HASAN ABDAL: Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan, stands as one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Sikhism. It commemorates Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s visit in 1521. The shrine is revered for a sacred rock bearing a handprint, or panja, believed to have been left by Guru Nanak when he miraculously stopped a massive boulder hurled at him.
According to Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak and his companion Bhai Mardana arrived in Hasan Abdal during their travels. When the local saint, Wali Qandhari, refused to share water with the Guru’s thirsty followers, Guru Nanak caused a spring to emerge from the ground. Enraged by this act, Wali Qandhari pushed a huge rock down from a nearby hill.
The rock is said to have come to a halt when Guru Nanak placed his hand on it, leaving behind the visible imprint that remains the focal point of the shrine.
Located about 48 kilometres from Rawalpindi, Gurdwara Panja Sahib is regarded as among the holiest Sikh religious sites. While an early shrine existed at the location, the complex was significantly expanded during the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and later by Hari Singh Nalwa.
The present three-storey white marble structure was completed in 1925 with major funding from Maharaja Bhupindar Singh of Patiala.
The gurdwara also holds a natural spring believed to be more than 500 years old and serves as a central gathering place during major Sikh festivals, particularly Vaisakhi.
The site is also historically significant due to the 1922 Saka Panja Sahib incident, when Sikhs protesting colonial repression were killed or injured while attempting to provide food to detained reformers.
Today, the complex includes a large pool, a library, and modern lodging facilities that host thousands of international pilgrims each year.
