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Gurudwara
Bangla
Sahib
(listen)
is
one
of
the
most
prominent
Sikh
gurdwaras,
or
Sikh
house
of
worship,
in
Delhi,
India,
and
known
for
its
association
with
the
eighth
Sikh
Guru,
Guru
Har
Krishan,
as
well
as
the
holy
pond
inside
its
complex,
known
as
the
"Sarovar."
It
was
first
built
as
a
small
shrine
by
Sikh
General
Sardar
Baghel
Singh
in
1783,
on
the
bungalow
donated
by
king
Raja
Jai
Singh
of
Amer,
who
supervised
the
construction
of
nine
Sikh
shrines
in
Delhi
in
the
same
year,
during
the
reign
of
Mughal
Emperor,
Shah
Alam
II.
It
is
situated
near
Connaught
Place,
New
Delhi
on
Baba
Kharak
Singh
Marg
and
it
is
instantly
recognisable
by
its
golden
dome
and
tall
flagpole,
Nishan
Sahib.
Located
next
to
it
is
the
Sacred
Heart
Cathedral.
Gurdwara
Bangla
Sahib
was
originally
a
bungalow
belonging
to
Raja
Jai
Singh,
a
Hindu
Rajput
ruler
in
the
seventeenth
century,
and
was
known
as
Jaisinghpura
Palace,
in
Jaisingh
Pura,
an
historic
neighbourhood
demolished
to
make
way
for
the
Connaught
Place,
shopping
district.
Since
Guru
Har
Krishan
stayed
at
Raja
Jai
Singh's
Banglow
(pronouned
"bangla"
in
Hindi
and
Punjabi)
which
has
now
been
converted
to
a
gurudwara,
now
the
gurudwara
is
called
the
Bangla
Sahib
to
memorialise
Guru
Har
Rai's
stay
here.
The
eighth
Sikh
Guru,
Guru
Har
Krishan
resided
here
during
his
stay
in
Delhi
in
1664.
During
that
time,
there
was
a
smallpox
and
cholera
epidemic,
and
Guru
Har
Krishan
Ji
helped
the
suffering
by
giving
aid
and
fresh
water
from
the
well
at
this
house.
Soon
he
too
contracted
the
illness
and
eventually
died
on
30
March
1664.
A
small
tank
was
later
constructed
by
Raja
Jai
Singh
over
the
well,
its
water
is
now
revered
as
having
healing
properties
and
is
taken
by
Sikhs
throughout
the
world
back
to
their
homes.
The
gurdwara
and
its
Sarovar
are
now
a
place
of
great
reverence
for
Sikhs,
and
a
place
for
special
congregation
on
birth
anniversary
of
Guru
Har
Krishan.
In
March
2021,
the
gurudwara
inaugurated
the
cheapest
diagnostic
centre
with
the
aim
to
provide
healthcare
for
the
poor.
The
patients
can
get
an
MRI
scan
at
โน50.
The
grounds
include
the
Gurudwara,
a
kitchen,
a
large
(holy)
pond,
a
school,
and
an
art
gallery.
As
with
all
Sikh
Gurdwaras,
the
concept
of
langar
is
practised,
and
all
people,
regardless
of
race
or
religion
may
eat
in
the
Gurdwara
kitchen
(langar
hall).
The
Langar
(food)
is
prepared
by
gursikhs
who
work
there
and
also
by
volunteers
who
like
to
help
out.
At
the
Gurdwara,
visitors
are
requested
to
cover
their
hair
and
not
to
wear
shoes.
Assistance
to
foreigners
and
visitors
with
Guides,
head
scarves,
and
shoe-minding
service
can
be
found
inside
the
compound
and
are
available
free
of
charge.
Anyone
can
volunteer
to
help
keep
the
shoes
in
the
shoe-minding
room,
and
cleaning
the
precincts
of
the
Gurudwara.
The
complex
also
houses
a
higher
secondary
school,
Baba
Baghel
Singh
Museum,
a
library,
and
a
hospital.
The
Gurudwara
and
the
langar
hall
are
now
air-conditioned.
A
new
"yatri
Niwas"
(travellers
hostel),
and
multi-level
parking
space
have
been
constructed.
Toilet
facilities
are
available.
The
space
around
the
back
entrance
to
the
Gurudwara
is
also
being
spruced
up,
so
as
to
give
a
better
view
from
the
roadside.
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