Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Tarn Taran)
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Tarn Taran) is an elegant three storeyed structure at the southeastern corner of the sarovar. Approached through a double - storeyed arched gateway, it stands in the middle of a marble - floored platform. The upper portion of the edifice is covered with glittering gold plated sheets. The lotus dome, damaged in an earthquake (4 April 1905) and subsequently reconstructed has an ornamental gold pinnacle with an umbrella shaped gold finial. Exquisitely executed stucco work in intricate designs, inset with reflecting glass pieces, decorate the interior walls and the ceiling. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a platform under an elongated dome covered with goldplated metal sheets. This throne was an offering from Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh. A relay recital of Kirtan goes on from early morning till late in the evening. One of the largest of the Sikh holy tanks, it is an approximate rectangle in shape. Its northern and southern sides are 289 metres and 283 metres, respectively, and eastern and western sides 230 metres and 233 metres, respectively. The sarovar was originally fed by rain water that flowed in from the surrounding lands. In 1833, Maharaja Raghubir Singh of Jmd had a water channel dug, connecting the tank with the Lower Kasur Branch of the Upper Ban Doab Canal at Rasulpur watermills, 5 km to the southeast. The channel was cemented and covered in 192728 by Sant Gurmukh Singh and Sant Sadhu Singh. They also supervised karseva , i.e. complete desilting of the tank through voluntary service, in 1931. The operation was repeated in 1970 under Sant Jivan Singh. Most of the bungas around the sarovar have now been demolished and a verandah constructed instead along the periphery.
Goindval Sahib
Goindwal Sahib was the first center of Sikhism and was established by Guru Amar Das. This in fact was the spot where the ancient eastwest highway crossed the River Beas. With the renovation of the highway by Sher Shalh Suri, the Afghan ruler of north India (1540-45), this ferry site became an important transit point. This led one Goinda or Gonda, a Marvaha Khatri trader, to plan establishing an habitation at the western end of the ferry. Thwarted in his endeavour by natural calamities which Goinda attributed to evil spirits, he repaired to Khadur to seek Guru Angad's blessing. The Guru deputed his devoted disciple, (Guru) Amar Das, to help Goinda. Amar Das, who knew that track very well as he had been carrying river water from this place to Khadur daily for his Master's ablutions, laid the foundation of a village which was named after Goinda. After his apointment as Guru in 1552, Guru Amar Das shifted from Khadur to Goindval. In 1559, Guru Amar Das commenced the digging in Goindval of a baoli, i.e. a well with steps descending down to water level which, when completed, attracted pilgrims from far and near. Goindval also became ,in the time of Guru Amar Das, the centre of an annual fair on the occasion of Baisakhi. Even after Guru Amar Das's successor. Guru Ram Das, had built up Amritsar and made it his permanent seat, devotees continued to visit Goindval to have a dip in the sacred baoli and pay homage at other local shrines.
THARA SAHIB SRI GURU AMAR DAS JI
THARA SAHIB SRI GURU AMAR DAS JI is a marblelined platform, with a pinnacled canopy of white marble supported on cylinderical columns, at the entrance to Sri Baoli Sahib. It marks the site where Guru Amar Das used to sit supervising the digging of the Baoli.
SRI DARBAR SAHIB or Prakash Asthan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, adjacent to Sri Baoli Sahib, is a square hall with a sanctum in the centre where the Guru Granth Sahib is seated. daily congregations take place in this hall.
LANGAR SRI GURU AMAR DAS ji
LANGAR SRI GURU AMAR DAS ji, in the vicinity of the Darbar Sahib, is a largesized refectory, with kitchens attached. GURU AMAR DAS NIVAS, behind the Baoli Sahib, is a two-storeyed building providing lodging for pilgrims.
GURDWARA SRI CHUBARA SAHIB
GURDWARA SRI CHUBARA SAHIB, in a different complex which was once the residence of Guru Amar Das and his family, is the attic in which the Guru himself lived. It is a small room with a still smaller room entered through it. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated in the front room on a silver pdlaki or portable canopied throne. This room has doors covered with silver. The interior is decorated with stucco work inset with reflccing glass pieces and intricate designs in many colours. KILLI SAHIB, a small wooden peg (killi in Punjabi) now covered with a silver sheath, is fixed in the front wall of Sri Chubara Sahib on the outside. Guru Amar Das, it is said, used to meditate in the standing posture holding on to this peg for support. An embossed design on a brass plate above the Killi Sahib depicts Guru Nanak, flanked by Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana, sitting under a tree. Another embossed sketch shows Guru Amar Das and his sons, Baba Mohari and Baba Mohan.
GURIAI ASTHAN GURU RAM DAS
GURIAI ASTHAN GURU RAM DAS, marks the spot where Guru Ram Das was anointed Guru. A brass plate donated by a descendant of Guru Amar Das in 1920 has etched on it the scene of the ceremony in which Bhai Gurdas is holding a whisk over the head of Guru Ram Das, Baba Buddha is putting the saffron mark on his forehead and Guru Amar Das is standing behind Baba Buddha, while Baba Mohari is touching the feet of Guru Ram Das and Baba Mohan is sitting in meditation on a deerskin. Next to them are figures of 22 prominent Sikhs on whom Guru Amar Das is said to have bestowed manjis, the insignia of appointment as preachers in their respective districts.
JOTI JOT ASTHAN PATSHAHI
JOTI JOT ASTHAN PATSHAHI,a small marbled pavilion next to Guriai Asthan, was built on the site of the room in which Guru Amar Das died on 1 September 1574. Guru Ram Das also died in that room exactly seven years later.
JANAM ASTHAN SRi GURU ARJAN DEVJI
JANAM ASTHAN SRi GURU ARJAN DEVJI is a room, in the same compound as Sri Chubara Sahib, where Guru Arjan was born. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated in this room.
CHUBARA BABA MOHAN Jl
CHUBARA BABA MOHAN Jl marks the spot where Baba Mohan, the ascetic son of Guru Amar Das, used to live in an upstairs room (chubdrd, in Punjabi). It was here that Guru Arjan received from Baba Mohan the pothu containing hymns for use in the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib. The present room in which the Guru Granth Sahib is seated is on the ground floor. Among the relics preserved in the Chubara Sahib complex is the palanquin in which the pothlswere carried to Amritsar and then brought back to Goindval.
Khadur Sahib
Khadur Sahib is the sacred village where Guru Angad the second Master lived for 13 years, spreading the universal message of Guru Nanak. Here he introduced Gurmukhi Lipi, wrote the first Gurmukhi Primer, established the first Sikh school and prepared the first Gutka of Guru Nanak Sahib’s Bani. It is the place where the first Mal Akhara, for wrestling, was established and where regular campaigns against intoxicants and social evils were started by Guru Angad. The Stately Gurdwara here is known as The Guru Angad Dev Gurdwara.
This was the family home of Guru Angad Dev. The Guru settled here when he was married to Mata Khivi and raised their three children here. Guru Angad Dev established this as his religious centre on the advice of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and spent the rest of his life living at Khadur.
Gurdwara Bir Baba Buddha Ji
Gurdwara Bir Baba Budha is situated on the right side of village Thatha on the Amritsar Patti road. Baba Budha was a disciple of Guru Nanak. He lived from the period of Guru Nanak till the period of Guru Hargobind Sahib. He invested all the Gurus from Guru Angad Dev to Guru Hargobind Sahib in their high offices. He also used to take care of the Guru’s cattle in the Bir (forest). Being without a child for many years Guru Arjan Dev's wife Ganga Devi became anxious. Guru Arjan Dev told her; "If you wish a child, ask a pious Sikh like Baba Buddha, the aged seer and devout disciple of Guru Nanak for a blessing". Ganga Devi went to seek the blessings of Baba Buddha with a large entourage. She presented Baba Buddha with many delicacies to eat. Baba Buddha refused to provide any blessings. Upon hearing what happened, Guru Arjan Dev told his wife to return this time on foot, with a simple meal prepared by herself. This time Baba Buddha was delighted and partook of the simple food. He prophesied; "A son will be born to you who will crush the enemies of Nanak's house, just as I have crushed this onion with my hand." That prophecy was to soon thereafter come true with the birth of Guru Hargobind in 1595.
When the work of digging the Amrit Sarovar was undertaken during the time of Guru Ram Das and continued through the Guruship of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Baba Ji was nominated as the coordinator of the volunteers. There still stands a Jujubee tree on the border of the Sarovar where Baba Ji sat while performing his responsibilities.Today millions of people visit at Gurdwara Bir Baba Buddha Ji to get His blessings of a son.