Paonta Sahib

Paonta Sahib is a sacred pilgrimage destination for the Sikhs. The small town nestles in the Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh and located along the banks of the river Yamuna. Dedicated to the 10^th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, Paonta Sahib derives its name from the presence of the Guru himself.

According to some, since Paonta literally means foot, and since the guru had once set foot on the land, the place was christened as Paonta Sahib. Others believe that the guru wore an ornament in the foot called Paonta, which he lost in the Yamuna, and so the name Paonta Sahib.

The main attraction of the town is the Paonta Sahib Gurudwara, which is visited by thousands of Sikh Pilgrims throughout the year. It lies on the banks of the River Yamuna, and features a Museum inside the Gurudwara, which displays the various weapons used by Guru Gobind Singh.

Beside this, there is Gurudwara of Bhangani Sahib, which celebrates the first defeat of Guru Gobind Singh against Raja Fateh Shah; Gurudwara Tirgarh Sahib constructed at the place from where the guru shot arrows at the enemy; and lastly, there is Gurudwara Shergarh Sahib, where the guru is believed to have beheaded a man eating tiger with the single sweep of his sword.

The town also boasts of various temples dedicated to various Hindu deities. But, at the end of the day it is the Sikh pilgrims that the town invites in plenty throughout the year.

In the last few years, Paonta Sahib is also witnessing extensive industrial growth, with many big companies choosing it for setting up their manufacturing plants, including Bajaj and Ranbaxy.

Reaching the town is not a problem. The nearest airport is at Chandigarh and the nearest major railhead at Ambala. From here you will easily get cabs and buses that will bring you to Paonta Sahib.