Sometimes, work takes you to places where you end up as a pilgrim. Yet, in hindsight, those journeys feel curated by something beyond calendars and corporate schedules. This post by Mrunal Pandit chronicles a professional trip that transformed into a spiritual journey to Gurudwara Paonta Sahib during Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations.
My visit to Paonta Sahib in November 2023 was exactly that—a routine professional trip that quietly turned into a deeply spiritual experience during Guru Nanak Jayanti. I was visiting a factory in Paonta Sahib, a small industrial town in Himachal Pradesh, when I realized that the travel dates coincided with Guru Nanak Jayanti, one of the most sacred days in the Sikh calendar. At first, it felt like a coincidence. Later, it felt like a blessing for this Sikh pilgrimage opportunity.
The journey itself was layered with symbolism. I flew from Bengaluru to Amritsar, a city where Sikh history is not just remembered—it is lived. From Amritsar, we took a cab for a three-to-four-hour drive through Punjab’s plains and into the foothills of the Shivaliks. By the time we reached Paonta Sahib around five in the evening, winter had already pulled the curtain down on daylight. The town was quiet, almost meditative, perfect for spiritual travel India experiences. The first thing we did was head straight to Gurudwara Paonta Sahib.
Outside, the Yamuna flowed past a beautifully lit ghat. Small lamps reflected on the river, giving the evening a contemplative, almost cinematic quality. It was one of those rare moments where professional travel gives way to personal reflection during travel Himachal Pradesh. I had come for work, but I left with a spiritual memory from this Sikh pilgrimage.
Poanta Sahib: History, Geography, and Access for Sikh Pilgrimage
Paonta Sahib holds a special place in Sikh history, closely associated with Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru. He spent several formative years here, composing literature and strengthening Sikh institutions. The town itself sits on the banks of the Yamuna, at the edge of Himachal Pradesh, near the Uttarakhand border—a geographical transition zone between plains and hills, making it a significant destination for travel Himachal Pradesh.
How to reach Poanta Sahib for your Sikh pilgrimage:
- By Air: Chandigarh and Dehradun (Jolly Grant) are the closest practical airports for spiritual travel India itineraries.
- By Road: Well-connected by highway from Dehradun, Chandigarh, Shimla, and Amritsar for convenient travel Himachal Pradesh experiences.
- By Rail: Dehradun is the nearest major railhead, followed by a road journey to Gurudwara Paonta Sahib.
The setting—river, foothills, and pilgrimage—makes Poanta Sahib an understated but meaningful stop for travelers exploring North India’s spiritual geography during Guru Nanak Jayanti or any time of year.
For those interested in Sikh pilgrimage history through narrative formats, Dev Gatha and Gatha Story Podcast explore these themes in depth. The episode “Guruji’s Arrows” reflects on the life and ethos of Guru Gobind Singh, while an upcoming episode will delve into the emotional encounters between Sikhs and Marathas after the Battle of Panipat—an overlooked but powerful chapter in Indian history.
Resources for travel in Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh Tourism Guide for travel
The shrine was illuminated for the celebrations, glowing against the darkening sky. Unlike the intense crowds of larger pilgrimage centres, this Sikh pilgrimage site felt intimate and grounded. Inside, we bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal Guru of the Sikhs. There is a certain humility in that act—acknowledging a tradition built on courage, equality, and devotion, rather than hierarchy.
After the darshan, we walked to the langar hall. Langar is often explained as a free community kitchen, but that definition barely scratches the surface. Sitting on the floor, eating simple food alongside strangers from every background, reminded me that Sikhism institutionalised equality centuries before modern social movements gave it vocabulary. Volunteers served with quiet efficiency, performing seva not as charity, but as duty during the Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations at Gurudwara Paonta Sahib.
Also read:
- Introduction to the Ten Gurus of Sikhism
- Guru Gobind Singh’s Marksmanship: Guruji’s Arrows
- Travel in Himachal Pradesh: A Quiet Weekend in Kasauli
- Dev Gatha Podcast on Spotify
- Gatha Story Podcast on Apple Podcasts