Sunday, May 20, 2012

Day 36 - Mohali

Day 36


Mohali  is situated to the west of Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is officially called as SAS nagar or Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar after the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh.Mohali was conceived after the trifurcation of Punjab and its capital Chandigarh becoming a Union Territory in late 1960s.Mohali and Panchkula (adjoining Chandigarh to its East and in Haryana) are two satellite cities of Chandigarh. The trio of these three cities  is collectively known as Chandigarh Tricity.



How to reach here:

By Air: Chandigarh airport is the nearest airport which is just 17 Kms away.


By Rail: Kharar, Kurali and Chandigarh railway stations are the nearest stations which are well connexted to the other major cities of India.


Best time to visit: October to March



Languages spoken: Punjabi, Hindi and English.



Must eat: Baingan da Bhurtha, Stuffed Vegetable Punjabi Parantha, Rajma, Sukhi Channa Dal.


Famous Restaurants: Khane Khas, Tadka, Chawlas, Khalsa.



Places you must visit: 



Gurdwara Amb Sahib, one of the historic places in Mohali, is well known for being visited by Guru Har Rai, the seventh guru of the Sikhs. The name of the site is derived from Amb, meaning mangoes in Punjabi.It is believed that Bhai Kooram from Kabul, travelled to Amritsar to meet Sri Guru Arjan Dev. He saw other followers give offerings to the guru; however, he was empty handed and felt ashamed of himself.When the darbar ended, mangoes were distributed as prasad and a mango was also given to Bhai Kooram who did not consume it. The next day, he offered the same mango to the guru during darbar, but the guru asked Bhai Kooram to eat that mango and promised him that one day his offering will be accepted.Guru Har Rai Ji, son of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, after some time, visited the shrine to keep his father’s promise. He saw Bhai Kooram meditating in the garden and asked him to fulfil his promise by giving a mango. Bhai Kooram politely replied that he couldn’t offer him any, as mangoes were not in season.On hearing his reply, Guru Har Rai Ji performed a miracle and Bhai Kooram saw a tree that was full of ripe mangoes. On the orders of the guru, Bhai Kooram served mangoes to the guru, the entire sangat and the natives who had come to seek blessings.The Gurdwara, since then, is popular for its mango tree, which bears fruit in every season.




Gurdwara Sant Mandal Angitha Sahib is a beautiful three storey Gurdwara , clearly visible from the front of Gurdwara Amb Sahib. It is believed that two great religious personalities namely Bhai Kooram Ji and Sant Baba Ishar Singh meditated at this site for a long time. Both worked continuously for the development of the Sikh community by spreading the principles mentioned in the Gurbani. A sacred memorial place for saints is also constructed at the site, in the memory of Bhai Kooram Ji.The Gurdwara building is made up of carved marble panels and white tiles. Balconies surround the Gurdwara at each floor and five milky white Samads or tombs are located in the corners of the Gurdwara’s roof. There is a Darshani Deodi, Darbar Sahib, Tapasthaan, Bhaura Sahib, a large Guru ka Langar, Sarovar Sahib and a large dispensary within the complex of the Gurdwara.





Gurdwara Singh Shaeedan was constructed in the memory of the martyrs of the Anglo-Sikh War. It has a samadhi of Jathedaar Hanumaan Singh, along with 500 Singhs, who took part in the Anglo-Sikh War. The Gurdwara is also famous for the Kirtan Samagams organised by Baba Ji Hansali Waley and Parcharak Sant Baba Ranjit Singh Ji Dhadrianwale.The old building of the Gurdwara has been destroyed and a new building is under construction. The building has a Darbar Sahib, Darbar Shahid Sahib, Sarover Sahib, a Langar hall and a kitchen.





Gurdwara Puddha Sahib, also popular as the Gobindgarh Sahib, is a beautiful Gurdwara located in the Puddha Village, about 1 km away from Zirakpur, in the Mohali District. Baba Ram Singh Ji established this place by constructing a huge shrine and installing the Guru Granth Sahib in the honour of Baba Bhikam Singh.According to legends, Baba Bhikam Singh, one of the nephews of the Peer Puddhu Shah, meditated here for a long period. The Peer was a follower of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Baba Bhikam Singh also helped Baba Banda Singh Bahadur to kill Wazir Khan in Chappar Chiri, located close to this place.The Gurdwara Puddha Sahib is considered as a popular religious centre among natives and it is believed that whoever visits this place will get their wishes fulfilled. After the death of Baba Bhikam Singh, a cemetery was made in his honour within the Gurdwara complex. The Gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib, Sarovar Sahib, a Langar hall, Darshani Deodhi and the Yaad Gar or the Memorial of Peer Puddhu Shah.




Nabha Sahib Gurdwara is located on the Zirakpur Highway in the Mohali District. The site is constructed at a place where the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur, a Sikh warrior and guru, fell. It is believed that the guru’s head was picked up by Bhai Jaita, who gave it to the guru's family for cremation in Anandpur.On his way to Anandpur Sahib, he kept the mortal remains in the Gurdwara Nabha Sahib on request of Faqir Dargahi Shah, a Muslim saint and also a disciple of the guru. Knowing this, a lot of people gathered here to pay their last tribute to the guru. Being an old man, Faqir Dargahi Shah sent a message to Guru Gobind Singh to visit him. On his request, Guru Gobind Singh came to pay homage to his father at Nabha Sahib in 1688, after the battle of Bhangani against the Mughals. He also met with Faqir Dargahi Shah, who died soon after.





Gurdwara Nada Sahib is situated in the Nada Village and lies at a distance of around 23 km from Mohali. Guru Gobind Singh resided at this place after defeating the Mughals. Nadu Shah, a villager and a follower of Guru Gobind Singh, welcomed him to the village with great honour and respect. Guruji was very happy with Nadu Shah and blessed him with miraculous powers. The site was thereafter named as Nada Shah, after Nadu Shah.





Mohali Cricket Stadium, commonly known as the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, is located on the outskirts of Chandigarh. Established in 1993, it is counted amongst the largest cricket stadiums in India, having a seating capacity of 45000 viewers. The construction of the site took three years to complete and cost around INR 25 crore.The stadium was inaugurated during the Hero Cup, a one-day international match played between India and South Africa, on 22nd November 1993.  This stadium has also witnessed many ODIs, but arguably, the most exciting among all was the 1996 World Cup semi-final between Australia and the West Indies. It is also home to the Kings XI Punjab, one of the teams of the Indian Premier League (IPL).







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