Anandpur Sahib
Where the Khalsa was founded in 1699, and where Hola Mohalla fills the town with horsemen each spring.
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Anandpur Sahib was founded in 1665 and it is where Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa in 1699, which makes it one of the most significant places in Sikhism. Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five seats of Sikh authority, stands at the centre. The following day after Holi, the town holds Hola Mohalla, instituted by the tenth guru as a martial gathering rather than a festival of colour: Nihang Sikhs in blue robes ride at speed, perform gatka swordplay, tent pegging and bareback stunts over three days, camped in the fields around. The Virasat-e-Khalsa museum, opened in 2011, covers Sikh history.
What you actually see
- Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib - one of the five seats of Sikh authority.
- Hola Mohalla - Nihang horsemen, gatka and martial displays in spring.
- Virasat-e-Khalsa - the museum of Sikh history above the town.
- The surrounding forts - the hill fortifications of the guru's period.
When to go
October to March for comfortable weather; Hola Mohalla falls the day after Holi, in March, and is the reason many visitors time a trip, though the town is overwhelmed then.
Honest expectations
Hola Mohalla crowds are enormous and accommodation impossible without booking far ahead. Heads must be covered in the gurudwaras. Horse displays are fast and spectators need to keep well back.
Nearby
Chandigarh lies southeast; Rupnagar is south.
What to pack for Anandpur Sahib
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.