Anandpur Sahib
The Birthplace of the Khalsa
Overview
Anandpur Sahib, the 'City of Bliss', is a town in the Rupnagar district of Punjab, India, and one of Sikhism's holiest places. It was founded in 1665 by Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, and it was here, on Baisakhi in 1699, that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa. Its central shrine, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, is one of the five takhts, the seats of temporal authority in Sikhism. The town holds the vast Virasat-e-Khalsa museum and hosts the spectacular Hola Mohalla festival each spring. MyTripMyTravel runs Anandpur Sahib as a reverent chauffeured pilgrimage, an escorted, protocol-aware visit to the takht, the museum, and the historic gurdwaras and forts.
Anandpur Sahib is one of the defining places of the Sikh faith. Founded in 1665 by the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, on rising ground near the Sutlej, the 'City of Bliss' became the crucible of Sikh history a generation later. Here, on Baisakhi in 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa, the community of the initiated, an event that reshaped the faith and is commemorated at the town's central shrine.
That shrine, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, is one of the five takhts, the highest seats of temporal authority in Sikhism, which gives Anandpur Sahib a stature few places share. Around it the town preserves a ring of historic gurdwaras and the remains of the forts Guru Gobind Singh built to defend it. On a ridge above stands the vast Virasat-e-Khalsa, a striking modern museum of Sikh heritage. Each spring the town erupts into Hola Mohalla, the great festival of martial display and devotion.
MyTripMyTravel runs Anandpur Sahib as a reverent, well-briefed pilgrimage rather than sightseeing. Because this is a living sacred centre, our guides brief guests carefully on etiquette, covered heads, bare and washed feet, modest dress, and no alcohol or tobacco within the precincts, before an escorted visit to the takht, the surrounding gurdwaras, and the Virasat-e-Khalsa. The chauffeured leg from Chandigarh is short, and the town pairs naturally with Patiala and Amritsar.
At a glance
Anandpur Sahib in brief
When to visit
October to March
October to March offers the coolest, clearest weather for the shrines, the museum, and walking between sites. The town's signature festival, Hola Mohalla, falls in March (the day after Holi) and is extraordinary, martial arts, Nihang horsemanship, and immense crowds, but requires far-ahead planning and a tolerance for density. Baisakhi in April, marking the founding of the Khalsa, is also deeply significant here. April to June is hot; the monsoon (July to September) is humid but workable with earlier hours.
Things to do
Experiences in Anandpur Sahib
Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib
The central shrine marking the founding of the Khalsa, one of Sikhism's five takhts, entered with full observance of protocol.
Virasat-e-Khalsa museum
A vast, architecturally striking museum on the ridge tracing Sikh history and the story of Punjab.
Historic gurdwara circuit
An escorted round of the town's cluster of historic gurdwaras associated with the Gurus' time here.
Anandgarh and the forts
The remains of the defensive forts built by Guru Gobind Singh around the town, layering in its martial history.
Hola Mohalla (in season)
The spring festival of Nihang martial display, mock battles, and horsemanship, a spectacular but crowded occasion.
Getting there
How to reach Anandpur Sahib
The nearest airport is Chandigarh (IXC), about 85 km away; we manage the chauffeured handover and transfer to Anandpur Sahib.
Anandpur Sahib has its own railway station on the Nangal-Una line, with connections via Chandigarh and Punjab; we handle station transfers.
Anandpur Sahib lies on the road toward the Himachal foothills, an easy chauffeured drive from Chandigarh (≈ 85 km) and Rupnagar.
Our GPS-tracked, orthopedic-grade vehicles handle airport and station transfers and the compact circuit of shrines and forts.
Where to stay
The best-serviced hotels are modest here; we select the most comfortable options in and around the town for a pilgrimage night.
Many guests base in Chandigarh's full-service luxury hotels and visit Anandpur Sahib as a chauffeured day, for higher comfort.
A heritage stay in nearby Punjab or the Himachal foothills, folding Anandpur Sahib into a wider route.
Where to eat
The community kitchen at the takht serves free meals to all pilgrims; experienced with respect, it is one of the town's most moving offerings.
Honest vegetarian Punjabi fare, dal, sabzi, roti, and lassi, at the town's dhabas and small eateries; refined dining is limited.
For a fuller table, we build in the varied restaurants of nearby Chandigarh either side of the visit.
Good to know
Anandpur Sahib, your questions
Why is Anandpur Sahib so important to Sikhs?
It is where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa on Baisakhi in 1699, a foundational moment in Sikh history, and its shrine, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, is one of the five takhts, the highest seats of temporal authority in the faith. That makes it one of Sikhism's holiest towns.
What etiquette should I observe at the shrines?
Cover your head, remove your shoes, and wash your feet at the entrance; dress modestly and behave quietly and respectfully. Alcohol, tobacco, and meat are not permitted within the sacred precincts. Visitors of all faiths are welcome, and our guides brief every detail beforehand.
Should I plan around Hola Mohalla?
Hola Mohalla, in March, is a spectacular festival of Nihang martial display and devotion, but it draws immense crowds and requires far-ahead planning. If you want the atmosphere, we arrange it carefully; if you prefer calm, we schedule around it.
Can I visit Anandpur Sahib as a day trip?
Yes. It is about 85 km from Chandigarh, so many guests base in Chandigarh's more comfortable hotels and visit as a reverent chauffeured day, often combined with Rupnagar or a leg toward the Himachal foothills.
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