This place is the Best Tourist & Pilgrimage spot of Delhi. The beautiful hallowed place of Sikh Worship is situated in the heart of New Delhi at Connaught Place. Sad to say that the shopping area, Connaught Place once belonged to this beautiful Gurudwara called ‘Jaisinghpura’ and the Gurudwara was ‘Jaisinghpura Palace’ a private bungalow belonging to the 17th century Rajput King, Raja Jai Singh – the King of Jaipur, then called Amber! The Colonial British created Connaught Place, the shopping arena!
This beautiful Gurudwara is of Sikh Architecture with golden domes preceded by a tall flag post flying the Sikh triangular flag, known as the ‘Nishan Sahib’ it’s at the fore front of the Gurudwara at the entrance welcoming you to the ‘Khalsa’. The flag is taken down only once a year on ‘Baisaki Day’ and a new flag is hoisted replacing the old one. Once you enter. . . the spacious golden hall welcomes you. The Gurudwara never closes – it’s open 24 hours to any person of any caste or creed. Entry is free. Simple rules, no shorts or beefy t shirts. No footwear. Your head should be covered with a scarf, available on sale or pick a reusable one kept at the entrance in a basket. Washing your feet and hands a must. Photography is allowed, Videography not! This place looks even more beautiful at night than day with its artificial lights. Public transport reaches this place. One can take the New Delhi Metro which stops 2 Kms away at Ashoka Road – Connaught Place or Rajiv Chowk or Patel Chowk. One could take an auto, taxi or just walk up the central New Delhi roads.
The main prayer hall is in gold and is huge with a towering high ceiling, at the floor level it’s open on all four sides. Gurbani – the soothing devotional music and the prayers are sung melodiously accompanied by musical instruments. The atmosphere is simply divine. This Gurudwara complex has a Langar, a kitchen which serves free food to anyone, irrespective of caste or creed. It’s got a holy pond called, Sarovar – it’s water referred as ‘Amrit’ – nectar, with divine healing powers! An Art Gallery. A Library. A Hospital. A Travellers Hostel – Yatrinivas. Multi-Level parking. Toilet facilities. And, most important a beautiful Musuem of Sikh History called, Baba Baghel Singh Musuem. One can volunteer for any kind of work at any of the services for the benefit of visiting pilgrims. Most people volunteer to guarding footwear, make rotis, wash dishes and more. The atmosphere and experience is just divine – simple humanity! There are a lot of souvenir shops in this campus, to take some memoroblia home.
Aurangzeb (1657 – 1707) summoned the 8th Sikh Guru. A 8 year old Sikh, Har Krishan who had magical curing powers and he stayed at ‘Jaisinghpura Palace’, the bungalow of Raja Jai Singh, the 17th Century Rajput King of Jaipur, then known as Amber. He was also known as Mirza Raja Jai Singh (15 July 1611 – 28 August 1667). He was also a Senior General in the Mugal Empire. The 8th Sikh Guru Har Krishna stayed at this bungalow in 1644. There was a epidemic of Cholera and Smallpox. The divine Guru stayed here curing the sick with the divine water available here. Later Raja Jai Singh built this pond called Sarovar, the Sikh Guru Blessed it by dipping his toe. This water is believed to be an elixir with miraculous curing property. Guru Har Krishan succumbed to illness and died on 30 March 1664.
This Gurudwara was first built by a Sikh General, Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783. He is credited with the construction of all 9 Sikh Shrines at Delhi, it was during the reign of the Mugal Emperor, Shah Alam – II. He was also known as Banda Singh Bahadur’s (27 October 1670 – 9 June 1716). On invasion of Delhi, he built the Gurudwara. He was a Sikh Warrior blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. He was a fierce warrior died mercilessly tortured by the Mugals. He was born Lachman Dev or Madhodas, to a peasants simple family.
Kindly make this place a must visit venue and be blessed. The Sikhs or Sardars as they are popularly called are warm hospitable people and Delhi is filled with them. They are fun and great foodies. Make a friend with one of them to better your lives – large hearted folks!
-Jagdeesh Laxman Singh
aka Jugie Singh
Text & Photography
