Yahiyaganj Gurudwara

There are so many reasons to love Lucknow, but one of them is its wonderful culture, which is beautifully referred to as Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb. It is a tribute to this lovely secular culture that the entire city is dotted with different places of worship, from mosques and temples to churches and gurudwaras. One such religious structure is Gurudwara Yahiyaganj, a holy place for followers of Sikhism.

From the outside, the structure of the temple looks quite small. The interiors of the gurudwara are surprisingly large. The atmosphere is as tranquil as you would expect in any other religious place. There is also a fascinating story behind its creation. It is believed that Guru Teg Bahadur (ninth of the ten Gurus in the Sikh religion), visited the city of Lucknow in 1670 and then stayed there for three days on his return from Patna Sahib (one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Sikhs). This gurudwara was built in memory of that event. There is also an art gallery inside which displays various events related to the Sikh Panth.

History of Yahiyaganj Gurudwara

During his life, Guru Tegh Bahadur took several pilgrimages around the country to strengthen the roots of the religion by establishing new preaching centers and renewing old ones. On one such journey, he visited Lucknow while returning to Anandpur Sahib in Punjab in 1670. According to gurdwara officials, in the 17th century, Yahiyaganj was inhabited by many Kayasthas and Udaasis, an ascetic sect that focused on the teachings of Sri Chand, the son of Guru Nanak.

“Since the area was mostly occupied by the Udaasis, the place where the gurdwara is constructed was originally a small room where people of the community hosted bhajans and kirtans. After Guruji’s visit, the founding stone of the gurdwara was laid by Baba Guruditta, the superintendent of the Udaasi community and also the brother of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Later, the charge was taken over by Bhai Bala, a saint residing in the city.”