Gurudwaras of Ayodhya: Sikh Heritage of the Holy City

Ayodhya, sacred to so many traditions, is also a Sikh pilgrimage destination. The principal gurudwaras stand near Brahma Kund and Nazarbagh, and they commemorate visits by three of the ten Sikh Gurus to the city of Lord Rama.

The Gurus’ visits to Ayodhya

According to the Janamsakhi tradition and the Sikhan di Bhagat Mala of Bhai Mani Singh:

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Guru Nanak (1469–1539 CE), the founder of Sikhism, visited Ayodhya during one of his four great udasis (missionary journeys), travelling here from Varanasi. His teachings on the unity of God and the equality of all human beings were delivered to the devotees of Lord Rama gathered at the city. The site of his stay near Brahma Kund is marked by the principal gurudwara.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675 CE), the ninth Guru, visited Ayodhya in the course of his extensive travels through eastern India. He stopped at the same site as Guru Nanak, blessing the local Sikh community and the broader devotional gathering of the city.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708 CE), the tenth Guru and son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, visited Ayodhya as a young Guru. The connection between the warrior-saint tradition of the tenth Guru and the warrior-king tradition of Lord Rama is reflected in the writings he composed praising Rama in the Dasam Granth: including the celebrated Ramavtar canto.

What Sikh pilgrims experience

The principal gurudwara complex includes:

• A darbar sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib is installed and recited continuously
• Langar (the community kitchen serving free meals): open to all visitors regardless of faith, in keeping with the Sikh tradition
• A small museum with paintings and accounts of the Gurus’ visits
• Sangat halls for community kirtan and reading

Visiting

• Timings: Open from approximately 4:00 am to 9:00 pm. Continuous path (recitation) of Guru Granth Sahib through the day.
• Langar: served at midday and evening; all are welcome regardless of faith.
• Gurpurabs: the anniversaries of the Gurus’ birth and shahidi: are celebrated with substantial Sikh pilgrim arrivals from Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
• Dress: head covering is required (a clean cloth or the gurudwara provides one). Remove shoes and wash hands before entering.
• The gurudwaras are a few minutes’ walk from the Sarayu ghats and from Ramkot.

Nearby

Sarayu · Ramkot · Hanuman Garhi · Nageshwarnath