Anandpur Sahib, one of the five Takhts (seats of religious authority) in Sikhism, holds particular significance as the site where Guru Gobind Singh formally established the Khalsa in 1699, a foundational moment in Sikh religious and communal identity. The town's gurdwaras, including Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, draw pilgrims throughout the year, with numbers swelling enormously during the annual Hola Mohalla festival each spring.
Hola Mohalla, held the day after the Hindu festival of Holi, transforms Anandpur Sahib into a spectacular display of Sikh martial tradition, with demonstrations of Gatka (traditional Sikh martial arts), mock battles and processions drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees and visitors from across India and the Sikh diaspora.
Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa order here on Baisakhi day in 1699, formally establishing the distinctive identity markers and code of conduct that continue to define initiated Sikhs today, making Anandpur Sahib one of the most historically pivotal sites in Sikh religious history.
October to March; Hola Mohalla (March, timed with Holi) is the most significant time to visit.
About 85km from Chandigarh, roughly 2 hours by road.
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