Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is the best-known Sikh place of worship in Delhi, a white marble complex with golden onion domes and a tall flagpole close to Connaught Place. It is a working gurdwara, run by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, and visitors of any faith are welcome to enter, sit and watch.

The site was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh I of Amber, a 17th-century Rajput ruler. In 1664 Guru Har Krishan, the eighth Sikh Guru, stayed here during a visit to Delhi, when the city was suffering an epidemic of smallpox and cholera, and he helped the sick with aid and fresh water from the well. He fell ill himself and died that year. In 1783 the Sikh general Baghel Singh built a small shrine on the spot and a tank over the well, and the complex grew from there.

The sarovar, the large pool beside the main hall, is fed from that well. Its water is believed to have healing properties, and many Sikhs take some home. Walking slowly around the edge of the pool and watching worshippers come and go is the heart of a visit, and the white marble and gold look especially fine reflected in the water. The complex also includes a kitchen, a school, an art gallery and a small museum near the entrance that explains Sikh history and practice.

Do not miss the langar, the community kitchen, where vegetarian meals are served to anyone who comes, regardless of caste, colour or creed. Visitors are often invited to eat, and sharing a meal is the simplest way to understand the role the gurdwara plays in the life of the city.

Cover your head before entering; cloths are provided, but bringing your own scarf is easier. Remove your shoes and wash your feet at the entrance, dress modestly, and do not take photographs inside the main temple. Allow about an hour, longer if you eat in the langar. Early morning and evening are atmospheric times to go.

The gurdwara is within walking distance of Shivaji Stadium station on the Orange Line and Patel Chowk station on the Yellow Line, and Connaught Place's shops and restaurants are a few minutes away, so it combines easily with a day in central Delhi. Auto rickshaws and taxis can drop you at the gate.