Trace the Guru’s Journeys this Guru Nanak Jayanti

Great men like Guru Nanak are born only once in a while. But they come with a specific purpose – to alter the destiny of the lives they touch. He did something similar when he founded the Sikh religion. During his years as a preacher, Guru Nanak travelled far and wide as he spread the word of unfailing strength and belief. From the quiet suburbs of Rai Bhoi Di Talwandi (now called Nanakana Sahib), his place of birth near Lahore in Pakistan to Sultanpur, Bengal, Assam, Kashmir, Ladakh and beyond the Indian borders to Tibet, Baghdad, Mecca and Medina, he covered thousands of miles.

Retracing his steps is not an easy task, however, it could prove to be an exciting journey full of promise and discovery. As the country celebrates this great man’s birth anniversary in the form of Guru Nanak Jayanti, here’s taking a look at the best things you can see as you follow the guru’s footsteps to various places in and around India.

Nankana Sahib, Pakistan

There is nothing extraordinary about Nankana Sahib, a non-descript city near Lahore in Pakistan, except its astounding history. This is the birthplace of the first Sikh, Guru Nanak, and the famous poet Kabir. For this reason alone, the city is now a Mecca of sorts for devout Sikhs. In recent years, the Pakistani government, taking note of the large numbers of local and international tourists flocking to this place, has built the Nankana Sahib Resort. Lahore, one of the places the guru stayed in during his numerous travels, is a thriving metropolis today. Known as Pakistan’s cultural capital, it is strewn with beautiful parks and gardens, several museums and bazaars laden with goods and buzzing with activity. It is an ideal place to get a feel of Pakistan’s famed culture, traditions, food and flavours.

The City of Joy, Kolkata, West Bengal

The city is an assault on your senses, and we don’t necessarily mean that in a negative way. There is life here, in every pore and it will make you feel alive like no other place – whether you are making a round of its beautiful structures such as the Victoria Memorial or the Kali Badi temple, jogging along to catch the tram, relishing the spicy puchkas or gorging on some delicious Bengali fish made in stinging mustard oil.

Green, Green Assam

The lush greenery and quiet serenity of Guwahati is a welcome change after the noisy, crowded streets of Kolkata. A city on the build, it is constantly changing, building, recreating. And if you are mesmerised by its rolling meadows and gushing waterfalls, do not forget to travel to Assam’s many other hidden treasures and tea gardens in Tezpur, Jorhat, Manjuli, Goalpara and Khokrajhar.

Heaven on Earth, Kashmir

Words can hardly do justice to the beauty of this place. Where and how does one begin to describe the beauty of the Dal Lake or the stunning mountain range behind it? The shikaras laden with bright flowers, the floating houseboats, the beautiful people and the mouthwatering cuisine? Everything about Kashmir is poetic; and now that the state has finally opened up to tourism there are very attractive vacation packages available the year round.

High Up in Ladakh

Famous for its rich history, culture and the many beautiful Buddhist monasteries, Ladakh is a place of wild beauty and stunning landscapes. Its social calendar is peppered with festivals celebrated in its many monasteries and they are the highlight of any Ladakhi’s life. From the beautiful Leh Palace to breathtaking trekking, biking and mountaineering trails, there is just so much to see and do here. Visit it for an experience of a lifetime.

If you’re keen to follow this fascinating trail, log on to MakeMyTrip.com for all your flight and hotel bookings.