Gurudwara Barchha Sahib-Dhanpur, Assam

During his long wanderings, Guru Nanak halted for some time at Dhanpur in Assam. Here people worshipped the temple of Goddess Kamakshi Devi. In those days it was ruled by a Queen Nur Shah of Kamrup area (Assam). This temple was the seat of black magicians and the queen herself was a magician of repute. She was advised by Guru Nanak to renounce magic and secure happiness by repeating God's name. She realised that Guru Nanak was a representative of God as her magic failed to affect him. It is said that the Queen Nur Shah and her subjects became followers of the Guru and got salvation. She begged the Guruji to leave some of his belongings with her as token of a memento. The story goes that Guru Nanak left his barchha (lance) which he was carrying with him in the travel through jungles. He marked a place with his lance, where a pond was dug as desired by the Guru. The Shrine built near this site is known as Gurdwara Barchha Sahib. Gurudwara Barchha Sahib is situated at Dhanpur, in Assam State, marking the place where Holy Guru Nanakji struck his lance, with his wish to dig a pond there, and the Gurudwara has been constructed next to that pond. Barchha indicates Shri Guru Nanakji's lance. History Amidst his large number of tours, that Guru Nanakji undertook for the cause of humanity in general and Sikhs in particular, during 16th century, he halted for some time at Dhanpur in Assam. The locals there were worshipping Goddess Kamakshi Devi in the temple which existed there. This region of Assam was under the control of QueenNur Shah of Kamrup area, which was part of Assam. This temple of Goddess Kamakshi Devi was however held by those practicing black magic and interestingly the queen herself was a well known magician of those days. Guruji took concern on her and advised her to renounce magic, advocating to chant God's name for attaining happiness. The queen responded to his advice positively, realizing that Guru Nanakji was a representative of God. In an incident she had found that her magic had failed to affect him. It is believed that after this incident the Queen Nur Shah and her subjects became followers of the Guru to get salvation.The queen also requested the Guruji to leave some of his belongings as a memento for her marking his visit to the land. The story goes that Guru Nanakji thereupon left his Barchha (lance) which he used to carry with him during his travel through jungles. Guruji also marked a place using his lance, where he wanted a pond to be dug .The Shrine built near this site is now the Gurudwara Barchha Sahib. How to Reach To reach Dhanpur Gurudwara, one can choose road or rail transport, also by air to alight at Dubri's Rupshi airport, which is 15km from the Gurudwara. However, this airport is closed now and the nearest airport is at Guwahati. Road wise it is 265 km from Guwahati, and Dubri has a Railway Station to which place passenger trains are available daily.