Gurudwara Sri Dera Baba Nanak Sahib, Dera Baba Nanak

This Gurdwara is situated 45 km West of Gurdaspur City and 55 km from Amritsar City in Town Dera Baba Nanak and is in the memory of First Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited this place in 1515 to meet his family after his first preaching tour. Guruji's wife Mata Sulakhni Ji and his two sons Baba Sri Chand Ji and Baba Lakhmi Das Ji had come to stay in their Maternel Grandfather, Lala Mulraj Ji's house, who used to work as a Patwari (a revenue official) in Village Pakho-Ke-Randhawa. At that time, this village was situated across the River Ravi, on the left Bank. Sarji Sahib - A well of Baba Ajita Randhawa existed at this place, which is now present in the form of a Baoli. Guruji used to meditate by sitting on the bank of the well and also preached his followers. Baba Ajita Randhawa got Sikhism at this place Thada Sahib - Also known as Palki Sahib - When Guru Nanak Dev Ji came in 1515 to meet his family after his first preaching tour, he had stayed at this place. Guruji had discussions with Baba Ajita Randhawa at this Place. Mata Sulakhni Ji, Baba Sri Chand Ji and Baba Lakhmi Das Ji came to this place and requested Guruji to come and stay at home and give them the privilege of serving him. Guru Nanak Dev Ji during the later part of his life had settled down in kartarpur on the right bank of River Ravi (now in Pakistan and lived for 18 Years. The whole family also joined Guruji. When Guruji left for his heavenly abode in 1539, he had left with his physical body, so only Guruji's clothes were cremated. At that place a beautiful Gurdwara exists in Pakistan. Since Gurdwara Dera baba Nanak is close to Indo-Pak Border, the Gurdwara at kartarpur in Pakistan is visible to naked eye. The Gaggar (a Utensil) which contained ashes of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's clothes after cremation was buried at Kartarpur (in Pakistan). Baba Sri Chand Ji dug that Gaggar out of the ground and came at this place and put the Gaggar under ground at this place of Thada Sahib. Kirtan Asthan Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji - The Fifth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Arjun Dev Ji visited this place during the Bhog (Recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib for the peace of mind of the departed Soul) ceremony of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's grandson Baba Dharam Chand Ji and recited Hymns at this place. In Guru Arjun Dev Ji's memory this place is known as Kirtan Asthan. At Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, Guru Nanak spent last days of his worldly life. This town is situated on the left bank of river Ravi, on the Indo-Pak border. In fact his land was located on both sides of the river. Guru Nanak used to return to this side of the river daily for meditation. He also founded the city of Kartarpur on the right bank of the river. The importance of Kartarpur Gurdwara is that Guru Nanak left for his heavenly abode here at the age of seventy. Now that historical Gurudwara is in Pakistan territory, but it is visible to the naked eye from Dera Baba Nanak, where another Gurdwara was constructed by his Devotees to perpetuate his memory. Maharaja Ranjit Singh provided copper guilded throne to the Gurdwara and also covered its canopy with marble. A Chola (cloak) said to have been worn by Guruji during his visit to Mecca and Madina is kept here. Lakhs of people,visit this town every year to have a glimpse of the Chola Sahib,which is displayed for public view. Dera Baba Nanak is only 55 kilometres from Amritsar city and is connected by rail and road. As the railway bridge over river Ravi was destroyed in 1965 Indo-Pak war, train service between Dera Baba Nanak and Sialkot (Pakistan) has been suspended since then. Guru Nanak was a great spiritual Master who gave the message of love and amity. Gurudwara Sri Dera Baba Nanak is situated in the Dera Baba Nanak city of Gurdaspur district. As its name defines its related to Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. Guru Sahib used to worship god on bank of well Ajita randhawa da khooh after his first Udasi in 1515. On the stage situated in the Gurudwara Sahib Guru Sahib had dsicussion with Ajita randhawa. Later the golden guband was made by Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji. Dera Baba Nanak being situated only 1 km from india Pakistan border, Gurudwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib can be seen from the border. The Thara Sahib is at one end of a recently constructed spacious hall, above which, over the sanctum, is a square domed room with an ornamental arched coping and domed kiosks at the corners. The entire exterior above the roof level of this room is covered with gold-plated metal sheets. The goldwork on top as well as on the sanctum was carried in 1827 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who also made endowments in cash and land for the maintenance of the Gurdwara. The Gurdwara is administered by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local committee. Special divans take place on every amavasya, the last day of the dark half of the lunar month, and all major anniversaries, especially the one marking Guru Nanak's re-joining with God, are observed. But the most important annual event is the fair celebrating the Vaisakhi festival. A handwritten copy of the Guru Granth Sahib is preserved in this Gurdwara. It has 1660 pages, each page having a handsomely illuminated border.