Patna Sahib Gurudwara

Patna Sahib Gurudwara, formally Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib, is the Sikh shrine in the old quarter of Patna, Bihar, that marks the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, born here in 1666. It is one of the five Takhts, the seats of temporal authority in Sikhism, which gives it a standing far beyond its location in eastern India.

The first gurdwara on the site was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab in the early 19th century. After the 1934 Bihar earthquake damaged it, the present white marble building with its domes was raised in the 1950s. Patna Sahib keeps relics associated with the Guru, including a small cradle and weapons, and the Guru Granth Sahib is recited here through the day. The busiest time is the Prakash Purab, Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary around December or January, when pilgrims arrive from across India and abroad. As at every gurdwara, the langar serves free vegetarian meals to anyone who comes.

What to see

• The main darbar hall where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept
• The gallery of relics associated with Guru Gobind Singh
• The langar hall, where you can eat or help with the serving
• The old lanes of Patna City around the gurdwara
• Associated shrines nearby, such as Gurdwara Bal Leela and Gurdwara Gai Ghat

What to wear

At Patna Sahib Gurudwara everyone must cover their head; scarves are provided at the entrance, but bringing your own bandana or dupatta is easier. Shoes and socks are removed and left at the shoe counter, and you wash your feet before entering. Cover shoulders and knees, and do not bring tobacco or alcohol anywhere on the premises. Sikh pilgrims wear turbans and salwar kameez; Bihari men may wear dhoti and kurta. Patna is hot and humid from April to September, so choose loose cotton.

Local food to try

The langar at the gurdwara is the first meal to try: dal, roti and kheer, served on the floor in rows. Outside, Patna's street food centres on litti chokha, sattu parathas and chana ghugni, and sweet shops sell khaja and anarsa. Patna City's lanes also have halal biryani and kebab places, while the gurdwara area itself is strictly vegetarian.

Good to know

• Best time: October to March; December or January for the Prakash Purab
• Hours: open daily from early morning to late evening
• Entry: free, including langar
• Allow 1 to 1.5 hours, including a meal
• Getting there: in Patna City, about 15 km east of Patna airport
• Photography is limited inside the darbar hall; ask a sevadar first

Nearby places

Patna is the usual base for the Nalanda Ruins, about 90 km south, and for the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, about 115 km away. Sikh travellers often continue to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a flight away.