Thursday, March 20, 2008

Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib (or the birth place of the Khalsa) is located at Anandpur Sahib in Ropar District of Punjab (at a distance of about 90kms from Chandigarh).



Keshgarh Sahib is where the first Khalsa as the Saint Soldier was initiated by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Baisakhi day in 1699. The tenth Guru baptised the Panj Pyaras (the five beloved ones) and laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth here.

The ninth Guru Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib founded this town in 1965 and named it Chakk Nanaki (after his mother). It was later in 1689 that Guru Gobind Singh Ji named it Anandpur Sahib (meaning the holy city of bliss).

The Takht Sahib is a square hall with a balcony in front overlooking a spacious courtyard on a lower level. In the middle of the inner domed room are placed some weapons preserved as sacred relics.


The space being limited on the top of the hill, the sarovar is on the plain ground west of the Takht Sahib.

Although the town is small but on the occassion of Hola Mohalla every year in the month of March it booms into boisterous activities and recaptures its old glory and splendor.