Location: Gurdaspur
Top Things to do in Gurdaspur
Top 6 Things to do in Gurdaspur, India
Gurdaspur is a City in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India, between the rivers Beas and Raavi, 10 km from the international border between India and Pakistan. It houses the administrative headquarters of Gurdaspur District and is in the geographical centre of the district.
1. Nurpur Fort, Himachal Pradesh
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Meetume2 - New Delhi, India
It was accident that we tripped to Nurpur Fort, a very small and quite place, ASI has done a great job to keep the place CLEAN and well maintained. Two temples, beautiful lawns and nice open view of Dholadhar ridges it is a place to send an autumn afternoon, a good picnic spot. Just keep it clean. School inside fort too is a wonderful touch.
2. Mahakaleshwar Temple
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By KomillaS - Brentwood, California
The Mahakaleshwar Shiva Temple is a hidden delight. One of the rare temples where Shiva lingham is sleeping. This is the first time I have seen this.
The temple itself is very spiritual. The priest was welcoming and helped each of us do a puja and abhishekham - offering water to the lingham
I had heard of this temple and came to visit as part of visit to Amritsar. It took about one hour by car. You can get a map for Gurdaspur and Kalanaur is on the map.
3. Dhianpur Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Pankaj_Meerut - Meerut, India
Shri Dhianpur Dham Temple
Shri Dhianpur Dham is the Vaishnav Dwara established by Dwaracharya Jagatguru Shri Bawa Lal Ji in AD 1495. It is also the divine abode of Supreme Lord Shri Bawa Lal ji, where he spent considerable period of his life and has continued to be present through the disciple succession of the Vaishnav Gaddi of Shri Dhianpur Dham. Shri Dhianpur Dham is the most sacred holy place for pilgrimage among the followers of Shri Bawa Lal Sampradaya.
Shri Dhianpur Dham temple complex which is situated on a hillock has the sacred Samadhi of Supreme Lord Shri Bawa Lal Ji and Shri Gurumukh Lal Ji, the first successor of Lord Shri Bawa Lal Ji, Vyas Gaddi and Ram Mandir.
Shri Dhianpur Dham is an eternal residence of Shri Bawa Lal Ji, where he himself has taken the form of Samadhi, just to make it convenient for devotees to worship Him. Shri Dhianpur Dham is visited by hundreds of thousands of people from throughout the world. Devotees experience the divinity of the most merciful incarnation of Supreme Lord Shri Bawa Lal ji, and offer prayers, obeisance and prostrations, and perform circumambulations of Samadhi place for the elevation of spiritual consciousness, felicity, liberation from sufferings and fulfilment of the spiritual as well as mundane desires. After praying at Samadhi of Shri Bawa Lal Ji devotees also worship and pay homage at the Samadhi of Shri Gurmukh Lal Ji.
Vyas Gaddi of Shri Dhianpur Dham is the sovereign throne of Shri Bawa Lal Sampraday, from where Acharya Shri Maharajji, the successor of Shri Bawa Lal ji, gives divine appearance to the devotees. Devotees offer prostrations and take blessings from Acharya Shri Maharajji for fulfilment of their wishes. Acharya Shri Maharajji gives prasadam to all his devotees, which has his blessings residing within it.
Shri Dhianpur Dham Temple complex has also the divine Peepal tree which existed from the time of Shri Bawa Lal ji and near to it, is Shivalya temple.
Ram Mandir situated in the temple complex was built by the 7th Vaishnachaya of Shri Dhianpur Dham adores the beautiful deities of the Maryada Purushotama avatar Lord Shri Ramachandra with Shri Sita and Shri Lakshmana in the main altar, also the ardent devotee of Lord Shri Rama, Hanuman ji in altar opposite to main. In one of the altars of Ram Mandir is displayed the historical holy relics related to the life of Satguru Shri Bawa Lal Ji. On the walls of Ram Mandir, are painted murals covering Hindu religious personalities portraying several rishis including Vashishtha, Markandeya, Narada, Valmiki and Vyasa Deva. The murals also depict Satyavadi Raja Harish Chandra, Ramanandacharya and Tulsi Dasa. A large panel illustrates the battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Another large panel portrays fourteen Mahant of the Shri Dhianpur Dham with Satguru Bawa Lal Ji in the centre.
Attraction:
Duj Kirtan
Duj, the second day of the bright half of each month of the Hindu calendar is celebrated in the remembrance of the most merciful incarnation of Supreme Lord Shri Bawa Lal ji, who appeared in Kasur, Punjab in AD 1355 (Magh Shukla Dwitiya VS 1412). Among different phases of moon, on this particular bright phase, Dwitya, ecstatic kirtan is organised in Shri Dhianpur Dham Temple to commemorate the appearance day festivity of the Lordship.
The festival begins in the evening with the Duj Kirtan, organised in the inner courtyard of the temple complex, in front of the sacred Samadhi of Shri Bawa Lal ji. A huge gathering arrives to witness the festivity and the whole atmosphere of the temple is vibrant with the enchanting Kirtan. Later on, His Divine Holiness Shri Maharajji gives appearance to all the devotees, presiding congregation of the Duj Kirtan.
The presence of His Divine Holiness Shri Maharajji exemplifies the thrilling joy of the devotees singing bhajans in ecstatic mood of pure devotional love, glorifying Lord Shri Bawa Lal ji. His Divine Holiness Shri Maharajji performs the puja of the divine images of Shri Bawa Lal ji with the divine successors offering flowers, tilak, prasadam, fragnances and colourful embroidered handkerchiefs.
At midnight, the Aarti of Shri Bawa Lal ji is performed by His Divine Holiness Shri Maharajji. After the aarti and the bhoga offerings, His Divine Holiness Shri Maharajji, shows the divine images of Shri Bawa Lal Ji and the divine successors.
The devotees take assuring glimpse of divine photos and realise the true glory of Shri Bawa Lal ji. This fills them with pure devotional ecstasy. Devotees offer prayers, obeisance and advances the pure devotional life.
Baoli
The Boali is a sacred step well in Shri Dhianpur Dham which was originally built in the life period of Shri Bawa Lal ji.
Shri Bawa Lal Ji conducted a huge congregational meeting of saints and sages invited from all parts of India at sacred Boali in Shri Dhianpur Dham. The meeting held discussions on various divine subjects of Hinduism and other religions. The enlightening discussion unveiled the absolute transcendental truth and fulfilled the spiritual quest of everybody present in Shri Dhianpur Dham. All were profoundly influenced with the divinity and sovereignty of Shri Bawa Lal ji and Shri Dhianpur Dham.
All noble saints present in the meeting, presented honour to Shri Bawa Lal ji and with their mystical energies and divine powers gifted boon to Boali that ,“ Anyone who takes bath in the sacred Boali of Shri Dhianpur Dham while remembering Shri Bawa Lal ji will be liberated from the sufferings and fulfil one’s mundane and spiritual desires”.
The 11th Vaishnavacharya Shri Harinam Das ji Maharajji built huge walls on all sides around the Boali with an entrance gate. Beautiful paintings depicting the congregational meetings of saints and sages in Shri Dhianpur Dham adorns the walls of the sacred Boali.
The divinity of sacred Boali of Shri Dhianpur Dham is incredible and a large number of people since time immemorial have experienced its divine grace and benefitted by taking bath in it. Devotees coming to Shri Dhianpur Dham, take prior permission from His Divine Holiness Shri Maharajji for taking bath in the sacred Boali. The devotees pray and chant the holy name of Shri Bawa Lal ji and make their wishes while taking bath in the sacred water of divine Boali.
Married couples not having a child even for many years are also blessed with offspring which fills their life with the love of little ones.
The ritual holds that the women not having child, taking bath in the sacred Boali on the Chanana Shanivar (Saturdays of the bright fortnight coming twice in each month) and the divine prasadam given by His Divine Holiness Shri Maharajji having his blessings residing within it, fulfils the wishes of all women.
The sacred Boali in Shri Dhianpur Dham has divine mystical powers which provides relief from diseases, gratification of worldly desires and attainment of inner peace through fulfilment of mundane as well as spiritual desires of the people.
How to reach:
Airways
The nearest airport for coming to Shri Dhianpur Dham is the ‘Raja Sansi Airport’ of Amritsar. From there, any vehicle can be taken to reach Dhianpur.
Railways
The nearest Railway station is at Batala, but the main railway station is at Amritsar from there any vehicle can be taken to reach Dhianpur.
Roadways
Dhianpur is in Punjab state, district Gurdaspur, 19 Kms away from Batala. On this route, after travelling 16 Kms, we reach a village ‘Kotli’. Then on turning left, after 3 kms we reach Dhianpur.
The other route is 38 kms from Amrisar Railway station via ‘Fatehgarh Churian’. 6 kms from Fatehgarh Churian is a village ‘Kala Afgana’. On turning left from ‘Kala Afgana’ and travelling 6 kms we reach Dhianpur in one and a quarter hour.
Where to stay in Dhianpur
Accommodation
Accomodation is provided to the devotees visiting Shri Dhianpur Dham within the guesthouse buildings of the temple, at free of cost with the prior permission from the authorities, depending on your stay in Shri Dhianpur Dham. During festival times it is very difficult to find the rooms at the last minute, no advance booking facility available.
Prasadam
Pilgrims are served tea/snacks in the morning, lunch and dinner in temple prasadam hall at no cost.
Timings:
April - September October - March
Tea/Snacks 7:00 AM 7:00 AM
Lunch 12:30 PM 12:00 PM
Dinner 8:00 PM 7:30 PM
Drinking Water
You can get pure filtered water at free of cost at various water coolers located at different locations in the temple complex or prasadam hall.
Parking Facility
Parking space is available for all types of vehicles at free of cost in the temple’s parking area.
Telephone and Internet
You can avail the telephone and internet facilities within the temple complex or many public call booths are also available outside the temple complex. The information centre can give you further details.
Lost and Found Department
Give details of your lost possessions in the temple information centre. The management is not responsible for any loss or damage of personal possessions. Contact the Temple information centre.
Etiquette to be observed in Shri Dhianpur Dham
Temples
It is advice not to wear shoes when visiting temples or doing parikramas.
Outfits
Ladies are requested to wear respectable clothes to respect the dignity of the place. They should wear sufficient and thick clothing while bathing in the Lal Sarover/Boali. Men should also wear decent dress especially not in shorts.
Weather
Winter (November to March): Weather is mild and pleasant, can be cold. Warm clothes recommended.
Summer (April to June): Weather is hot and sunny. Light cotton clothes.
Monsoon (July to October): Rainy season.
Rooms
Always keep your room locked and submit the keys to the authorities before departure. The authorities are not responsible for any loss or damage to personal possessions.
Behaviour
Visitors are requested to be polite while entering in the dham. Avoid impolite and rude language.
Intoxicants
Smoking, tobacco, alcohol and drugs are prohibited in the temple complex as well as guest rooms.
Important
Do not allow strangers in your room.
Always keep your room locked.
Take care of your valuables; the authorities will not be responsible for any damage or loss of possessions.
If you have any indications of sickness please inform the devotees at the information centre for medical help.
Do not go alone to take a bath in the Lal Sarovar. Go in a group. Do not go out too deep into the water even if you are a good swimmer
4. Shri Pindori Dham Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By ArpanaSaini
Our gurujis place. Our temple! Our heaven! My god resides there. Go if u have faith on almighty. I have been visiting since by birth. It is a historic place with blessings of fifteen gurus. Our generations have been sevaks here and will contiune to be. As they say, faith is the strongest thing in this world. If you believe in something than anything is possible and this place is the existing example of this. Shri Pindori Dham is our saviour and will always be.
5. Achaleshwar Temple
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By KomillaS - Brentwood, California
Lord Kartikeya is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There are many temples for him in South India and this is one of the rare ones in North India. I was informed about this temple on a visit to a Kartikeya temple in South India. so made a special pilgrimage to Shree Achaleshwar temple.
I was surprised at the beauty and grandeur of the temple. It is pristine in white marble. In the inner sanctum there are two linghams- for father Shiva and son Kartikeya. After visiting the temple you come to a grand hall and there is a beautiful Sarovar and an rare Rudra temple in the Sarovar. The Rudra temple has 11 linghams and then surrounding the main Rudra temple are four other small Rudra temple representing the four cardinal directions. Together the five temples of Rudra together - I have never seen before.
A must visit - I was so pleased that I made the special effort to go there.
Tip. You can combine this Temple visit with Shree Kaleshwara Shiva temple in Kalanaur which is about 30 minutes away by car.
6. Achal Sahib
Overall Ratings
3 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Deep B
guru nanak dev ji vist in this place ,there is also a mandir .its good place so every one should visit and pay obeysense to guru nanak dev ji.its situated on the highway of batala to Jalandhar .waheguru ji
