Guru Nanak Jayanti Pilgrimage 2025: Where To Travel This Year

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2025 is going to be celebrated on 5th of November. This day marks the birth anniversary of the first and the most important Guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. This day is also known as Prakash Parv, Gurupurab or Guru Nanak Gurupurab. 

Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism faith and the first of 10 Sikh Gurus. He took birth on 15th April, 1469 in a village named Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in the present day Pakistan. Devotees celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti on the sacred day of Kartik Purnima, a day revered also by Hindus worldwide.

Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the three Sikh festivals that are still decided on the Vikram Samvat or Bikarami calendar. Baisakhi and Bandi Chor Divas are also decided similarly. Rest all Sikh festivals are based on the Nanakshahi Calendar.

This will be the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Devotees across all faiths are getting ready to pay a visit to the Gurudwaras near them. In this blog we are going to discuss the important places you can visit this Guru Nanak Jayanti, methods to pick up the best train and some final tips to make your journey peaceful.

Why Choose the Train for a Guru Nanak Jayanti Pilgrimage?

Train travel in India is deeply associated with religious travels. Most people use this option when going for a pilgrimage. Trains provide a deep connection with the land and also the people who board these trains.

Passengers looking for travel options this Guru Nanak Jayanti would find affordability as well as dependability with the Indian Railways. If you are travelling with a group or Sangat, you can share stories, chant sacred names, do the Jap as well as share food on the journey. Contrary to other travel methods like flight that might feel too crampy and lonely, Indian Railways provide an option that looks similar to a home.The rhythmic motion of the trains mirrors the meditative state of the Naam Simran.

Top pilgrimage destinations for Guru Nanak Jayanti (and the Best Trains)

If you are looking for pilgrimage option this Guru Nanak Jayanti, you can visit these sacred locations:

• Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar – Punjab

Sri Harmandir Sahib or Golden Temple is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. The Gold plated domes and the Sarovar (or holy pool) make up for a breathtaking view instilling a feeling of devotion and awe of the holy temple.

The temple was destroyed multiple times by the Mughal and Afghan rulers. It was continuously rebuilt by the Sikhs. The present temple of Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. This temple holds deep spiritual and pilgrimage value for Sikhs all around the world.

Nearest Railway Station: Amritsar Junction (ASR)

Best Trains to reach Amritsar Junction:

• From Delhi: VANDE BHARAT EXP (22487) 
• From Kolkata: AKAL TAKHT EXP (12317) 
• From Mumbai: GOLDEN TEMPLE (12903)

• Gurdwara Ber Sahib – Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab

Gurudwara Ber Sahib is located in the Kapurthala district of Punjab. This Gurudwara is situated near the Kali Bein rivulet. Guru Nanak achieved enlightenment after taking a bath in this river, thus making it important for all the Sikh pilgrims. 

Guru Nanak spent 14 years of his life at this place. He also planted a Ber tree from which this Gurudwara derives its name.

Nearest Railway Station: Sultanpur Lodi Railway Station (SQR)

Best trains to reach Sultanpur Lodi Railway Station (SQR):

• From Delhi: SARBAT DA BHALA (22479)

• From Kolkata: Direct train is not available but you can pick this connecting train. DURGIANA EXP (12357) for Kolkata to Jalandhar and JAT GNC EXP (19224) for Jalandhar to Sultanpur Lodi

• From Mumbai: Direct train is not available but you can pick this connecting train.BDTS BKN SF EXP (22474) for Borivali to Nagaur and JU JAT EXP (19225) for Nagaur to Sultanpur Lodi.

• Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib – Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, also called Kesgarh Qila is one of the 5 takhtas for Sikhs. This Gurudwara is situated in the district of Rupnagar Punjab.

Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib was constructed by the 10th Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh. He spent 25 years in Anandpur Sahib. He constructed this temple to protect Sikhs from Mughal attacks as well as the Rajas of the hilly regions. 

Nearest Railway Station: Anandpur Sahib Railway Station (ANSB)

Best trains to reach Anandpur Sahib Railway Station (ANSB):

• From Delhi: VANDE BHARAT EX (22447)

• From Kolkata: KOAA NLDM EXP (12325)

• From Mumbai: Direct train is not available but you can pick this connecting train.AK TEJAS RAJ EX (12953) for Borivali to Hazrat Nizamuddin and HIMACHAL EXP (14053) for Hazrat Nizamuddin to Anandpur Sahib

• Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib (Patna Sahib) – Patna, Bihar

Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib or Patna Sahib is one of the 5 takhtas for Sikhs. The 10th Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna during the Mughal Empire. He spent most of his formative years here before shifting to Anandpur Sahib.

Patna holds special importance for Sikhism as besides being the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Nanak and Guru Tegh Bahadur also paid a visit to this city. Maharaja Ranjit Singh constructed this Gurudwara.

Nearest Railway Station: Patna Junction (PNBE)

Best trains to reach Patna Junction (PNBE):

• From Delhi: RJPB TEJAS RAJ (12310)

• From Kolkata: BHARAT EXP (22347)

• From Mumbai: PATLIPUTRA EXP (12141)

• Gurdwara Darbar Sahib – Kartarpur, Pakistan

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib or Kartarpur Sahib is located in the Narowal district of Punjab province in Pakistan. Guru Nanak went on a missionary trip towards famous pilgrim sites such as Haridwar, Lanka, Mecca-Medina, Nepal, Kashmir and Baghdad. After his visits concluded he settled in this very place where this Gurudwara has been built. He assembled the SIkh community here and stayed for 18 years until his death.

This Gurudwara has constantly made news because of its location in Pakistan. A dedicated Kartarpur corridor was made so that Indian Sikh pilgrims can pay a visit here. However this corridor was indefinitely suspended post the Pulwama terrorist attack. 

• Gurdwara Nankana Sahib – Nankana Sahib, Pakistan

Gurudwara Nankana Sahib or Gurudwara Janam Sthan is one of the most sacred sites for Sikhism. Nankana Sahib is the place where Guru Nanak Ji was born. This city however is located in Pakistan and you cannot reach the Gurudwara directly without a visa. 

How to Pick the Best Train for a Calm pilgrimage

We have curated the list of the best trains from major cities to important pilgrimage centers. However if you are from a different city or want to check other available trains, you can use RailMitra’s Train Schedule service.

With the help of this service you can track all the information about a train’s journey. With this service you can find train stoppages, arrival/departure time, halt duration, duration of the journey, days of operation and much more. Based on this information and after comparing with other trains you can pick the train that is best for your journey.

Practical Tips for a Peaceful On-Train Experience

Here are some of the tips to keep your pilgrimage travel this Guru Nanak Jayanti peaceful and without any unnecessary problems.

• Book as early as possible: Train tickets are difficult to get and especially during the times of high crowd rush. Hence it is better to book your train ticket as early as possible.

• Track Booking status: If you have made a reservation with IRCTC and did not get a Confirmed (CNF) status, you need to check your booking status repeatedly to see if it has been confirmed or not. You can do this with the help of RailMitra’s PNR Status check. 

• Track your train live: As everyone knows, trains often get delayed. It is thus better to track train live with the help of Live train running status. This service will provide the current station of the train along with delays or before time arrivals. 

• Pack light: For long train journeys, it is always advisable to pack as light as you can.

• Respect local customs: When you are visiting a city that is outside of your region, you would definitely notice a difference in the culture. Respect the local customs and culture for a peaceful pilgrimage. 

How to Make Group Travel and Seva Smoother

The best way to travel this Guru Nanak Jayanti is with a group or Sangat. However, group travel presents its own set of challenges. Here are some of the tips to make your journey smoother:

• Coordinate properly: In a group different people travel together. It is thus important to co-ordinate and communicate with them before so that no confusion creeps up later. 
• Choose appropriate train: Groups or Sangats usually have children as well as elderly passengers. It is thus advisable that you choose trains that have a shorter travel duration and minimal halt timings. 
• Group food order in train: When you are travelling with the group, the most important concern is food. It is difficult to prepare food for multiple people and carry it on the train. With RailMitra you can easily place a group food order in train which will be delivered on your train seat. RailMitra provided food through FSSAI vendors ensuring cleanliness and hygiene. 
• Keep emergency contacts ready: When travelling with a group, it is possible that some group members might get left behind. It is thus important to keep a list of contact numbers, coach details and a meeting point that has been fixed in advance to avoid any confusion. 

Conclusion

Guru Nanak Jayanti is a time to remember the lives of Guru Nanak and the sacrifices of other Sikh Gurus. Each of the travel destinations gives us an opportunity to think about their teachings and imbibe them in our own life.

Train travel proposes significant advantages over other travel methods. It is deeply connected to the group or Sangat nature of pilgrim travel. To make your train journey comfortable, you must have ample information and planning in which RailMitra will help you.

Use RailMitra’s services to track your journey and travel peacefully this Guru Nanak Jayanti.