Gurudwara Durbar Sahib

India is a huge country by land area, with certain areas lying in the temperate as well as the tropics we see a huge range of forms and features not only in terms of topography of the different regions, but also in the beliefs and cultures of the people of this place.

Coming across to one aspect of interest, we take a look at this gurudwara in Punjab on the western frontiers of the country and we look into the religious relics of this place and talk about one of the most important temples/shrines located here, the Gurudwara Durbar sahib.

In Muktsar, Punjab, the Gurudwara Durbar sahib is considered to be one of the most important shrines for the Sikh community. People from the region as well as from across the globe, flock into this Gurudwara to take the blessings of almighty in this holy place.

History

The Durbar sahib is known to be the earliest established Gurudwara in this area that was constructed by a few families who first moved into the region. The Durbar sahib is seen to be located on the Western banks of Sarovar and its foremost construction dates back to 1743.

It is also known to be the chief shrine of the Sri Muktsar Sahib, which is one of the most important Gurudwara. Coming back to the construction of the site, most of the major constructions including renovations were done by Bhai Desu Singh & Lal Singh, chiefs of Kaithal. Also, Sardar Hari Singh Nalva (1791-1837), one of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Army Generals, was known to be quite active and helpful in the restoration and renovation of the original structure.

Coming to the 1930s, the renovation work was undertaken by Sant Gurmukh Singh Karsevavale and Sant Sadhu Singh which included the laying of marble flooring and on the walls as well as an addition of decorative domes to the shrine's structure. Moving onto the 1980s, Sant's followers replaced the original edifice in the name of renovation. During the same period, Maharaja Hira Singh sanctioned the addition of a high tower cum flag post near the shrine.

A van tree that is believed to have been there much before Sri Muktsar Sahib’s battle is still standing among the Divan Asthan and Nishan Sahib.

Architecture & Covered Area

Coming onto the look and architecture of the shrine, the Durbar sahib is one of the oldest shrines in the region probably the first as believed by many. As such most of its architectural beauty and ornaments are an addition in the recent decades.
The floors and the walls are covered with rich marble slabs, and these provide a very rich and elegant feel to the whole structure. Also, the chief shrine is fitted with magnificent domes on the top thereby adding to its elegance. And the final notable feature in this regard is the high tower cum flag post that rises high completing the picture.

Location and Surroundings

Durbar sahib Gurudwara is situated in the main city limits of Muktsar Sahib, which is one of the important cities of Punjab. It is located among the latitudes 30° 69' and 29° 87' and longitudes 74° 21' and 74° 86'. By generic description, the city is in the South-West region of Punjab and is bordered by Haryana & Rajasthan in the south. The district of Faridkot lies to the North while Bhatinda lies to its East.

The regions surrounding Gurudwara Durbar sahib is filled with several other important shrines that are a part of the Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tambu Sahib, Tibbi Sahib as well as Rakab Ganj Sahib are some of the important names in this regard.

Celebrations

A festival that takes places in the region every year is called the Magh Mela commemorating the valor of the 40 Muktsar who sacrificed their lives in Khidrana. This is a festive season and people come to take a holy dip in the Sarovar. This is the time when huge number of devotees come down to the different shrines located in this area and offer prayers.

Visitor's Info

Best Time to Visit

It is worth mentioning that people are seen to flock into the city all year round, but some of the most preferable months for tourists are the winter months from November through March as the weather is pleasant during this time, a large number of tourist available in the region gives rise to several services that help tourists in smooth stay and tour of the region.

Travelling to Muktsar

By Air

There is not an airport in Muktsar, the nearest one being in Amritsar. Visitors can take flights to Amritsar from almost all major Indian cities and then decide to take a train to Muktsar or travel by road.

By Train

The Muktsar railway station is just 1.5 kilometers away from the city center and regular services run from the nearby cities of Bhatinda, Amritsar as well as Kotkapura.

By Road

Muktsar is around 45 kilometers from Bhatinda, 30 kilometers from Kotkapura and is about 175 kilometers from Amritsar. One can either hire a cab which is available in plentiful or take the state transport service to Muktsar, as well.

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