Visit Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara in Agra: A Major Pilgrim Destination in Agra For The Sikh Community and For Tourists (2024)
An introduction to Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara
The province of Uttar Pradesh has always been a popular pilgrimage destination for tourists and pilgrims from all parts of the world. You can find numerous temples dedicated to the Hindu community, Mosques, Churches, Buddhist and Jain monasteries and places of worship, Gurudwaras, etc. Many of these are well known all over the country, and we are going to take a look at one of these magnificent places, which is located in Agra and also a major pilgrim destination for the Sikh community and for the tourists there – Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara.
An Overview of Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara
The Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara is a prominent place of worship for the followers of the Sikh community, located in the city of Agra. The Gurudwara has been established in the memory of the ninth guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, and his services to the community. During the regime of the Mughals, not every community was allowed to practice their own beliefs, and under the rule of Aurangzeb, some of the famous religious personalities were martyred. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, too, was among one of the known religious personalities from the Sikh community who voluntarily sacrificed his life and was not willing to go against his religion and his beliefs. The Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara was constructed to pay homage to his courageous and inspiring act that motivated and encouraged others.
The interiors of the Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara can be described as something which catches all our attention in no time. The compound once used to consist of 12 towers, and even now, it has got eight in a row. The Gurudwara, which has been constructed with red stone, resembles the other red sandstone structures like Red fort, sites in Fatehpur Sikri, etc.
The Story Behind Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara
The establishment of the Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara took place in the midst of the seventeenth century. The word Tal refers to the water reservoirs which used to exist here before the construction of the Gurudwara. This was one of the big reservoirs present at that time whose water was primarily used for agricultural purposes, collected as rainwater.
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The reservoir, too, had many inscriptions and carvings above it, which provided it with a graphical portrayal. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji also offered to arrest himself but didn’t give up his belief in the religion he is practicing even before the Mughal throne. To commemorate his bravery and sacrifice, commitment towards the sanctity of the religion, the Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara was established above the reservoir.
How to Reach Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara?
By Road: No wonder that the city of Agra beholds another major pilgrim destination and a monument of strong religious prominence. The proximity of Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara to the Taj Mahal makes it to be placed in a major hotspot of the city. The Gurudwara can be reached via roadways comfortably as both the modes of transportation are available here.
By Rail: The major railway station of Agra is located just 10 km away from the Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara. Agra is a prominent railway central here, which has rail line connectivity that extends to even the farthest cities of South India.
By Air: The Jagnair road connects the Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara with the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay airport of Agra. The airport has good access and connectivity to all major parts of India.
Credit: Trocals Image Source
Conclusion
Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara is a good example of standing for one’s belief in his religion, whatever happens, and whoever opposes it. Apart from being a major place of worship, it has some story behind it and deserves a visit when you are in Agra. So plan your trip to Agra and do visit Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara.
