February 15, 2008

Gurdwara Data Bandi Chhod

Madhya Pradesh-2:



Tourists visiting Gwalior Fort are sure to pass by a super white structure within the Fort premises. It is the Gurdwara Data Bandi Chhod built in 1970 in memory of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib.




The Guru was imprisoned by the erstwhile Mughal Emperor Jehangir in the Gwalior Fort and it is alleged that upon his release, he insisted that 52 other prisoners be freed as well. To mark the ocassion, the Sikh celebrate Diwali at this Gurdwara and call it the Bandi Chhod Divas.



A priest belonging to the Gurudwara informed me that free accommodation and food is provided to many over there. Tourists also are free to take up the offer. I was invited for lunch as well. For lack of time, I just went around the Gurudwara, took a few pictures and proceeded to the rest of the Fort area.


The Gurudwara is grand and huge. It is constructed fully of marble and the kalashes at the top are made of gold.



When I was visited the Gurdwara, the recital of the Guru Granth Sahib was going on and the surrounding atmosphere was peaceful.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The architecture is amazing - looks so typical of India to me! Very colorful too, i.e the gold etc.

It the sky always grey like that? I know in China it pretty much is because of the pollution...

GMG said...

Gwalior, Gurdwara are already on my list (but also what I've seen today at Backpkker's blog). How am I going to manage all that, I don't know...
Thanks for your comments at Blogtrotter
Have a great weekend!
Gil

Sameera Ansari said...

Awesome photography!

The beauty of the Gurudwara is so very enhanced by the lovely flora :)

Lakshmi said...

Lovely pictures ..amazing architecture..Ive been to a Gurudwara just once and the peace is amazing..

Anonymous said...

Amazing pictures, I liked the 2nd one most. Never been to a Gurudwara though I know all the places of worship have their own serene calming effect.

Anonymous said...

would love to stay in such a place one day.. :)

Anonymous said...

Gurudwaras are wonderful, no? Reminds me of the wonderful Golden Temple where I lived and ate for two straight days :)

indicaspecies said...

Zhu,

Thank you. :)

This Gurdwara at the Gwalior Fort is on top of a rocky hill at a height of 300 feet, so I do not think pollution is the reason for that colour of the sky.

indicaspecies said...

Gil,

Thanks for your comment.

You've just had a peep into the enchanting world. I hope you get a chance to see a bit of the Himalayas. :)

indicaspecies said...

Sameera,

Thanks. The plants with bright flowers against white marble - I love it too. :)

indicaspecies said...

Lakshmi,

Thank you. I wanted to spend more time there, but there was lots to explore and I had to move. :)

indicaspecies said...

Cuckoo,

Thank you. It was my first time to a Gurdwara, though I've visited different temples, mosques, gompas, and of course churches before. :)

indicaspecies said...

Arun,

You should do that when you are in Gwalior. :)

indicaspecies said...

Priyank,

That was my first time and feel I did not spend enough time there.

You lucky guy! I have not been to the Golden Temple yet, and I so want to go. :)

Merisi said...

What magnificent building!
Thank you for sharing all this beauty and facts with us, I have so much to learn.

indicaspecies said...

Merisi,

My pleasure. You have a beautiful blog of beauties. :)

Unknown said...

Getting Motivated from this blog, I made an effort to give detailed information of the gurdwara in a blog with a link www.gdbc-gwalior-mp.blogspot.com

In case the information in that blog is liked by anyone, the credit goes to this one

indicaspecies said...

Kamal Jeet Singh Ji,

Thank you for dropping by, and I truly appreciate your kind words.

Your blog is full of information on the GDBC, and thanks a lot for sharing. Great to know the details of such a wonderful Gurudwara at Gwalior.

I'm just back from holidays in India and had another opportunity to share langar with the community. My most memorable visit to a Gurudwara was in 2008 to Hemkund in the Himalayan mountains.

Have a nice day Kamal Jeet Singh Ji, and a pleasure to know you in this blog world.

~celine