tegh Bahadur established the city that he called Chak Nanaki, after his mother. The city later developed as Anandpur Sahib. Guru Tegh Bahadur and his family stayed here in their initial days.

Virasat-E-Khalsa – Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex

The Virasat-E-Khalsa is a museum complex near the Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara which depicts the history and evolution of Sikhism and the Khalsa. The aesthetic design of the museum complex, the beautiful landscaping, and the state-of-the-art technology, together serve to bring alive the history of the Khalsa. If you are in Anandpur Sahib, do not miss visiting the Virasate-E-Khalsa at any cost.

FAQ – Gurudwara Anandpur Sahib (श्री आनंदपुर साहिब) | Takht Kesgarh Sahib

What is the significance of Sri Keshgarh Sahib?
The Gurudwara Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib is one of the 5 holy Takhts of Sikhism.

Which are the 5 Takhts of Sikhism?
In Sikhism, there are 5 Takhts and these are Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Patna, and Nanded.

How far is Anandpur Sahib from Chandigarh?
Anandpur Sahib is at a distance of about 82 kilometres from Chandigarh.

How far is Anandpur Sahib from Amritsar?
The distance between Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib is about 189 kilometres.

Which Sikh Guru is associated with Anandpur Sahib?
The 9th and 10th Gurus of Sikhism, namely Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh are associated with the sacred city of Anandpur Sahib.

Why is Anandpur Sahib famous?
Anandpur Sahib is the city that was built by the 9th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur and later expanded by his son and the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara which is one of the five Takhts of Sikhism is located here. There are many other historical places located here.

We left the hallowed portals of the Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara, thinking about the bravery and sacrifices of the Sikh Gurus and their followers. However, our hearts were also filled with a sense of spiritual bliss that seemed to emanate from the Gurudwara and the entire city that has been rightfully named as, “The City of Bliss,” Anandpur Sahib.

We hope you too are inspired to immerse yourself in the bliss of the Sri Kesgarh Sahib in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib. Do let us know if you have any questions or need more information. Do subscribe to our blog and newsletter for new posts and updates. Connect with us on our social media channels too.

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Our visit to Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara in Punjab was organized by Punjab Tourism – Punjab Government to promote tourism in Punjab. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are our own. #AnandpurSahibGurudwara #TakhatSriKesgarhSahib #SacredJourney #Punjab

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Sandy & Vyjay

Sandy & Vyjay are a husband and wife duo who are travel content creators. They are co-founders of this travel website and are one of the leading travel content creators in India.

Sandy & Vyjay quit their successful corporate careers to pursue their passion for travel and writing full-time. Their dedication has earned them the “Best Travel Writer” award and numerous accolades on both national and international stages. Focusing on India’s destinations, heritage, and culture, they are passionate advocates for nature and the environment. Through their content, they promote ecotourism and sustainable travel, inspiring others to explore and preserve the beauty of India.