Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Delhi: History, Timings & Pilgrimage Guide

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is a well-known shrine for the Sikh community and a symbol of peace and faith. It is situated in the Connaught Palace, Delhi, and offers serenity to visitors. Spending time in the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib will bring you closer to divine energy. Whether you live in Delhi or travel to Delhi any time soon, you must visit Gurudwara Bagla Sahib to feel the extraordinary connection with God. But before that, let's discuss Gurudwara Bangla Sahib's history, things to do, the best time to visit, the top attractions nearby, and much more.

History of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

In the past, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib was a Bangla (Bungalow) named Jaisinghpura Palace, but it later became an immense Sikh Pilgrimage site. It dates back to the 17th century, when Raja Jai Singh, a Hindu Rajput King, constructed it. The Jaisinghpura Palace was converted into the Gurudwara Banagla Sahib because of the 8th Sikh Guru, Har Krishan. In 1664, Delhi faced significant hardship because of the cholera and smallpox outbreaks. During this time, Har Krishan offered their selfless help to the people suffering from the disease, and while doing their noble cause, he got sick and ultimately died on 30 March 1664.

See also: Top 10 Famous Temples in Delhi

Best Time to Visit Gururdwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is open throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is from October to March, when the cheerful weather of Delhi makes exploring its premises easier. Whether you're travelling with your family or friends, you can pick any of the months given in the above lines and offer your prayers to God.

See also: 10 Famous Temples in Madhya Pradesh

Entry Fees & Timings

Here are the fees and timings that you must know before arriving at Gururdwara Bangla Sahib:

• Entry Fees: No fees
• Ardaas Times: 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
• Langar Times: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

NOTE: The timings might change; hence, check the timings before going to the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib for a seamless journey.

See also: Top 12 Famous Temples in Karnataka

Things to do in Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Devotees come to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to find peace, but there are plenty of things to do there. If you are unaware of them, you are suggested to read the points listed below:

• Explore the Main Prayer Hall: The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, is in the main prayer hall of the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Devotees perform kirtan in this hall, receive blessings from God, and experience eternal tranquillity. The devotional singers known as ragis also offer a melodious Shabd Kirtan that is a must.
• Arrive at Baba Baghel Singh Museum: The Baba Baghel Singh Sikh Heritage Multimedia Museum provides a closer insight into the Sikh history, comprising the various Sikh battles and Guru Har Sahib Ji's legacy. The museum is situated on the premises of the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and showcases paintings, old manuscripts, and other items related to Sikh history.
• Appear at the Holy Sarovar: The holy sarovar is a prime attraction inside the Gurudwara and holds significant value for devotees. The sarover is not just an ordinary sarover because natives believe that the sarover has medicinal properties and it can heal people. You can bring the holy water in a water bottle as souvenirs from the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
• Be an integral part of the Langar: Free food is provided to the devotees visiting Gurudwara in Langar. In the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, you can dig into the langer and eat delicious vegetarian meals. You can also volunteer in the langar by chopping vegetables, making chapatis, or serving food to the people. Eating or serving in the langar will lead you closer to humanity.
• Savour the Karah Prasad: Karah Prasad is offered to devotees upon receiving blessings from God. Karah Prasad is sweet in taste and prepared with wheat flour, sugar, and ghee. You can enjoy the Kraha Prasd and then move to the Lanagr hall for the delectable dishes.
• Go to Khalsa Girls' School and Hospital: The hospital is situated in the basement of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, whereas the school is near the gurdwara. You can visit both while visiting the gurdwara. In the school, girls are encouraged to pursue education and other activities, and the hospital offers premium health services to the needy.

See also: 10 Most Iconic Temples in Maharashtra

Nearby top-attractions

You can find several tourist spots near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to create moments with your loved ones. From shopping to entertainment, to historical buildings, the nearby place of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is filled with these. In the following lines, popular nearby top attractions around Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is provide here:

• Connaught Place: Connaught Place is only at a distance of 1 km from the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. It is known for its branded shops, street food, restaurants, and stunning architecture. Connaught Place is also famous for its bustling streets and nightlife.
• Janpath Market: A popular place that is no less than a paradise for the shopping enthusiast. Janpath Market displays the handmade crafts from different regions of India, affordable clothes, wooden artefacts, a wide range of jewellery and more. The distance from Janpath Market to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is around 1.5 Km.
• Jantar Mantar: Discover Jantar Mantar, which is 1.8 km from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. It is an observatory that showcases 13 architectural astronomy instruments. This is an interesting place to visit with your kids and family. 
• India Gate: One of India's important memorial structures, India Gate is approximately 2.5 km from Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. At night, it is illuminated, offering a mesmerising view to visitors. Here, you can find small stalls selling ice cream, behlpuuri, and other snacks.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan: The President of India resides in Rashtrapati Bhavan, and its architecture will leave you speechless. On the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan, you can explore the Mughal Garden, which draws the attention of the people. You can reach Rashtrapati Bhavan swiftly from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, as the distance is around 2.5 Km.

See also: 15 Famous Temples (Mandir) in Chennai

How to Reach Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is nestled in the Cannaught Place, which is well connected to other parts of Delhi, resulting in easy transportation. In the lines below, the primary modes of transportation have been covered to reach Gurudwara Bangla Sahib:

• By Metro: The closest metro station is the Patel Chowk (Yellow Line), around 1 Km, and another nearest metro station is the Rajiv Chowk (Yellow & Blue Line), which is 1.2 Km.
• By Car: In gurdwara complex, you can get the access to park your car. Also, you can park your car around the Cannaught Place or Palika Bazar parking area. You can also book a car or a bike through an online app such as OLA, Uber, and Rapido. They will drop you off at your doorstep and drop you off at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
• By Bus: Several DTC buses go to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. You can check Moovit app for precise information about buses and hop on the bus from your nearest bus stop.

See also: Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Conclusion

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib welcomes devotees from all religions. In the gurdwara, you must cover your head and dress appropriately. You can not click pictures inside the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib's main prayer hall. However, you can take photos outside the gurdwara. Whether you are looking for a new start or want to find your spirituality, you can easily explore Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. In this post, you can find essential details that will help you unforgettably navigate to Gurudwara.