Gurdwara Dera Sahib

Name of Monument: Gurdwara Dera Sahib

Location: Lahore

Date of Construction: Seventeenth Century

Gurdwara Dera Sahib is located in a cluster of historic building comprised of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Roshnai Gate and Hazuri Bagh. Guru Hargobind erected it in 1619, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh later expanded it but there was not any congregational hall which was added in in 1909, after which daily congregations are regularly held. Gurudwara Dera Sahib features a square walkway, a community cafeteria, and a dining room to accommodate pilgrims who travel visit the complex from all over the world. For the convenience of pilgrims, a sarai and a marble gate was built along with Nishan sahib (flag post).

This Gurdwara symbolizes the Sikh tradition and marks the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1606), the 5th Guru in the series who had first compiled the Adi Granth, the principal part of Sikh scriptures. Adi Granth also provided basis for Guru Granth Sahib, the living Guru in the form of scripture after the series of ten human Gurus ended at Guru Gobind Singh. This Gurdwara monument is a best example of Sikh religious architecture.

The Architecture was heavily influenced from Mughal and Rajput Architecture – the two great dynasties of the sub-continent. “Its dome is a masterpiece, which reflects the magnificent values of dedication, wonderful intricacy and its line work. The dome, frescoes, in-lay work, and multi-foil arches (more elongated) were influenced from late Mughal-Rajput architecture. It is beauty of Lahore that it provides mixture of architectural skills, historic revelations and religious attachment for Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.” The dome of Gurdwara Dera Sahib, its artwork with multi-foil arches, frescoes and in-lay works was inspired from late Mughal architecture. History reveals that Guru Hargobind, the successor of Guru Arjan Dev had built a memorial here in 1619. The main Gurudwara building with gilded dome was built during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign.