Walking around the walled city one comes across many mosques
and shrines, but let me tell you, there are many Sikh Religious sites inside
the walled city of Lahore. Walled city is a place that depicts religious accord
and it must be shared with the world too. Walled city is not merely a hub of
architecture, markets or monuments; the unity, harmony and brotherhood we find
there among the people, and that too in terms of religions, is matchless. To me
the walled city of Lahore is an example of tolerance and interfaith harmony.
One example is the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh next to the Badshahi
Mosque. Both the religious places share the same wall, and also respect each
other’s prayers timings. This you may not see anywhere in the world.
Coming to the Gurudawaras inside the walled city of Lahore,
let me take you to the Gurudawara located inside the Chohatta Mufti Baqar near
Wazir Khan Mosque inside Delhi Gate. This Gurudawara is associated with the
pioneer of Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev. It is also valued as the ‘bethak’
sitting area of the Guru. As per the historic references it is said that Guru
Nanak came to this place in 1510. It was the house of his disciple and because
of Guru’s presence there it was given the status of a Gurudawara. The ownership of the place remained with the
Sikhs and after partition it was handed over to the Auqaf department. It is not
opened for public but if any Sikh Yatree (pilgrim) comes the place is opened
for him. 
Another Gurudawara is inside Lal Khoo Mochi Gate. The same
gate is known for the Moharram processions and Havelis converted into Imam
Bargah. This Gurudawara is associated with the fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev. It is
said that during the reign of Emperor Jahangir, due to some clashes the Guru
was locked in that house as a punishment. According to historic references the
Guru passed away in the same house. During the Sikh reign the Maharaja Ranjeet
Singh and other Sikhs bought the nearby houses and expanded the room into a
Gurudawara. The possession of this place remained with the Sikhs but after
partition it was shifted to the Auqaf Department. The place is not preserved
and neither opened for the tourists. 
Coming to Chunna Mandi we come across a very well maintained
Gurudawara the Janam Asthan (birth place) of fourth Sikh Guru, Raam Daas. It is
said that the Guru spent early years of his life in that place. After the birth
of Maharaja Kharak Singh, son of Ranjeet Singh, the place was converted into a
bigger Gurudawara as a token of gratitude to the Guru for the birth of a son.
The architecture of this Gurudawara is similar to that in Amritsar. There is a
small gate of the Gurudawara and some parts of the outer wall are rented out to
shops.
Gurudawara of Baoli Bagh is another place of Sikh Heritage.
The Gurudawara cannot be seen anywhere now but it is said that this barren
ground was once a splendid place. Baolis were the stepped wells constructed as
water reservoirs for the people. The Baoli was constructed during Jahangir's
reign by the fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Singh in A.D. 1599. With the passage of time
in 1685, the Baoli got damaged and neglected but during the reign of Ranjit
Singh in 1891 the Baoli was restored.
Inside Bhatti Gate as well, where we find the Oonchi Mosque
is another Gurudawara known as Gurudawara Chomallah Sahib. This Gurudawara is
associated with the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind. This place was the residence of
Guru’s devotee and later on out of respect the place was converted into a
Gurudawara. The possession of the
Gurudawara was with the Sikhs till partition and later it was handed over to
the Auqaf department. At present the building of Gurudawara does not exist there
whereas a few houses have been built there and nobody knows what happened to
the Gurudawara. A board stating the name of the Gurudawara is still intact and
is the only to the Gurudawara.
Now let us move to the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh
also known as Gurudawara Dera Sahib. It is located near the Lahore Fort and
Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan and banks upon the only existing Mughal era
gate the Roshnai Gate. Its construction was started by Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s
son, Kharak Singh and was completed by his youngest son, Duleep Singh in 1848.
In the same complex are the Samadhi of Kharak Singh and grandson of Ranjeet
Singh Kunwar Nau Nehal Singh. The possession of this place is with the Evacuee
Trust Board and it is not a tourist site. It is only opened for the innumerable
Sikh Yatrees coming there every year. 
I think that religious tourism is not only a visitation to a
particular holy destination, but may also be travel for a humanitarian cause,
for reasons of friendship or even as a form of leisure. During
economically difficult times faith-based travel can provide a steady flow of
income to a local tourism economy and the government. In Lahore, we can
generate millions when we have the key tourism destinations. These religious
heritage sites not only drive international tourism and economic growth, but
also provide important meeting grounds for visitors and host communities,
making vital contributions to tolerance, respect and mutual understanding
between different cultures. This type of tourism also helps in the image
building of a country and its people. Our government should think and plan to
promote religious tourism. Instead of keeping these heritage sites hidden, the
more these are publicized the more tourism will be generated and surely a
positive impact on the economy.
(the writer is a media professional and can be reached at taniaq29@gmail.com)
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