Sarai (building)
| Sarai | |
|---|---|
 Saragarhi Sarai near the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab | |
| General information | |
| Type | Sikh architecture |
| Location | Amritsar |
| Country | India |
| Owner | S.G.P.C |
A Sarai or Niwas is a type of Sikh structure that function as rooming-houses, inns, or hostels for religious pilgrims.[note 1][1][2][3] Nearly all of the major Sikh gurdwaras have sarais associated with them.[1] Many well-known sarais are attached to the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar and are operated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
History
[edit]This Guru Ram Das Niwas was originally built in 1931, with its foundation stone having been laid by Sant Sadhu Singh of Patiala on 17 January 1931.[2]
There are six sarais operating to serve pilgrims of the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.[4] A couple of the sarais serving the Golden Temple were lit on fire during Operation Blue Star in 1984.[5][6]
In 2021, The Tribune reported that the SGPC planned to demolish the structure of the Guru Ram Das Niwas for new constructions, which was criticized by heritage-advocates.[7]
List of sarais
[edit]Amritsar
[edit]Some notable sarais of Amritsar include:
- Shri Guru Ram Das Niwas – 160 rooms (free).[1][2] Guests generally can only lodge at the sarai for three days at a time and must obey the principles of Sikhism during their stay.[8] It is currently the oldest extant sarai of the Golden Temple complex.[9]
- Shri Guru Nanak Niwas – 21 rooms (free).[1][2][8] This sarai is also contains sectarian offices of various departments of the SGPC.[2]
- Shri Guru Arjan Dev Niwas – containing 65 rooms.[2][8] Located at the entrance point to the main sarai section.[2] A branch of the Punjab & Sind Bank can be found in it.[2]
- Shri Guru Hargobind Ji Niwas – containing 88 rooms and 3 halls.[2][8] It is located near Gurdwara Baba Atal and its basement hosts the Sri Guru Ramdas Library.[2]
- Mata Ganga Ji Niwas – containing 94 rooms and situated exactly opposite to the Guru Hargobind Niwas.[2] The structure hosts the Internet department of the SGPC.[2]
- New Akal Rest House – containing 45 rooms[1][2][8]
- Baba Deep Singh Ji Niwas – containing 142 rooms and located near Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib (Shaheedan).[2]
- Mata Bhag Kaur Ji Niwas – containing 41 rooms and located at Chownk Ram Talai, G.T. Road.[2]
- Saragarhi Niwas[10]
Gallery
[edit]-
Photograph of the Shri Guru Hargobind Ji Niwas of the Golden Temple complex, Amritsar, Punjab, India, April 2023 -
Photograph of the Mata Ganga Ji Niwas of the Golden Temple complex, Amritsar, Punjab, India, April 2023 -
Photograph of the Shri Guru Ram Das Ji Niwas within the Golden Temple complex, Amritsar, Punjab, India, April 2023 -
Photograph of the Akali Baba Phula Singh Jathedar Budha Dal N.R.I. Niwas, Amritsar, Punjab, India, April 2023
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Alternatively spelt as 'serai'.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Dilgeer, Harjinder Singh (1997). The Sikh Reference Book (1st ed.). The Sikh Educational Trust. p. 42. ISBN 9780969596424.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Sarai Booking". Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ Singh, Darshan (1987). The Sikh Art and Architecture. Department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies, Panjab University. p. 22.
- ^ "Sarai Info". Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ Dhillon, Gurdarshan Singh (1996). Truth About Punjab: SGPC White Paper. Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
The buildings of Guru Ram Das Sarai, Guru Nanak Niwas and the S.G.P.C. office in the Teja Singh Samundri Hall were also set on fire.
- ^ Deora, Man Singh (1992). Aftermath of Operation Bluestar. Anmol Publications. pp. 443, 449, 459.
- ^ "Don't raze Sri Guru Ramdas Ji Niwas 'sarai' in Golden Temple: Activists". The Tribune. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Golden Temple". Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Sikh body against demolition of oldest serai at Golden Temple". The Tribune. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ Paul, G. S. (18 June 2024). "Golden Temple sarai: Despite plaint, devotees still being duped by fake web portals on pretext of booking rooms". The Tribune. Retrieved 21 January 2025.