Details of 9 Famous Temples in Punjab
Punjab is all about bhangra, bright colours, heartfelt and infectious laughs and an attitude that says Hakuna Matata! These lucky locals made the Land of Five Rivers what it is today. They know how to live a full life and surrounded by such magnificent terrain including majestic mountains, lush valleys and sparkling waterfalls, this Indian state is every traveller’s dream! There are never dull moments, only joy…what else? Punjab is the land of Sikhs and the main religion in the region is Sikhism – derived from the sermons of Master Nanak. However, today’s Punjab is inhabited by people of all castes and religions, including Hindus, Muslims, Jains and Christians. As such, it is indeed home to some of the most stunning and religiously revered temples in India. Yes, we’ve all heard of the Punjab Golden Temple, haven’t we? As one of the best places to start your religious journey, we have the perfect checklist to help you out.Pilgrimage through puns
Poke through these top picks.
The most famous temples in Punjab you must visit:
1. Amritsar Golden Temple:
Very popular Punjab temple, “Golden Temple” also known as Harmandir Sahib Temple in Amritsar. It is known as the holiest Sikh Guru Dwara in the world and its upper layer is covered with gold. The history of golden temples in Punjabi culture makes this place even more popular. Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, founded Gurudwara in 1574. The temple has four entrance gates, signifying that people of all religions are welcome to enter. During the day, Guru Granth Sahib, the holiest textbook of Sikhism, is present. The free community kitchen serves 100,000 people a day with meals or langar. In terms of time and dress code, Golden Temple Punjabi information is easily available online.
2. Jayanti Devi Temple in Ropar District:
Jayanti Devi Temple is located in the Ropal district, 15 kilometers outside Chandigarh. It is dedicated to Jayanti Devi, goddess of victory. It is located on a hill in the Shivalik Mountains. To reach the main site of the temple, devotees have to climb a hundred steps from the huge gate at the base. The temple also houses Lord Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Lokadev and Balasundari. It is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Punjab. The temple attracts more than 150,000 visitors during the annual fair held on the full moon day in February and August each year. Navaratri is also widely celebrated in this temple.
[See Also: Main Festivals of Punjab]
3. Mata Mansa Devi Temple in Panchkula District:
In the Panchkura district on the outskirts of Chandigarh, there is the Matamataman Sadvi Temple. Spread at the foothills of the Shivalik Mountains, this temple is dedicated to another form of the Shakti goddess, Mansa Devi. Known as one of the main Shakti temples in northern India, the temple widely attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees during the nine days of Navaratri. It tops the list of famous temples in Punjab.
4. Temple of Durgiana in Amritsar:
Durgiana Temple is a Hindu temple located in the city of Amritsar with an architecture similar to the famous Golden Temple. It is dedicated to Goddess Durga, who is also the main deity of Goddess Lakshmi and Vishnu. The original temple was built in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1921. It was built in the middle of a sacred lake and a bridge provided access to the temple. The main festivals celebrated here are Dussehra, Janmashtami, Ram Navami and Diwali.
5. Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple in Pathankot City:
Located near the city of Pathankot, the Mukhteshwar Mahadev Temple is a popular shrine to Lord Shiva. It also has idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Hanuman and Goddess Parvati. The temple stands tall on the top of the mountain. Mukesran Da Mela is a bazaar commemorating Baisakhi and is widely celebrated here along with Shivaratri, Chaitya Chodiya and Navaratri.
6. Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Ludhiana District:
Gurdwara Manji Sahib is located in Alamgir Village, Ludhiana District. It is said that the tenth Guru Gobin Singh of Sikhism shot an arrow into the ground when he reached Aramgil, where a spring, now known as Tisa, appeared. He is also said to have been gifted a horse here by a devoted follower.
[See Also: Top Honeymoon Places in Punjab]
7. Akal Takht of Amritsar:
Akal Takht is one of the five takht or seats of power in Sikhism. It was built by the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, and is located in the complex of Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara. It was built as a place for justice and consideration of time. The current building is a five-storey building with inlaid marble and gold leaf domes.
8. Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib of Fatehgarh Sahib:
The Sikh Gurdwara or Place of Worship in Fatehgarh Sahib City is located in Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, built in 1710 by Sikhs under the leadership of Banda Bahadur. In the main complex of gurdwara there are many other gurdwaras such as Bhora Sahib, Burj Mata Gujri, Shahid Ganj and a hall called Todar Mal Jain Hall and a sacred pool or Sarovar.
9. Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib by Tarn Taran Sahib:
Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib is a Sikh place of worship located in the city of Tarn Taran Sahib. The gurdwara complex is known to have the largest sacred pool or sarovar of all the gurdwaras. The monthly gathering of pilgrims on Amawas day or night of the new moon is famous here. The fifth Sikh guru, guru Arjan DevJi founded this gurdwara in 1590.
[See Also: Beautiful Places to Visit in Punjab]
So now you know where to look for the perfect spiritual calling in the beauty of nature and the culture-filled atmosphere. The Golden Temple in Punjab, India is on every traveller’s bucket list, religious or not! Apart from visiting temples, there is a lot to do. From enjoying authentic Chole Bature to enjoying various dance forms such as bhangra, giddha and jhumar, this land of five rivers will never disappoint. Please write to share with us your experience of Punjab pilgrimage. We’d love to hear your feedback on this guide and hope it proves helpful. I wish you a good trip and wish you forever.