Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib

Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib is situated close to famous Parliament House, Delhi. The gurudwara was made in 1783. It must be noted that Sikh leader Baghel Singh captured Delhi in 1783. Baghel Singh's short stay at Delhi actually led to the development of numerous Sikh sacred shrines. Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib was made to honor the death of Guru Tej Bahadur. The guru was beheaded following the orders given by Emperor Aurangzeb. Guru Tej Bahadur refused to accept Islam and hence he was beheaded. Guru Tej Bahadur was beheaded in the month of November, 1675. Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib built close to Parliament House, Raisina Hill took almost twelve years to build. Before that, a big mosque was present at the site. However, Mughal ruler Shah Alam II gave consent to make a gurudwara.

Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib is also abode to Delhi Gurudwara Management Committee. The gurudwara has a very special historical significance. Bhai Naghaiya and Lakhi Shah Banjara burnt their home to dispose the dead body of Guru Tej Bahadur. The guru was beheaded in November in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. The beheaded head of the guru was brought to Anandpur Sahib from Delhi. Anandpur Sahib is located in the state of Punjab. Bhai Jaita brought the head to Anandpur Sahib and his son Gobind Singh cremated the severed head there. Later, Gobind Rai became the last and 10th guru of the Sikh community.

Location and Its Surroundings

Apart from exploring Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi, you can also explore other attractions in Delhi. Jantar Mantar is a good monument to explore with your family members or friends. It was made in 1724. Ruler Jai Singh of Rajasthan who built this wonderful monument went on to make other similar monuments in Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi. Jai Singh had actually found the present astronomical instruments very small to take accurate measurements; therefore he built these bigger and more correct instruments. These instruments at Jantar Mantar are charming for their originality, but correct observations cannot be made here due to cluster of tall buildings around.

Humayun's Tomb situated close to Lodhi road and Mathura Road is another special monument where travelers and devotees can enjoy. It was made in 1565 AD. Inside the enclosure the most prominent features are the wonderful garden squares with unique water channels, centrally situated adequate proportional tomb topped by dual dome. There are many graves of Mughal emperors situated inside the enclosure. From here Lieutenant Hudson had arrested the last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah II. Jama Masjid is another fantastic place to explore. This huge mosque in Old Delhi is actually the largest in entire India, with a beautiful court capable of accommodating 25,000 devotees. The construction started in 1644 and ultimately ended up as the decisive architectural profligacy of Shah Jahan, who built the Red Fort and Taj Mahal.

Visitors Info

Best Time to Visit

It has been advised to visit Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib during mild winter season. Period from October to April is considered good for travelling and exploration. However, it is best not to explore the site during the month of January. It can get uncomfortable for devotees and travelers in January due to extreme cold and fog.

Travelling to Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi

By Train

Old Delhi railway station and New Delhi railway station are the best places to get down in Delhi. Travelers can easily arrive from Mumbai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Goa and other cities daily without any hassles. Several daily, biweekly and weekly trains operate to and from these railway stations.

By Air

Palam Airport is the best place to arrive in Delhi if you want to reach Gurudwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi quickly. There are many daily flights coming from Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bangalore and other cities here. It is best to book tickets in advance during peak holiday season.

By Road

Delhi is properly connected with adjoining cities and states through extensive highways and roads. Both private and government buses ply on this sector. Interstate and inter-district buses also operate on this sector.

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