Nanded is a well-established township in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Marathwada region and has gained a lot of infrastructural interest from developers and religious organizations, establishing itself as an interesting tourist spot. The city is primarily known for its Gurudwaras, the most significant of them being the famous Hazur Sahib, which also goes by the name Sachkhand Gurudwara. The Gurudwara was built post the demise of the revered Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. However, apart from Gurudwaras in Nanded, one can also visit various temples and mosques as well.
The name of the city is borrowed from Lord Shiva’s vehicle of consciousness, Nandi. It is believed that Lord Shiva performed penance on River Godavari’s banks, which flows through Nanded. Nanded has also become an educational hub in the Marathwada region. It is also a business hub, as the city is rich in granite, calcium, magnesium and limestone. Further, the city is also self-sustainable, and agriculture is supported by an abundance of cotton, soya beans, sugarcane, and bananas. The cotton-growing industry is supported by a regional cotton research center located in the city.
There are several tourist attractions in the city. However, the most significant of them are the gurudwaras in Nanded. Northern states such as Punjab and New Delhi are dotted by several Sikh pilgrimages or gurudwaras while there are lesser Gurudwaras in other parts of the country in comparison. However, Nanded is one exception to that. Nanded became the last leg of the journey of Guru Gobind Singh and hence it became home to several Gurudwaras that are famous till date.
The Gurudwara is situated on the banks of river Godavari in Nanded. It holds a significant place in the Panj Takhts of Sikhism and marks an important event in the history of the religion. The Gurudwara was built in the memory Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru. It is also known as Takht Sachkhand Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, in which Abchalnagar refers to Nanded meaning the dutifully faithful city. The gurdwara has an inner prayer room, called Angitha Sahib, which is the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji was cremated in 1708. The gurdwara is home to a holy shrine Sri Hazur Sahib, which is well-preserved along with some artifacts such as some bows with arrows and a sword with a stone-studded shield. All these artifacts belonged to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and are well kept in a room known as Bunga Mai Bhago. In addition to these things of religious importance, the gurdwara also attracts tourists with a laser show. It takes place every day between 7.30 and 8.30 pm and shows the journey of ten Sikh Gurus to the viewers in a spectacular way. The gurdwara is easy to reach as there are more than enough ways to reach here including buses, taxis, and auto-rickshaws.
About 400 meters from the shrine of Sri Hazur Sahib and on the banks of river Godavari is located Gurudwara Nagina Ghat. A king from Delhi, Raja Gulab Singh Sethi laid the foundation of this gurudwara. However, the construction was completed by his wife in 1968 after his death. The building is adorned by a dome and has a special palanquin made of white marble to hold Guru Granth Sahib.
Gurudwara Bandi Ghat is located around 400 meters from Gurudwara Nagina Ghat. The gurudwara is named after Bhai Madho Das Bairagi who was a saint who got later renamed to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Originally from the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Bhai Madho Das Bairagi has been famous for fighting tooth and nail for the preservation of Sikh legacy.
This gurudwara gets its name from its location. It is situated at the top of a hill and is around 12 km from Gurudwara Hazur Sahib. Its construction is a treat for sore eyes as it is a spectacular white structure adorned by a dome made of white marble.
This gurudwara is located around 9 kilometers from Nanded. It has gained popularity for being the first spot where Guru Gobind Singh Ji took shelter when he reached Nanded. The gurudwara is located north of the Godavari river and is beautified by lush green plants and trees all over.
This gurudwara is located only half a kilometer from gurudwara Heera Ghat. It was built in the memory of Mata Sahib Kaur, the wife of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. According to the legend, Mata Sahib Kaur laid a tent at this spot and arranged Langar for people when Guru Gobind Singh Ji was in Heera Ghat. The gurdwara is spread over an area of 250 acres and in the memory of Mata Sahib Kaur, devotees who visit the gurdwara are still served with Langar.
Nanded is easily approachable by various modes of transport as it is connected by road, rail, and air. Railways are the most convenient means to reach the city as Nanded Railway Station is one of the busiest in the region. Also, Nanded Airport has undergone renovation and has the potential to handle more flights per day.
Reaching Nanded by Air: The airport in Nanded is known as Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport and it has regular flights to and from main cities of India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. For international destinations, one needs to take a 6-hour drive from Hyderabad Airport, which is at a distance of approximately 280 km.
Reaching Nanded by Train: The Hazur Sahib Railway Station is one of the major railway stations in the region and connects with many cities of India. One can get regular trains to Nanded not only from top metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, but also other cities including Jaipur, Chennai, Nizamabad, Pune, Patna, and Visakhapatnam.
Reaching Nanded by Road: Several state-operated buses, as well as privately owned buses, ply between Nanded and nearby cities. The buses are punctual as well as light on the pocket. To commute within the city, one may choose to take the bus to auto rickshaws. However, tourists also have the option of taking taxis, which are extremely convenient, though not as economical.
The summers are extremely hot and humid in Nanded and not an ideal time to visit the city with the idea of sightseeing. Monsoons bring heavy showers and moving around the city might not be a great idea during this time too. Thus, winter is the best season to visit the city and experience its many facets. Winters start in November and go on till February. Winter temperatures are in the range of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, and the average is about 22 degrees. The months of October and March are also pleasant and one can easily move around, especially during the morning and evening hours.
Nanded is situated in a region that is known for its historical and cultural significance. Also, several places in the vicinity are extremely scenic and can relax the senses. Here are some weekend getaways from Nanded that you can consider during your trip to visit Gurudwaras’ of Nanded.
The Tulja Bhavani Temple is one of the main attractions here and many pilgrims visit here every year. It is located at a distance of 215 km from Nanded and can be reached in about 3.5 hours by road.
Nizamabad is located around 143 km away from Nanded, and is approximately 2.5-hour drive from the city. There are many temples including Hanuman Temple, Neela Kanteshwara temple, Khilla Ramalayam temple, Sri Raghunatha Temple, Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, and Saraswathi Temple. Other attractions include Domakonda Fort and Archaeological and Heritage Museum.
Around 215 km from the city of Nanded, and reachable in about 3.5 hours is Adilabad. Some of the interesting places to visit in Adilabad include Kuntala Waterfalls, Kadam Dam, Sadarmat Anicut, Mahatma Gandhi Park, St Joseph’s Cathedral, and Basara Saraswathi Temple.
Medak in Telangana and Parbhani in Maharashtra are the other cities that you can consider visiting during your stay in Nanded. While Parbhani can be reached in a little more than an hour, Medak is close to 4 hours away from Nanded.
From countless Gurudrawaras, temples, and mosques to exciting street culture, Nanded has it all. Tourists can choose to visit the markets and take home souvenirs and ornaments including the popular dagger and sword imitations. Also, there are numerous mouth-watering delicacies that one can try during one’s visit to Nanded.
The city offers Maharashtrian and Punjabi cuisines in abundance, and tourists will never run short of options for food during their stay here. All in all, Nanded promises a great experience and every day spent in this bustling city is certainly a new experience.
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