Darshna’s Travel Diaries

Shrine: PANJA SAHIB
Location: Hassan Abdal, Pakistan

This famous Gurdwara (Religious/Holy place in Sikkhism) is located 48 km from Pakistan’s capital (Islamabad) in HASSAN ABDAL. It is famous and important because of the handprint of BABA GURU NANAK. BABA GURU NANAK is the founder of the SIKH Religion.
There is a huge rock with the Hand print on it and that is why the Gurdwara is called PANJA SAHIB. In Punjabi the word “PANJ” means five and “Panja” means outstretched palm. And Sahib used for some sacred Personalities.
In the month of April there huge festival takes place in PANJA SAHIB and people from all over the world come to visit there. Inside PANJA SAHIB are rooms for tourists to stay.
GURU NANAK SAHIB visited many places to spread more knowledge to the people about SIKHISM and convert them to SIKHISM. Along with NANAK SAHIB, Bhai MARDANA and other followers also visit and spread the knowledge about SIKHISM. They all traveled by foot to many places and then they sat down there in the shadow of tree, where on the hill top, a saint also lived their whose named was “Wali kandhari” who had advantage of fresh water flowing to the followers and also for the other people down below.
But he didn’t help them as they were very thirsty he stopped the flow of water. As many people go to the saint and request to gave them water flow. But the saint taunt them that they ask their GURU to find water for them. GURU NANAK SAHIB heard this and he then asked bhai Mardana to go to saint and again request for the water for other people. But came back with empty hand. GURU NANAK sent them again and again but the saint did not give them water. GURU NANAK told them to trust God and then told them and point out towards a huge stone and when people away that stone the water is coming out from the ground.
Wali kandhari saw this from the hill and soon he noticed that his water is dried up completely and then the saint thought to crush GURU NANAK SAHIB with a huge boulder and he pushed a boulder towards HIM. When the people hear that noise they all were running here and there away from the boulder. But HE stayed calm and when the boulder come towards HIM he put HIS right hand to stop the rock. The rock stopped, and the palm of GURU NANAIK SAHIB left on that rock as a deep print. When “Wali Kandhari” saw this miracle he came down from the hill and touch feet of GURU NANAK SAHIB and joined him.
And that’s why people called this place PANJA SAHIB and that rock is placed in a very large pool and the print of a palm is still properly visible. People from all over the world to visit this place.

This is the picture I took in night. You can see that the people are visiting there to see that palm.

Inside shrine pics