CYCLE FOR HEALTH – DELHI TOP 10 GURUDWARAS

CYCLE FOR HEALTH – DELHI TOP 10 GURUDWARAS

To take up cycling seriously, I bought my first  Mountain Bike at 57 years and five months age. Today I am 60 years and one month old (Oct 2020). Let me take you through my 32 months of cycling.  

I will introduce you to cycling. Cycle for health is what I believe today. Cycle safe is next. I will take you through each step on how to get on with cycling. There are thousands of videos but when it comes to taking a decision, you require someone you can trust.

Let me take you through one of my series where I covered the TOP 10 AND MOST REVERED GURUDWARAS IN DELHI. Such history unfolded that I was mesmerised. #HistoricalGurudwarasOfDelhi

This is a ten part series of cycling to the most revered Gurudwaras located in Delhi. Did you know that he ALL EIGHT historical Gurudwaras of Delhi were built in flat 8 months in 1783 by Baghel Singh? Do you know who Baghel Sangh was?

Baghel Singh (c. 1730 – c. 1802) was a military general in the Punjab region in the 18th century. Baghel Singh captured Delhi, hoisted his flag on Red Fort in 1783. He built eight Gurudwaras in Delhi. These are:

Majnu Ka Tila

Sis Ganj Sahib

Bangla Sahab

Rakab Ganj Sahib

Mata Sundari Sahib

Damdama Sahib

Bala Sahib

Motibagh Sahib

20 Jun 2019 – FIRST GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA NANAK PIAO

47 km Cycling from my home to Nanak Piao Gurudwara and back.

 #NanakPiauGurudwara 1505 AD. Gurudwara Nanak Piao Sahib is located in Old Delhi and close to Kamla Nagar or Delhi University. Gurudwara Nanak Piao was visited by the first Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was served water from a well which is still preserved inside the Gurudwara grounds. Gurudwara keeps up the tradition of serving water to passers-by. It’s so beautiful and serene inside. I loved sitting inside for more than half hour.

23 Jun 2019-SECOND GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA MAJNU-KA-TILA

47 km Cycling #MajnuKaTilaGurudwara 1505 AD. Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tila Sahib is located Opp Timarpur in Old Delhi. This Gurudwara is dedicated to a Muslim sufi hermit, who was so completely lost in his devotion to God that he was nicknamed Majnu or mad lover. This was the site where he met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and attained enlightenment and a spiritual revelation. In 1783 A.D. Sikh general Baghel Singh encamped here with his army when Sikhs captured Delhi and had hoisted the Sikh flag on Red fort.

25 Jun 2019- THIRD GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA SIS GANJ SAHIB

45 km Cycling #GurudwaraSisGanjSahib is located in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. The Gurudwara was built on the site of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur. He was imprisoned in these very grounds and the well where he bathed while in prison is still preserved. The trunk of the tree under which Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed can also be seen in the Gurudwara Sis Ganj premises.

27 Jun 2019- FOURTH GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA BANGLA SAHIB

28 km Cycling #GurudwaraBanglaSahib is located just about 2km from Connaught Place. #GurudwaraBanglaSahib is dedicated to the eighth guru, Guru Hari Krishan Sahib. The site had palace of Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur called “Jaisinghpura Palace”. The Guru stayed there as royal guest in 1664. That year Delhi had cholera and small pox epidemic and Guru Har Krishan helped the suffering by giving aid and fresh water from the well at this house. Soon he too contracted the illness and eventually died on 30 March 1664. A small tank was later constructed by Raja Jai Singh over the well, its water is now revered as having healing properties and is taken by all those visiting back to their homes.

28 Jun 2019- FIFTH GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA RAKAB GANJ SAHIB

25 km Cycling  #GurudwaraRakabGanjSahib is located less than 300m from Parliament House (Sansad Bhawan). Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is the site of the cremation ground of the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur who was executed under orders of Aurangzeb in 1675. He was beheaded where Gurudwara Sis Ganj was built. His head was taken to Anandpur Sahab while the body was taken away to Raisina village, the present Rashtrapati Bhawan area. The Gurdwara marks the site, where Lakhi Shah Banjara and his son Bhai Naghaiya burnt their own house to cremate the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur. They (Lakhi Shah) used to live in a colony of stirrup makers and ‘Rukab’ means foot rests, hence the name Rakab Ganj.

02 Jul 2019- SIXTH GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA MATA SUNDARI

27 km Cycling #GurudwaraMataSundari is hidden from view despite being in centre of Delhi. It’s easily accessible from Connaught Place (2km), Delhi Darwaja (2km), LNJP Hospital and Turkman Gate (500m from either). #GurudwaraMataSundari is dedicated to the memory of the wife of Guru Gobind Singh. The Gurudwara was built at the site where she lived while in Delhi. Mata Sundri Kaur left for her heavenly abode in 1747 at this place itself.

When the Guru left for the Deccan, he considered Delhi to be a safe place to leave his two wives Mata Sundariji and Mata Sahib Kaurji. It is believed that after the passing away of Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Nanded in October 1708, Mata Sundari Kaur nurtured and guided the Khalsa for forty years after the Guru’s death. Her last rites were performed at the place of Gurdwara Bala Sahib.

03 Jul 2019- SEVENTH GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA BALA SAHIB

20 km Cycling #GurudwaraBalaSahab is located close to Yamuna, DND flyaway Delhi end, at beginning of Barapulla at Yamuna end and on Outer Ring Road. #GurudwaraBalaSahab was built to commemorate the memory of the ninth Sikh guru Guru Harikrishan Sahib and the two wives of Guru Govind Singh, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundari Kaur Ji. All three were cremated at this location. Guru Sri Harkrishan was revered by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike. He was called “Bala Pir” by Muslims and “Balmukund” by Hindus thus the name ‘Bala Sahab’. The Guru had worked with the poor and destitute suffering from the deadly epidemics of cholera and small pox. He healed people from Bangla Sahab. After he was afflicted with cholera he asked his disciples to take him far away. A tent was put at the location of Bala Sahab where he stayed. He passed away at this site. Mata Sundari Ji stayed at the location where Mata Sundari Gurudwara is located. She directed Khalsa Panth for 40 years. She passed away at Mata Sundari Gurudwara location and was cremated at Bala Sahab Gurudwara. A separate structure honours her. Mata Sahib Kaur Ji was spiritual wife of Guru Govind Singh. She accompanied him to Deccan in 1707. Guru Govind Singh passed away in Nanded and before dying, declared her as ‘Mother of Khalsa’. She passed away in 1766 at Delhi and was cremated at Bala Sahab. She has a special place in the Gurudwara.

04 Jul 2019- EIGHTH GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA DAMDAMA SAHIB

24 km Cycling #GurudwaraDamdamaSahib is located near Nizamudin adjacent to Hamayun’s Tomb. It was built in 1783 by Sardar Baghel Singh, and later reconstructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A visit to this Gurudwara will leave you confused. Next to a corner of massive Humayun Tomb and big lawns surrounding it, how can there be a historical Gurudwara tucked in a relatively tiny plot of land ? See pic. “H” is Humayun Tomb area where as “D” is Gurudwara Damdama Sahab. The story is even more interesting.

A story goes that a secret meeting between Guru Gobind Singh and Prince Muazzam (Bahadur Shah Zafar), the son and heir of Aurangzeb in 1707 took place here. Guru Gobind Singh was staying at Motibagh (Motibagh Sahab) and camped in jungle next to Humayun Tomb. Prince Muazzam came from Red Fort to visit Tomb. They quietly met at the plot where #GurudwaraDamdamaSahab stands today. The meeting was about Muazzan wanting support of Sikhs to sit on throne due to death of Aurangzeb. Guru Gobind Singh assisted Prince Muazzam with military support to get him the throne. #GurudwaraDamdamaSahab is also known to be the centre of festivities during Hola Mohalla, a celebration of military prowess and martial arts, marked by processions and prayers.

05 Jul 2019- NINTH GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA MOTI BAGH SAHIB

19 km Cycling #GurudwaraMotiBaghSahab is located half km from Dhaula Kuan in the heart of South Campus of Delhi University. #GurudwaraMotiBaghSahab was called ‘Mochi Bagh’ which in 1920’s was changed to Moti Bagh. #GurudwaraMotiBaghSahab is built on the grounds where Guru Gobind Singh had camped with his army in 1707. The legend says that the Guru announced his arrival in Delhi by shooting two arrows into the foot of throne in Red Fort from a distance of eight miles. Prince Muazzam, later Bahadur Shah Zafar, was sitting on the throne then. A second arrow landed next to his left foot with a chit saying it wasn’t miracle but skill in archery. The Deohri (seat) from where Guru Gobind Singh shot the arrow has been preserved and Guru Granth Sahib ji has been installed there as a mark of respect to the superb archery of the Guru.

06 Jul 2019– TENTH GURUDWARA : GURUDWARA BANDA BAHADUR SAHIB

6km Cycling. Concluding TEN PART SERIES of cycling to the most revered Gurudwaras located in Delhi. #GurudwaraBabaBandaSinghBahadur is a very small gurudwara inside Mehrauli village and close to Qutab Minar. The story of the location gives goose bumps.

The Gurudwara is built on the spot where Banda Singh Bahadur Ji was put to death along with his 4 year old son and 40 generals in Jun 1716. Banda Singh Bahadur Ji was one of the most courageous Sikh leaders and warriors. In 1707 Guru Gobind Singh nominated him to lead Khalsa Army. Skilled in warfare and military administration, Banda Singh Bahadur led many battles against those who still persecuted the Sikhs, but was finally defeated by Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar and brought to Delhi. The grounds of the Gurudwara were the grounds of execution of Banda Singh Bahadur along with 40 of his followers. Gurudwara and a shrine were later built at the spot. This Gurudwara is also known for the grand celebrations of the festival of Baisakhi.

I hope you enjoyed the cycling tour with stories. I have enjoyed my cycling exploring the city.

Col Sanjay Pande

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