Fatehgarh Sahib Fatēgaṛh Sāhib (Punjabi) | |
|---|---|
City | |
  Fatehgarh Sahib Location in Punjab, India Show map of India Fatehgarh Sahib Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab) Show map of Punjab | |
| Coordinates:30°38′50″N76°23′35″E / 30.64722°N 76.39306°E /30.64722; 76.39306 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Punjab |
| District | Fatehgarh Sahib |
| Founded by | Jassa Singh Ahluwalia |
| Named after | Baba Fateh Singh, son ofGuru Gobind Singh |
| Elevation | 246 m (807 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 50,788 |
| Languages Punjabi | |
| • Official | Punjabi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 140406,140407 |
| Telephone code | +91-1763 |
| Vehicle registration | PB-23 |
| Website | www |
| [1] | |
Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjabi pronunciation:[fə.t̪éː.gə́ɽᵊsä́ːbᵊ]) is a city and a sacred pilgrimage site ofSikhism in the north westIndian state ofPunjab.[1][2] It is the headquarters ofFatehgarh Sahib district, located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north ofSirhind. Fatehgarh Sahib is named afterFateh Singh, the 7-year-old son ofGuru Gobind Singh, who was seized and buried alive, along with his 9-year-old brotherZoravar Singh, by the Mughals under the orders of governorWazir Khan during the ongoing Mughal-Sikh wars of the early 18th century.[1][2] The town experienced major historical events after the martyrdom of the sons in 1705, with frequent changes of control between the Sikhs and Mughals.[1][3]
The town features historic Gurdwaras, including the underground Bhora Sahib marking the location where the two boys refused toconvert to Islam and fearlessly accepted being bricked alive.[1][4] In contemporary times, the town is the site of educational institutions such as theSGPC run Guru Granth Sahib University and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College.[5]
The city is a historically important settlement 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the city ofPatiala and 42 kilometers (26 mi) west of Punjab's capital,Chandigarh. It is a major pilgrimage center inSikhism.
TheGurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib is the major landmark in the town. It marks the location where two youngest sons ofGuru Gobind Singh Ji – 7-year-old Baba Fateh Singh Ji and 9-year-old Baba Zorawar Singh Ji– were betrayed by their cook and servant Gangu to the Mughal army, seized, asked to convert to Islam and when they refused they were buried alive under the orders of Wazir Khan.[1][6] Their martyrdom on 9 December 1705 has been remembered by the Sikhs by naming the site as Fatehgarh after the youngest boy killed, and by building a large Gurdwara in 1843.[1] The town is also the location where the Sikhs took revenge by capturing it from Wazir Khan in 1710 and killing him.[1][3] However, the Sikh militia was defeated again few years later and the town remained in the control of Muslim rulers, including later an appointee of Ahmed Shah Durrani till 1764, when Khalsa recaptured it by defeating and killing the appointee Zain Khan.[1][3]
The town is home to major Sikh Gurdwaras:
There also exists remains of an ancient Royal inn in the city namedAam Khas Bagh that was initially built by Akbar and rebuilt byMughal EmperorShah Jahan.
Shaheedi Jor MelEvery year between 11th and 14th of the month ofPoh (usually about 25 to 27 December), Fatehgarh Sahib is the pilgrimage site for many Sikhs who visit it to remember the martyrdom, locally known asShaheedi Jor Mela of the sons ofGuru Gobind Singh.[1]
Todarmal, who is most remembered for defying the Mughals by arranging for the cremation of young martyred sons of Guru Gobind Singh and his mother, had a haveli that still exists,Todar Mal Haveli.[7]
