Anandpur Sahib (Rupnagar district)

Anandpur Sahib, in Rupnagar district of Punjab, is one of the holiest cities of Sikh history. It was founded in 1665 by the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, who purchased land near Kiratpur and established a new settlement called Chak Nanki after his mother, Mata Nanaki. Over time the town expanded and came to be known as Anandpur Sahib – “City of Bliss.”

Its greatest historical importance comes from the period of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. He made Anandpur his main headquarters, built forts around it, and turned it into a spiritual-military centre of the Sikhs. On Baisakhi 1699, at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, initiating the first five beloved ones (Panj Pyare) and giving Sikhs a distinct identity of faith and discipline.

In the early 18th century, Anandpur saw repeated battles between the Sikhs, the hill rajas and Mughal forces, eventually leading to the difficult evacuation of the city in 1704–05. Though the Guru and many Sikhs left, the memory of Anandpur as the birthplace of the Khalsa remained central.

In later centuries the town was rebuilt and flourished again. Today, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur is one of the five Sikh Takhts, and the city is a major pilgrimage centre, especially during Hola Mohalla.