Fragments of frescoes survive under the dome of Gurdwara Rori Sahib. Photo credit: Haroon Khalid
Guru Nanak Dev Ji ( ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ), the founder and first Guru of Sikhism, was born in the year 1469, in the village Talwandi which is now known as Nankana Sahib in Punjab Pakistan. Sikhs around the world celebrate the auspicious occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth day in the month October-November.
Blessed with a deeply contemplative mind and rational thinking, young Nanak ji would often astound his elders and teachers with the sublimity of his knowledge, particularly on divine matters. Growing up, he refused to partake in traditional religious rituals, and often spoke out against several prevalent societal practices such as the Caste System, idolatry, and the worship of demi-Gods. By the age of 16, Guru Nanak Dev ji had mastered multiple religious texts and languages including Sanskrit, Persian, and Hindi, and was writing what many believed were divinely inspired compositions.
Architectural Heritage of a Sikh REGIME
Pre-Colonial Punjab through Sikh-period
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Sikhs rose to power under leadership of Ranjit Singh founding the first Sikh empire, which had its capital in Lahore which is also the birthplace of the fourth guru, Guru Ram Das, born in 1534 and his son, the fifth Guru Arjun Dev, who was tortured to death in 1606. The death of the fifth Guru is considered to be a defining moment in Sikhism after which the sixth Guru, Guru Har Gobind, started arming his followers.
During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors, Lahore started recovering from the utter devastation and Mughal buildings were restored. Sikh reign, architecture was given royal patronage and number of buildings were added like Hazuri Bagh Baradari, the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Athdara and Sheesh Mahal, the haveli of Kharak Singh, the Samadhis of Maharaja Kharak Singh and Nau Nuhaal Singh, the Samadhi and shrine of Rani Chand Kaur, the haveli of Nau Nihal Singh, the Samadhi of Maharaja Sher Singh, and the Haveli of Rani Jinda, Amongst the buildings associated with the native courtiers include the Samadhi and Haveli of Jamadar Khushal Singh, the Samadhi of Raja Tej Singh, The Haveli and tomb of Nawab Shaikh Imamuddin, the Haveli of Jawala Singh Padhania, the Mai moran mosque and the Haveli and tomb of Rani Gul Begum.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Sikhs rose to power under leadership of Ranjit Singh founding the first Sikh empire, which had its capital in Lahore which is also the birthplace of the fourth guru, Guru Ram Das, born in 1534 and his son, the fifth Guru Arjun Dev, who was tortured to death in 1606. The death of the fifth Guru is considered to be a defining moment in Sikhism after which the sixth Guru, Guru Har Gobind, started arming his followers.
During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors, Lahore started recovering from the utter devastation and Mughal buildings were restored. Sikh reign, architecture was given royal patronage and number of buildings were added like Hazuri Bagh Baradari, the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Athdara and Sheesh Mahal, the haveli of Kharak Singh, the Samadhis of Maharaja Kharak Singh and Nau Nuhaal Singh, the Samadhi and shrine of Rani Chand Kaur, the haveli of Nau Nihal Singh, the Samadhi of Maharaja Sher Singh, and the Haveli of Rani Jinda, Amongst the buildings associated with the native courtiers include the Samadhi and Haveli of Jamadar Khushal Singh, the Samadhi of Raja Tej Singh, The Haveli and tomb of Nawab Shaikh Imamuddin, the Haveli of Jawala Singh Padhania, the Mai moran mosque and the Haveli and tomb of Rani Gul Begum.
Sikh Architecture: EXPRESSION OF SPIRITUAL PATH
Architecture is the identity of people and civilizations. Across time and space, communities bounded by geography, ideology, language and spiritual path have created physical structures to represent their culture. In the same way, the typical quality of Sikh architecture lies in the expression of spiritual contents through its Gurudwaras (the Sikh place of worship).
The word ‘Gurudwara’ is compounded of guru (spiritual guide or master) and dwara (gateway or seat) and, therefore, has an architectural connotation. The Sikh Shrines are by and large commemorative buildings connected with the lives and times of the ten Sikh Gurus, or associated with certain places and events of historical significance. Most of the historical Gurudwaras were built, when the Sikhs gained political power in the Punjab. A Gurudwara can be spotted from a distance by a yellow triangular flag, called Nishan Sahib, hoisted from a pole in its compound. Water is an integral part of the Sikh Architecture. The use of water as an element of design has been frequently exploited in the Mughal and the Hindu architecture as well. Read More to understand Sikh Architecture of Karamjit Singh.
Architecture is the identity of people and civilizations. Across time and space, communities bounded by geography, ideology, language and spiritual path have created physical structures to represent their culture. In the same way, the typical quality of Sikh architecture lies in the expression of spiritual contents through its Gurudwaras (the Sikh place of worship).
The word ‘Gurudwara’ is compounded of guru (spiritual guide or master) and dwara (gateway or seat) and, therefore, has an architectural connotation. The Sikh Shrines are by and large commemorative buildings connected with the lives and times of the ten Sikh Gurus, or associated with certain places and events of historical significance. Most of the historical Gurudwaras were built, when the Sikhs gained political power in the Punjab. A Gurudwara can be spotted from a distance by a yellow triangular flag, called Nishan Sahib, hoisted from a pole in its compound. Water is an integral part of the Sikh Architecture. The use of water as an element of design has been frequently exploited in the Mughal and the Hindu architecture as well. Read More to understand Sikh Architecture of Karamjit Singh.
The-Sikh Legacy in Punjab
Sikh Architecture, is a style of architecture that is characterised with values of progressiveness, exquisite intricacy, austere beauty and logical flowing lines. This form of architecture was initially developed within Sikhism its style is used in many non-religious building due its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines, Shri Keshgarh Sahib and the Golden Temple are prime examples and history of a gurdwara. Apart from buildings of religious order, Sikh architecture has secular types of forts, palaces, colleges, etc. The religious structure is the gurdwara, a place where the Guru dwells. A gurdwara is not only the all-important building of the Faith, as masjid or mosque of the Islamic faith and mandir or temple of the Hindu religion, but it is also, like its Islamic and Hindu counterparts, the keynote of Sikh architecture.
The magnificence of Sikh architecture
"Inspired by Guru Nanak’s creative mysticism, Sikh architecture is a mute harbinger of holistic humanism based on pragmatic spirituality"
The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh Lahore
Construction was started by Kharak Singh on the spot where he was cremated,
Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore
This spot commemorates where Guru Arjan Dev, was martyred in 1606.
Hazuri Bagh Pavilion Lahore
The Hazuri Bagh was planned and built under the supervision of Faqir Azizuddin
Gurudwara
Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib
Sikh royalty in Lahore
Haveli Naunihal Singh
Whilst Naunihal was passing through the Roshnai Gate.
Gurdwara Sri Bal Lila Sahib
About 300 metres from Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sri Bal Lila Sahib.
Gurdwara Sri Patti Sahib Nankana
Gurdwara Patti Sahib ‘Patti’ means a wooden board on which children learn.
Gurdwara Mall Ji Sahib
Gurdwara Mal ji sahib is in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan and near the local railway station.
Gurdwara Kiara Sahib
Gurudwara is situated at a distance of one and a half Km from Gurdwara Janam Asthan.
Gurdwara Panja Sahib
Gurdwara Panja Sahib is situated at Hasan Abdal, 48 km from Rawalpindi.
- Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Bal Lilah, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Patti Sahib, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Mall Ji Sahib, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Kiara Sahib, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Tambu Sahib, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Guru Hargobind Sahib, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Nihang Singhan, Nankana Sahib
- Gurudwara Panjvin and Chhevin Patshahi, Nankana Sahib
Gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, Lahore Gurdwara Sri Nank Garh, Lahore Gurdwara Baoli Sahib Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Lahore Gurdwara Bhai Budhu Da Awa, Lahore Gurdwara Lal Khooh, Lahore Gurdwara Dehra Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Lahore Gurdwara Chowmala Sahib, Bhatti Darwaza Gurdwara Janamashtan Bebe Nanaki Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Lahore Gurdwara Nanak Garh, Badami Baag Samadh Maharaja Ranjit Singh | Samadh Jamadar Khushal Singh Gurdwara Diwan Khana, Chuna Mandi Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, Rang Mahal Guruwara Chowbachcha Sahib, Dharampura Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sri Guru Ram Das Gurdwara Chota Nankiana, Manga Dharamshala Sri Guru Ramdas Gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, Lahore |
Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi, Gujrat (City)
Gurdwara Nanak Sahib, Dinga
Gurdwara Chhevin Pathshahi, Buzurgwal
Gurdwara Kair Sahib (Jai Sukh Wala)
- Dharamshala Bhai Harnam Singh Ji, Buccheki
- Gurdwara Ajnianwala
- Gurdwara Panjvin Pathshahi, Jatri
- Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Eminabad
- Gurdwara Chakki Sahib, Eminabad
- Gurdwara Khuhi Bhai Lalo, Eminabad
- Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, Gujranwala
- Samadh Sardar Charat Singh, Gujranwala
- Samadh Sardar Mahan Singh, Gujranwala
- Gurdwara Khara Sahib, Bhaike
- Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi, Rasul Nagar
- Gurdwara Guru Kotha, Wazirabad
- Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi, Kotli Bhaga
- Janamasthan Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, Kasayra Bazaar
- Janamasthan Maharaja Ranjit Singh
- Gurudwara Panjvin Patshahi, Chak Ram Das
- Gurdwara Panjvin Pathsahi, Sheikham
- Gurdwara Holan Sahib, Bharnawan
- Gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, Bhail Gram
- Gurdwara Baba Ram Thaman Ji
- Gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, Alpa
- Gurdwara Bhai Phero
- Gurdwara Sahib, Kanganpur
- Gurdwara Hardusahari, Sahari
- Gurdwara Sahib, Daftu
- Gurdwara Mahme Sar, Lalyani
- Samadh Alpa, Alpa
- Gurdwara Bhai Bahlol, Qadiwind
- Gurdwara Jhari Sahib, Tergay
- Gurdwara Tham Sahib, Jamber
- Gurdwara Arjan Sahib (Beherwal)
- Gurdwara Chhevin Pathshahi, Glutian
- Gurdwara Kund Sahib, Rehsema
- Gurdwara Gurusar, Rehsema
- Gurdwara Tahli Sahib, Rehsema
- Gurdwara Nanaksar, Tilakpur
- Gurdwara Bair Sahib, Sialkot (City)
- Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, Sialkot (City)
- Gurdwara Pehli Pathshahi, Fateh Bhinder
- Gurdwara Nirankari, Rawalpindi
- Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Rawalpindi
- Gurdwara Bhai Mani Singh
- Gurdwara Chhevin Pathshahi, Narali
- Gurdwara Chhevin Pathshahi, Damhial
- Gurdwara Ghuman Shah, Dipalpur
- Gurdwara Ajeet Sar, Okara
- Darbar Baba Sri Chand, Bhuman Shah
- Gurdwara Chota Nankiana (Dipalpur)
- Darbar Baba Sri Chand, Bhuman Shah
- Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur (Ravi)
- Gurdwara Tahli Sahib, Ghakka Kotli
- Gurdwara Pehli Pathshahi, Mallah
- Gurdwara Panja Sahib
Gurdwara Janamasthan Mata Sahib Kaur Ji
TDCP Hotel One Nankana is an elegantly furnished hotel offering impeccable room standards and furnishings. Enjoy vast lush green landscaping and walking tracks nearby, offering a chance to escape the hassles of the city. The hotel offers mouthwatering food prepared by skilled chefs. The hotel is situated near several notable places of Nankana, such as Gurdwara Janam Asthan and Quba Masjid. The city is known for its monuments and traditional architecture. For Gotel booking please contact.
Address: Hospital Road Near Stadium, Nankana Sahib, 39100 Nankana Sahib, Pakistan
Contact: TEL0092-56-2874200 / 0092-3184182669
FAX: E-MAIL: hotelone.nankana@hotelone.com.pk
- Bhai Ram Singh: Inventor And Master Of Sikh Architecture – A Tribute By Dr SS Bhatti
- Understanding Sikh Architecture through the Sikh Shrines in East Punjab
- Reconsidering Sikh architecture: The Sama̅dhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore
The Sikh heritage in Pakistan by Ishtiaq Ahmed published in Daily Times MARCH 9, 2018
Haveli Naunihal Singh — a jewel in the heart of Lahore by Salman Ali MARCH 22, 2018
