Paonta Sahib is a major pilgrimage site for the Sikhs, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.
The holy town is located on the banks of the river Yamuna in Sirmour district, near the border between the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Like the high-altitude Gurudwara, Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand, Paonta Sahib is also a very revered Gurudwara in the Himalayan region.
Pilgrims visit the Gurdwara Paonta Sahib to pay reverence to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who is believed to have stayed at this place for over four years. Guru Govind Singh Ji never stayed so long at any other place in his entire life. He wrote many Sikh religious books during the stay and moved to Anandpur Sahib to establish the Khalsa Panth.
The Gurudwara houses a museum containing antiques and weapons used by Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Paonta Sahib is also the birthplace of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji, the eldest son of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The Legend:
It is believed that Guru Govind Singh’s horse had stopped at this place. He dismounted his horse to set foot in the kingdom of Sirmour and hence the place came to be known as Paonta Sahib – derived from the Hindi word Paon meaning feet. Guru Govind Singh Ji was engaged in spiritual literary activity during his stay in Paonta Sahib. He had composed Jap Sahib, Sawayyas Patshahi Dasvin and Chandi-di-var amongst others. A Major portion of the Guru Granth Sahib was also written here.
Places to see in and around Paonta Sahib:
The main Gurudwara houses a museum which has in display personal belongings of Guru Govind Singh Ji himself. His pen, turban and antique weapons have been preserved here till date. There are five other religiously significant Gurudwaras in Paonta Sahib. They are:
1. Gurudwara Sri Dastar Asthan is the place where Guru Govind Singh had granted as a boon, the comb he was combing his own hair with, to Pir Budhu Shah. Successive generations of Pir Budhu Shah have preserved the same for centuries in this Gurudwara.
2. Kavi Darbar Asthan is the place within the premises of Paonta Sahib Gurudwara, where Guru Govind Singh used to hold special congregation of poets. Guru Ji’s Darbar had as members, 52 poets of great repute in different languages. This is also the place where Guru Govind Singh is believed to have urged the river Yamuna to flow silently so as not to disturb the proceedings at the Darbar.
3. Gurudwara Tir Garhi Sahib is located 20 km from Paonta Sahib. The place derives its name from Tir, meaning arrow in Hindi. This is the spot wherefrom Guru Govind Singh is supposed to have shot arrows onto his enemies.
4. Gurudwara Shergah Sahib is another Gurudwara situated in the village of Nihal Garh, about 5km from Paonta Sahib. The Gurudwara commemorates the killing of a man-eater lion by Guru Govind Sahib with a strike of his sword. The lion had wreaked havoc in the adjoining areas and Guru Govind Singh Ji had rescued the villagers by killing the lion that no warrior of the province could kill.
5. Gurudwara Bhangani Sahib symbolizes the victory against Raja Bheem Chand. The Gurudwara was built at the place where Guru Govind Singh Ji had fought the battle at the age of 22 years. The final rites of the Sikhs martyred in the Battle of Bhangani took place in this Gurudwara. Besides being religiously significant, the white-marbled shrine amidst paddy fields is very picturesque, with Yamuna flowing on one side and the lofty mountains rising on the other.
6. Assan Lake is a man-made reservoir that offers activities like rowing, paddling and boating in a picturesque setting. Located 4km from Paonta Sahib, Assan Lake is maintained by Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department. The trees, the hills and the water of the lake make for pretty sunsets that attract photographers. It is also a birdwatchers’ paradise.
When to visit?
Weather is very pleasant during the months of October to April. Pilgrims also flock the place during the festival of Holla Mohalla (celebrated in the day after Holi) and on the auspicious day of Guru Parab (Birthday of Guru Govind Singh Ji).
Where to stay in Paonta Sahib?
Although hotels are available in Paonta Sahib, many pilgrims prefer to stay within the Gurudwara. The Sarai (place to stay) offers accommodation at nominal cost. Food is also available in the Guru Ka Langar at all times of the day.
Hotel Guru Surbhi, The Yamuna by HPTDC (Paonta Sahib Gurudwara), Hotel Royal Hillton, Hotel Grand Riviera (near Bata Bridge), Hotel Poanta Valley and Hotel Rockwood are some of the best hotels which offer a luxurious stay in Paonta Sahib.
How to reach Paonta Sahib?
By Air – Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, Uttarakhand is the nearest airport. It is located around 50 km from Paonta Sahib.
By Rail – The nearest Railway station is also at Dehradun. The journey from Dehradun to Paonta Sahib takes around an hour and 20 minutes to complete. Taxi and buses are available outside the Railway Station.
By Road – Paonta Sahib is well connected with the road network. It may be reached from either of Chandigarh or Dehradun. The route from Chandigarh via Panchkula is better than that via Nahan. Paonta Sahib is located at a distance of 125 Km from Chandigarh & 50 KM from Dehradun (Capital of Uttarakhand).
With unbearable heat across North India in May and June, tourists plan weekend trips to areas in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. For the spiritually inclined, Paonta Sahib could be a great destination to start such a trip with.
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