Gurudwara Paonta Sahib – Distt Nahan

Gurudwara Paonta Sahib – Distt Nahan

    About 120 km away from Ambala city and secure in the shadow of the Himalayas stands holy shrine of Paonta Sahib,dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh. The magic of the lower Himalayas works on the mind of the pilgrims who come here to pay respects to the great Guru. It can be reached from two sides, from Ambala via Nahan and straight from Yamunanagar. It is a picturesque site on the bank of the river Yamuna. One can reach Paonta Sahib from Dehradun too. Its outskirts are dotted with gardens, green meadows and tall evergreen trees, that echo the gushing waters of Yamuna;  

The time spent at Paonta by Guru Gobind Singh, was happiest period of his life. He enjoyed hunting in the thick forests around. The opportunites were enormous. The Guru wrote, "I enjoyed myself on the banks of Yamuna and saw amusements of different kinds."  The Guru took many steps to beautify Paonta and devoted most of his time in composing poetry. He was so much enamoured of poetry that he invited fifty two poets to his court. The pleasant environment and salubrious climate refreshed his mind. Most of the time he spent in reading and writing.  

Besides,the Guru selected a site noted for its scenic beauty and splendour and got constructed a fort on the bank of Yamuna. Here Pir Buddhu Shah a renowned Muslim saint living in Sadhaura near paonta,called on the Guru. The two had a long discourse and ultimately the muslim holyman recognised the superiority of the Guru. He became a devotee of the tenth Master.  

A magnificent shrine has been built at Paonta Sahib, on the right bank of the river Yamuna. Thousands of pilgrims go there on the occasion of the Hola Mohalla every year. A big Kavi Darbar is held in which well known poets participate. It is held at the same place where Guruji used to sit along with 52 poets. The other sacred place in the Gurudwara complex is Sri Talab Sahib, where the Guru used to distribute salary to his soldiers.