Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Srinagar is situated near Kathi Darwaza in the Rainawari Area of Srinagar.
Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Srinagar is included in the official list of tourist places to visit in Srinagar city, Kashmir valley.
During Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's visit to the Kashmir valley, Guru Ji stayed at this place.
Initially Guru Hargobind met Bhai Ram Das, a hindu pandit that gave up fake idol worship and became a Sikh. Bhai Ram Das was living just outside the fort walls.
Guru Hargobind stayed at Srinagar for nearly three months. Guru Hargobind held diwans and delivered discourses.
At Srinagar Guru Hargobind expounded the thesis that the Guru's treasure chest is for the benevolence of the poor. An old well nearby is said to have been dug by Guru Hargobind himself.
Mai Bhag Bhari, a blind old lady, was a great Sikh of Guru Hargobind and respected by the Kashmiri pandits.
Mai Bhag Bhari is reported to have walked to the house of Bhai Ram Das from Rainawari to present a cloak to Guru Ji.
Mai Bhag Bhari had worn her eyes out preparing a Khadar Chola (white cloak) for Guru Sahib and was waiting for Guru Sahib to visit as she couldn't travel.
So to fulfill her wish Guru Sahib came here at Srinagar and met her. Mai Bhag Bhari offered Guru Sahib the chola she made, and asked to see Guru Sahib with her own eyes. Guru Hargobind hit ground with his Barcha and a water spring appeared from the ground. Guru Sahib took the water and sprinkled it on Mai Bhag Bhari's eyes restoring her eyesight. When her eyesight returned, seeing Guru Sahib with her own eyes, she fell at Guru Sahib's feet.
Mai Bhag Bhari said that now she had the darshan of Guru Sahib she did not want to see anything else and wanted to be released from the cycle of birth and death. Her request was accepted and she rejoined with God. Guru Sahib himself cremated her body near the Gurdwara Sahib. The place still exists. From here Guru Sahib left towards Baramulla and Uri.
Pandit Seva Ram, became a Sikh and came to be known as Bhai Seva, was the son of Mai Bhag Bhari and was appointed as the first Granthi of this Gurdwara. Kashmiri Pandits have had a history of close interaction with the Sikh Gurus. Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji met Pandit Brahm Das at Mattan.
Pandit Kripa Ram was a direct descendant of Pandit Brahm Das and led the delegation of Pandits to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Pandit Kripa Ram was so touched with the sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji that he decided to stay with Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and teach him Sanskrit classics and Shastras.
Pandit Kirpa Ram also became a Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh and joined the Khalsa never to return to Kashmir. Late Badri Nath Sidha, a Purohit (family priest or pandit) of Mattan identified the Sikh descendents of Pandit Kirpa Ram living near Tsaka, Bongam Mattan.
A big Gurdwara building has been constructed recently. Langar and accomodation is available here around the clock. To mark the holy visit of Guru Hargobind, the Jammu & Kashmir Government hold a public holiday every year on the Parkash Utsav of Guru Hargobind Sahib.
Outside Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir is the only state where there is a Gazetted Government holiday on Parkash Utsav of Guru Hargobind Sahib. Initially a small wooden structure was built here but later during the rule of Sikhs in Kashmir (1819-1821) a Gurdwara and a Dharmshala was constructed by Hari Singh Nalwa the Sikh Governor of Kashmir.
Srinagar is also a health resort, it is a great site for tourists and is connected by road to Delhi and other states through Jammu and Pathankot. Jammu is the railhead for J & K and the Airport is in Srinagar. Besides hotels, visitors can also stay on house boats at the lake. The Shikara ride in the Dal lake is great temptation for tourists
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