Takht Sri Patna Sahib

Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna in 1666 and spent his early childhood here before the family moved to Punjab, and the gurudwara marking the house is one of the five takhts, the seats of temporal authority in Sikhism. The present white domed building dates largely from the twentieth century, rebuilt after an earthquake destroyed the earlier structure in 1934. It holds relics associated with the guru, including a cradle, a small sword and sandals. As at every gurudwara the langar runs continuously, and the site draws pilgrims from Punjab across the country, particularly around the guru's birth anniversary.

What you actually see

• The white domed shrine - the twentieth-century building on the birth site.
• The relics - the guru's cradle, sword and other objects on display.
• The langar - free meals served continuously to all comers.
• The old city lanes - Patna City around the gurudwara.

When to go

October to March; Prakash Parv, the guru's birth anniversary, falls in December or January and brings very large crowds. Bihar summers are severe.

Honest expectations

Heads must be covered and shoes left at the counter. The surrounding old city is congested and access slow. Photography inside is restricted.

Nearby

Patna's centre lies west; Nalanda is southeast.