Nanded: Sikh History, Pilgrimage Sites and Festivals

Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib shapes the religious history of the city of Nanded. Other pilgrimage sites and festivals offer additional themes for your trip: Mahur Gadh is considered an important pilgrimage center, while Hottal combines a temple with festival culture. When planning, it helps to distinguish between the Gurdwara in the city and the other named sites.

Sikh History and Dussehra in Nanded

Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib is a particularly holy and historic Sikh Gurdwara and is one of the five highest Takhts in Sikhism. Hazur Sahib Gurudwara, also called Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, is the place where the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, passed away in 1708. Thus, religious significance and a specific historical connection come together at the same named site.

The Dussehra festival is held at Hazur Sahib every year. It commemorates the day Guru Gobind Singh Ji declared the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal Guru. Thousands of pilgrims take part in processions, kirtans and devotional services. The festival is therefore a distinct reason to plan your trip, alongside the Gurdwara’s history: remembrance and communal religious practices are at its heart.

Pilgrimage Sites and Festival Days

Mahur Gadh is an important pilgrimage center and is considered one of Maharashtra’s Shakti Pithas. Every year on Dussehra, a large fair is held there in honor of Renukadevi. The two Dussehra observances have different emphases: in Mahur Gadh, it is a fair in honor of Renukadevi; at Hazur Sahib, the festival commemorates the declaration of the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru. If you are interested in religious history and festival traditions, this comparison offers two clearly distinct occasions.

Temple and Festival Culture in Hottal

The Siddheshwar Temple is located in Hottal, Degloor, in Nanded district and is a well-known Hindu pilgrimage center. Hottal is also the venue for an annual festival, also called Navaru. The program includes folk dances, music concerts, and exhibitions of local art and crafts. Traditional food stalls offer authentic specialties from Maharashtra. Hottal is thus home to both a pilgrimage site and a recurring cultural event.

Landscape and Orientation

The Godavari River runs for about 140 km through Nanded district. The district lies on a plateau; the terrain is mostly flat, while also featuring rolling undulations. These details offer a sense of two different scales of the landscape: the river’s course within the district and the shape of the terrain. They complement the religious and cultural themes with a geographical perspective on Nanded.

Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport is in the city. Huzur Sahib Nanded railway station is part of South Central Railway. Both locations can help you orient yourself when planning your arrival; the railway station and airport are separate reference points for your plans.

Find a Hotel to Suit Your Travel Plans

When choosing where to stay, first consider whether your plans focus mainly on the city of Nanded or also include other pilgrimage and festival sites. If the Gurdwara and the arrival points in the city are your main focus, search specifically for a hotel in Nanded. If you are also planning to visit Hottal or Mahur Gadh, take these places into account when considering where to stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Nanded, Jaitapur, Jalna, Thane, Gondia, Akola, Wardha, Amravati.

For the broader travel overview: Maharashtra.