# Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak - History, Timings & Visitor Guide | GurdwaraSahib.in > Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak, Punjab: sacred site of Guru Nanak's ashes, gateway to Kartarpur Corridor. Timings, history & visitor guide. # Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak Get Directions Share: Entry: Dress Code: Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak stands as one of the most historically and spiritually significant Sikh shrines in the Punjab, enshrined within the small border town of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India. Situated on the left bank of the Ravi River, barely a kilometre from the India-Pakistan international border, this sacred complex occupies a site indelibly linked to the life, ministry, and mortal remains of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539), the founder of Sikhism and its first Guru. The gurdwara complex comprises three distinct memorial structures — the main Darbar Sahib, the Thara Sahib (the sacred platform), and the Ajitta Randhawa Well — collectively commemorating the spot where Guru Nanak is said to have first sat and preached upon arriving in this locality, and where, following his passing at Kartarpur in 1539, his ashes were later interred by his son Baba Sri Chand. That act of preservation gave the town its very name: 'dera' (permanent abode) of Baba Nanak, consecrating this ground forever in Sikh devotional memory. Today, the gurdwara draws pilgrims, Sikh history enthusiasts, and tourists from across India and abroad. Since November 2019, its significance has been amplified dramatically by the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor — a visa-free pilgrimage passage linking Dera Baba Nanak to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, where Guru Nanak spent the last eighteen years of his earthly life. The Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at Dera Baba Nanak now serves as the Indian gateway to this corridor, enabling up to 5,000 pilgrims daily to cross the border without a visa. From the border fence itself, the distant white dome of Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is visible across the Ravi plain, adding a profound emotional dimension to every visit. The gurdwara is administered by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh religious body overseeing most historical gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. A new multi-storey building was recently inaugurated, attended by SGPC President Advocate Dhami, combining devotional space with modern facilities for pilgrims. The premises feature a spacious prayer hall, a continuously running langar (community kitchen), accommodation blocks, and open courtyards. Dera Baba Nanak itself, though modest in size, is home to at least three major historic gurdwaras: Darbar Sahib, Gurdwara Sri Chola Sahib (which preserves a cloak believed to have been gifted to Guru Nanak in Baghdad by a Muslim devotee), and Tahli Sahib, associated with Baba Sri Chand. Together these form a sacred circuit that pilgrims traditionally complete during a visit to this town. The serenity of the gurdwara, the profound weight of its history, and the emotionally stirring experience of glimpsing Kartarpur Sahib across the border combine to make Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak an increasingly prominent destination for Sikhs in India and for the global Sikh diaspora alike. ## Significance Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak occupies a singular place in the Sikh spiritual universe. It marks the site where the mortal remains — specifically the ashes — of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, were interred by his son Baba Sri Chand. For Sikh devotees, this makes the gurdwara one of the most direct physical connections to the progenitor of their faith, a status shared by very few shrines anywhere in the world. The Thara Sahib, the sacred platform within the complex, is revered as the very spot where Guru Nanak would sit and deliver his spiritual discourses to assembled devotees during his visits to this locality. The Ajitta Randhawa Well, preserved in the gurdwara's basement, deepens the site's authenticity as a place hallowed by the Guru's physical presence and remembered by the earliest Sikh community. In the broader landscape of Sikh pilgrimage, this gurdwara forms part of the sacred geography of the Punjab's border region. Its proximity to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur — where Guru Nanak actually lived, farmed, and died — means that Dera Baba Nanak is both an independent pilgrimage destination and the gateway to that even more sacred site. The Kartarpur Corridor, inaugurated in 2019, has transformed the town into a global Sikh pilgrimage hub of historic consequence. The gurdwara also functions as a living community centre for local Sikh life, hosting daily prayers (nitnem), kirtan (devotional music), and uninterrupted langar. Major Sikh festivals — particularly Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Prakash Utsav) and Baisakhi — draw enormous congregations from across Punjab and beyond. For the global Sikh diaspora, a pilgrimage to Dera Baba Nanak has taken on deep ancestral significance. ## Nearby Gurdwaras ### ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਡੇਰਾ ਬਾਬਾ ਨਾਨਕ Dera Baba Nanak, India 43 m away ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਡੇਰਾ ਬਾਬਾ ਨਾਨਕ is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in India. It is situated in India, the birthplace of Sikhism and home to the largest Sikh population in the world. As with all gurdwaras, ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਡੇਰਾ ਬਾਬਾ ਨਾਨਕ welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ### گرو کھنڈا صاحب ਗੁਰੂ ਖੰਡਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ گوجرانوالہ ڈویژن, India 5.7 km away گرو کھنڈا صاحب is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in India. It is situated in India, the birthplace of Sikhism and home to the largest Sikh population in the world. As with all gurdwaras, گرو کھنڈا صاحب welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ![Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/thumb.php?f=Kartarpur%20Guru%20Nanak.jpg&w=600) ### Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Pakistan 6.0 km away The gurdwara is open daily. The Kartarpu... Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, reverently known as Kartarpur Sahib, stands as one of the most sacred and historically profound sites in all of Sikhism. Situated in the town of Kartarpur within the Shakargarh Tehsil of Narowal District in Punjab, Pakistan, the gurdwara occupies the hallowed ground where Guru Nanak Dev Ji — the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus — spent the final eighteen years of his earthly life. Positioned on the right bank of the Ravi River, approximately 4.7 kilometres from the India-Pakistan international border, this shrine is widely regarded as the second holiest site in Sikhism, surpassed only by Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib — the birthplace of Guru Nanak. The gurdwara marks the place where Guru Nanak established the town of Kartarpur, believed to mean 'the abode of God' (Kartar meaning God and Pur meaning town or abode). Here, around 1515, after completing his great missionary journeys known as the Udasis across the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, Arabia, and beyond, Guru Nanak settled with his family. He began farming the land along the Ravi River, demonstrating the principle of honest labour, and assembled a growing congregation of devoted followers who gathered each day for spiritual instruction and communal worship. Kartarpur thus became the first tangible Sikh settlement — the birthplace of the Sikh community, or sangat, as a living institution. At Kartarpur, Guru Nanak articulated and practised three foundational principles that remain central to Sikh theology and daily life: Kirat Karo (earn your livelihood through honest labour), Naam Japo (meditate upon the name of God), and Vand Chako (share your earnings and blessings with others). The langar — the Sikh tradition of a free communal kitchen open to all — was formalised here, breaking caste and social barriers by ensuring that all visitors, regardless of background or belief, sat together as equals and shared a meal. The site is managed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) under the Government of Pakistan, which has undertaken multiple phases of preservation, restoration, and development. The complex today encompasses approximately 42 acres and includes the main shrine building, a museum, a library, dormitories for pilgrims, locker facilities, and an ancient brick well believed to have been constructed during Guru Nanak's own lifetime. The complex is accessible to Indian Sikh pilgrims via the Kartarpur Corridor — a landmark bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan — inaugurated on 9 November 2019, granting visa-free pilgrim access for the first time since the Partition of British India in 1947. Historical ### Gurdwara Sahib Ajnala Tahsil, India 13 km away Gurdwara Sahib is a community gurdwara that serves as a center for worship, congregation, and social services for the local Sikh community located in India. It is situated in India, the birthplace of Sikhism and home to the largest Sikh population in the world. As with all gurdwaras, Gurdwara Sahib welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds. The gurdwara serves as a place of worship where the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of the Sikhs) is kept with great reverence. The community gathers here for daily prayers (Nitnem), Kirtan (devotional singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), and Katha (religious discourse). The gurdwara operates a Langar (community kitchen) where free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. This practice, established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and formalized by Guru Angad Dev Ji, embodies the Sikh principles of equality, sharing, and selfless service (Seva). Community ## Detailed History The story of Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak is inseparable from the closing chapter of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's earthly life. After undertaking four major spiritual journeys (udasis) across the Indian subcontinent and beyond — including travels to Mecca, Baghdad, and Tibet — Guru Nanak settled at Kartarpur, a town he founded on the right bank of the Ravi River around 1504 CE. There he established the first Sikh commune, ploughed the fields himself to teach the dignity of honest labour, and institutionalised the langar as a lived expression of equality and seva. He remained at Kartarpur until his death on 22 September 1539. The origins of the present site lie in an act of filial devotion that followed Guru Nanak's passing. When the River Ravi began periodically flooding and encroaching upon the cremation site at Kartarpur, the Guru's eldest son, Baba Sri Chand (1494–1629) — himself a revered Sikh saint and the founder of the Udasi spiritual order — rescued the urn bearing his father's ashes and transported it to safety on the left (eastern) bank of the river. He reinterred the ashes at a sacred platform (tharra) beside the well of Ajitta Randhawa, a place where Guru Nanak had already sat and delivered spiritual discourses, beginning as early as December 1515 CE after his first udasi. Over this samadh (funerary memorial), Baba Sri Chand raised a dera — a permanent memorial encampment — honouring his father's memory and preserving the sanctity of the site. Guru Nanak's grandson, Baba Dharam Chand, subsequently formalised the settlement and named it Dera Baba Nanak. The Bedi family — direct patrilineal descendants of Guru Nanak tracing their lineage through Baba Dharam Chand and his two sons Manak Chand and Meher Chand — settled in the town and have been its custodians through successive generations, with the town's main bazaar lane historically dividing the two Bedi branches. The gurdwara received significant royal patronage during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In 1827, the Maharaja personally commissioned the application of gold-plated metal sheets on the sanctum pavilion and the exterior of the domed chamber above the Thara Sahib; hymns (shabads) of Guru Nanak were embossed on these gilded surfaces. Ranjit Singh also endowed the shrine with cash grants and agricultural land for its perpetual maintenance — an act of piety consistent with his patronage of other major Sikh shrines including Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. In the post-independence era, administrative management of the gurdwara passed to the SGPC. In recent years, a major new building was inaugurated, signalling the committee's sustained investment in modernising facilities for the growing influx of pilgrims. The most transformative development of the modern era came in November 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak, making the town the official Indian entry point for visa-free pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. Approximately 12,000 pilgrims attended the inaugural ceremonies. In 2024, India and Pakistan renewed their bilateral agreement on the corridor for a further five years, cementing the route's permanence. ## Structures in the Complex ### Thara Sahib prayer_hall The innermost sacred sanctum of the gurdwara complex, marking the ancient platform where Guru Nanak Dev Ji sat and preached. A small square pavilion houses the Guru Granth Sahib beneath a pinnacled lotus dome and gilded canopy. The exterior is clad in gold-plated metal sheets embossed with Guru Nanak's hymns, commissioned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1827. ### Main Darbar Hall prayer_hall A recently constructed spacious congregational prayer hall at one end of which the Thara Sahib stands. The hall accommodates large numbers of pilgrims for kirtan, ardas, and daily prayers, and is fitted with a sound system for broadcasting gurbani across the complex. ### Ajitta Randhawa Well museum The ancient well of Ajitta Randhawa, preserved in the basement beneath the main shrine. This well is historically significant as the gathering point beside which Guru Nanak sat and delivered his spiritual discourses during his visits to this locality. ### Langar Hall langar_hall A modern, well-equipped community kitchen and dining hall capable of serving hundreds of pilgrims simultaneously. Operates continuously throughout the day, serving simple vegetarian meals to all visitors free of charge, funded by voluntary contributions (dasvandh) and SGPC management. ### New Multi-Storey Complex entrance A recently inaugurated multi-storey building, attended at its opening by SGPC President Advocate Dhami, which houses expanded langar facilities, pilgrim accommodation, restrooms, administrative offices, and support services for the large volumes of pilgrims arriving via the nearby Kartarpur Corridor. ## Visitor Information ### Dress Code Head covering (rumal/dupatta) mandatory — available free at the entrance; shoes must be removed and left at the juta ghar (shoe stand); modest, conservative clothing required; no sleeveless tops or shorts ### Photography Photography generally permitted in outer courtyards and public areas with discretion; flash photography and photography directly of the Guru Granth Sahib inside the darbar hall is discouraged out of respect ### Etiquette Wash hands and feet at the entrance; bow before the Guru Granth Sahib on entering the darbar; sit on the floor facing the Granth Sahib; avoid turning your back to the holy scripture; silence or soft speech inside the darbar hall; mobile phones on silent mode; alcohol, tobacco, and non-vegetarian food strictly prohibited on premises ## Climate & Best Time to Visit ## Langar (Free Community Kitchen) The langar hall serves hundreds of pilgrims daily; on major festivals such as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, thousands are fed. The new multi-storey complex has significantly expanded langar capacity Seating Capacity ## Architecture The architectural centrepiece of Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak is the Thara Sahib — a small, square sanctum pavilion housing the Guru Granth Sahib, crowned with a pinnacled lotus dome and sheltered beneath an overhanging gilded canopy. The entire pavilion exterior is clad in gold-plated metal sheets, upon which selected hymns (shabads) of Guru Nanak have been beautifully embossed — a tradition dating to Maharaja Ranjit Singh's 1827 renovation and endowment. Above the main sanctum rises a square domed chamber with ornamental arched coping and elegant domed kiosks at each corner — a style characteristic of Sikh sacred architecture that harmoniously blends Mughal, Rajput, and indigenous Punjab traditions. The entire exterior above the roof level of this chamber is also covered in gold-plated metal sheets, giving the shrine its distinctive luminous appearance. The Thara Sahib stands at one end of a spacious congregational prayer hall, constructed in recent years to accommodate large numbers of pilgrims. Beneath the main hall, the Ajitta Randhawa Well is preserved as a sacred historical relic accessible to devotees. A modern multi-storey building, inaugurated in recent years and attended by SGPC leadership, houses the langar hall, pilgrim accommodation, restroom facilities, and administrative offices — blending contemporary construction with the traditional white marble and gilded aesthetic of Sikh sacred architecture. ## Structures in the Complex ### Thara Sahib prayer_hall The innermost sacred sanctum of the gurdwara complex, marking the ancient platform where Guru Nanak Dev Ji sat and preached. A small square pavilion houses the Guru Granth Sahib beneath a pinnacled lotus dome and gilded canopy. The exterior is clad in gold-plated metal sheets embossed with Guru Nanak's hymns, commissioned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1827. ### Main Darbar Hall prayer_hall A recently constructed spacious congregational prayer hall at one end of which the Thara Sahib stands. The hall accommodates large numbers of pilgrims for kirtan, ardas, and daily prayers, and is fitted with a sound system for broadcasting gurbani across the complex. ### Ajitta Randhawa Well museum The ancient well of Ajitta Randhawa, preserved in the basement beneath the main shrine. This well is historically significant as the gathering point beside which Guru Nanak sat and delivered his spiritual discourses during his visits to this locality. ### Langar Hall langar_hall A modern, well-equipped community kitchen and dining hall capable of serving hundreds of pilgrims simultaneously. Operates continuously throughout the day, serving simple vegetarian meals to all visitors free of charge, funded by voluntary contributions (dasvandh) and SGPC management. ### New Multi-Storey Complex entrance A recently inaugurated multi-storey building, attended at its opening by SGPC President Advocate Dhami, which houses expanded langar facilities, pilgrim accommodation, restrooms, administrative offices, and support services for the large volumes of pilgrims arriving via the nearby Kartarpur Corridor. ## Events & Celebrations ### gurpurab #### Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Prakash Utsav) The most significant festival at the gurdwara, celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, observed on the full moon day of Kartik (October–November). The celebrations span three days with akhand path (unbroken recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib), nagar kirtan (procession through town), all-night kirtan, and langar serving thousands of pilgrims from across Punjab and abroad. #### Hola Mohalla The Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla, instituted by Guru Gobind Singh, is observed the day after Holi. The gurdwara holds kirtan darbars and communal prayers, while the occasion is celebrated across Sikhism's sacred sites. ### festival #### Baisakhi Celebrated on April 13–14 each year, Baisakhi marks both the Punjabi new year and the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh. At Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, special ardas (prayers), kirtan programmes, and extended langar are held. Large congregations gather from surrounding villages and towns. #### Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali) Coinciding with Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Singh from Gwalior Fort. The gurdwara is illuminated with lights and diyas (lamps), and special kirtan and prayers are held to mark the occasion. ### historical #### Kartarpur Corridor Pilgrimage Season Following the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor in November 2019, peak pilgrimage season at Dera Baba Nanak aligns with Guru Nanak Gurpurab in November, when thousands of Sikh pilgrims gather at the PTB to cross into Pakistan for darshan at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. Special arrangements are made by the SGPC, Punjab government, and LPAI during this period. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### visiting Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak is open daily from approximately 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The gurdwara observes all major daily prayers (nitnem) including Asa di Var in the early morning and Rehras Sahib in the evening. Morning hours between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM are typically quietest and most peaceful for darshan. The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free pilgrimage passage inaugurated on 9 November 2019, connecting Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak in India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, where Guru Nanak spent his final 18 years. The Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at Dera Baba Nanak is the Indian entry point. Up to 5,000 Indian pilgrims per day can cross the 4.1 km corridor to visit Kartarpur Sahib without a visa, carrying only a valid Indian passport. From the border fence, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is visible to the naked eye. Yes. True to Sikh tradition, langar is served continuously throughout the day and is open to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, gender, or nationality — completely free of charge. On major festivals such as Guru Nanak Gurpurab and Baisakhi, langar operates around the clock serving thousands of pilgrims. Visitors are also warmly invited to participate in langar seva (volunteer service). Visitors must cover their head (scarves and rumals are provided free at the entrance), remove their shoes at the shoe stand (juta ghar), and wash their hands before entering. Modest, conservative clothing is required — no shorts or sleeveless tops. Inside the darbar hall, sit on the floor respectfully facing the Guru Granth Sahib, avoid turning your back to the scripture, and maintain a reverential silence or speak softly. Alcohol, tobacco, and meat are strictly prohibited on the premises. Dera Baba Nanak town has three major historic gurdwaras that pilgrims typically visit as a circuit: (1) Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib — the main shrine described here; (2) Gurdwara Sri Chola Sahib — in the eastern part of town, housing a cloak (chola) traditionally believed to have been presented to Guru Nanak by a Muslim devotee in Baghdad; and (3) Tahli Sahib — associated with Baba Sri Chand, eldest son of Guru Nanak and founder of the Udasi sect. ### history The gurdwara marks the site where the ashes of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, were interred by his son Baba Sri Chand following the Guru's death on 22 September 1539. Baba Sri Chand rescued the urn from the flooding Ravi River at Kartarpur and reburied the remains at the sacred Thara Sahib platform beside the Ajitta Randhawa Well, a spot where the Guru had previously preached. Guru Nanak's grandson Baba Dharam Chand named the settlement Dera Baba Nanak. In 1827, Maharaja Ranjit Singh embellished the sanctum with gold-plated metal sheets bearing the Guru's hymns. The Thara Sahib is the most sacred spot within the gurdwara complex. It marks the platform (tharra) where Guru Nanak Dev Ji would sit and deliver his spiritual teachings beside the Ajitta Randhawa Well. After the Guru's passing in 1539, his son Baba Sri Chand interred the Guru's ashes at this very platform, making it the sanctum that houses the Guru Granth Sahib today. The pavilion is covered in gold-plated metal sheets embossed with Guru Nanak's hymns, commissioned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1827. ### transport By Air: The nearest airport is Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar (~43 km); taxis are available from the airport. By Train: Dera Baba Nanak has its own railway station (code DBNK) with DEMU train services connecting to Amritsar. For long-distance travel, alight at Amritsar Junction and take a road connection. By Bus: Frequent Punjab Roadways and private buses connect Dera Baba Nanak to Gurdaspur (36 km) and Amritsar (~65 km). By Road: From Amritsar, take NH354 towards Batala and onward, approximately 65 km (~1.5 hours drive). Suggest an Edit Upload Photos ![Marker](https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/images/marker-icon.png) Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak Leaflet Get Directions → ### Contribute Help improve this page. Suggest edits, add photos, or share information about this Gurdwara. Suggest an Edit