Most of us have visited Darbar Sahib, but do you know there are few other historical Gurdwaras and sites in the Parkarma itself? Some Gursikhs make it a point to do Darshan of all this shrines when doing Darbar Sahib Darshan.
Sachkand Sri Harmandar has three floors and you can visit all of them. Usually you can find some space to sit and listen to kirtan from the second floor. The second floor also has a huge saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The third floor is a rooftop where some Sanggat sit and read Bani. There are also Gutka Sahibs available at this floor. When walking up the stairs, look above and around you to enjoy the beautiful carvings.
After you metha tek in Harmandar Sahib, the moment you come out and walk around you will see Sanggat taking Amrit jal from Har Ki Paurhi. This site is historical as it is where Parmatma Himself took part in the construction of Harmandar Sahib.
Akaal Takht Sahib - the highest temporal seat of Sikhi. You can enjoy the bliss of Dhadhi singing in ballads of warriors in front of Akal Takht Sahib from 9am to 4pm. This tradition was started by Guru Hargobind Ji Mahraj. In the evening after Rehraas Sahib path, the Shastars placed in Akaal Takht Sahib are displayed to Sanggat for Darshan.
Gurdwara Thara Sahib is situated at the left of Akaal Takht Sahib. This is where Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji sat when they arrived from Baba Bakala to do Darshan of Darbar Sahib but was refused entry by notorious Masands. The tree Mahraj sat under is preserved in the Gurdwara.
Gurdwara Sri Shaheed Ganj Baba Gurbaksh Singh Nihung Singh Ji is situated behind Akal Takht Sahib. This shrine is where the great Shaheed of the Panth, Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ji was cremated. Baba Ji with only 30 other Sikhs fought against 30 000 soldiers of Abdali who invaded Punjab from Afghanistan.
Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga Baba Deep Singh Ji is situated in the Parkarma of Harmandar Sahib. It is the spot where Baba Deep Singh Ji offered their holy head after their battle avenging the desecration of Harmandar Sahib by the Afghan army.⠀
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Memorial of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa is a new shrine situated beside Gurdwara Thara Sahib. This shrine is in memory of Sant Ji and all the Shaheeds of 1984 attack who gave their lives to defend the holiest shrine of the Panth.⠀
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Dukh Bhanjani Beri (tree). This is the spot where the leper husband of Bibi Rajni was fully recovered after dipping into a pool at this place. The tree under which her leper husband was sitting came to be known as Dukh Bhanjani Beri as it relieves sufferings and even until today thousands of people that do Ishnaan here with Shardha gets cured from their external/internal diseases. Next to this Beri, is the Ath Sath Tirath, signifying that anyone taking a dip here with devotion will have benefit of 68 pilgrimages. A small Gurdwara with two saroops of Guru Mahraj is also built beside this Beri. ⠀
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Picture 8: Ber Baba Budha Sahib Ji is also in the Parkarma of Darbar Sahib. Baba Ji used to camp beneath this tree (Beri) to perform the service of digging the holy tank and construction work of Sri Harimandir Sahib. There is also a Darbar built opposite this Beri in memory of Baba Budha Ji.
Gurdwara Sri Lachi Beri Sahib Ji is located at the right of the Darshan Deori (entrance) to Sri Harmandir Sahib. Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji used to sit here under the Lachi Ber tree and supervise the excavation of the sarovar and building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. The brave warriors Bhai Sukha Singh and Bhai Mehtab Singh tied their horses with this very tree in 1740 while entering Sri Harmandir Sahib to behead Massa Rangar, a Mughal who desecrated Sri Harmandir Sahib. ⠀
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All the three historical trees in the Parkarma are taken care and preserved by a team of experts who regularly inspects the health of these trees and treat them when needed. ⠀
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Diwan Hall Manji Sahib is not situated in Parkarma but in front of the Langgar Hall. At this place, the daily Hukamnama is explained to the Sanggat every morning. It also marks the place where Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji uttered Barah Maha Gurbani.
The next time you visit Darbar Sahib, do have Darshan of all this sites!