Visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib – History, Devotion & Culture

Your tour starts with a pick-up from your hotel/ Delhi Airport in an AC vehicle and a licensed English-speaking guide. Your guide will describe Sikh beliefs and customs, and the role of the gurudwaras in the everyday life as you travel across New Delhi.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is located near Connaught Place at the intersection of Ashok Road and Baba Kharag Singh Marg. Prior to be coming a gurudwara, this was known as Jaisinghpura Palace, the bungalow of Mirza Raja Jai Singh, a trusted military commander in the court of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. With the coming of the years, the palace was converted into the holy gurudwara that we have today.

In 1664, Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji resided at this haveli during a deadly plague that ravaged Delhi. Without any discrimination, the Guru served the sick and provided them with paani amrit which is water sanctified with prayers. Alas, he died in his prime due to illness. In commemoration of his martyrdom, Raja Jai Singh (who was the disciple of the tenth Sikh guru) built a sacred water tank, the Sarovar, that is today one of the landmarks of the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. People who have faith say that the water can cure illnesses, and they take some of it back with them.

While wandering through the grounds, you may be impressed by the grand golden dome and the smaller surrounding domes, the elaborately carved windows, and the all-white marble buildings. A high triangular shaped flag called the Nishan Sahib, bright orange in color, rises above the gurudwara, a Sikh temple and is seen from a distance, this is an indication there is a Sikh place of worship.

The complex of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is more than a religious site; it is a place for community service. It has a hospital that is administered by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee and caters to the health needs of the poor. An excellent Khalsa Girls School, which is well known. There is also a library, museum and art gallery that presents Sikh history through paintings and displays, which also contains paintings of Sardar Bhagel Singh who was instrumental in establishing Sikh shrines in Delhi in the 18th century.

Guests can watch or help in Langar, the free community kitchen that feeds thousands every day—an uplifting display of equality and self-sacrifice.