Gurudwara Panja Sahib

During his third great journey (Udasi), Guru Nanak and his companion Mardana arrived at the foot of a hill near Hasan Abdal, where a Muslim saint named Wali Qandhari controlled the only water spring atop the hill. Guru Nanak began singing devotional hymns at the base, and people gathered around him, forgetting to climb the hill to buy water from Qandhari.

Furious at losing his followers and income, Qandhari rolled a massive boulder down the hill aimed directly at Guru Nanak. As the enormous rock thundered down, the Guru calmly raised his right hand and stopped it — the boulder came to an abrupt halt with Guru Nanak's palm imprint embedded in the solid rock. At the same instant, the spring atop the hill dried up, and a new, fresh spring burst forth at the base of the hill where the Guru sat.

Wali Qandhari, seeing his spring vanish, hurled a second boulder. Again, the Guru stopped it with his hand. Humbled and ashamed, Qandhari descended and fell at the Guru's feet, begging for forgiveness. Guru Nanak, ever compassionate, restored the spring atop the hill as well.

The boulder bearing Guru Nanak's handprint — clearly visible to this day — is the centerpiece of the Gurudwara. The spring still flows with crystal-clear water. During Vaisakhi, thousands of Sikh pilgrims from India cross the Wagah border to visit this shrine — one of the rare occasions when the hostile India-Pakistan border softens for faith.

Marks the site of Guru Nanak's first Udasi journey. The handprint on the rock is preserved. Located near the ancient University of Taxila in Pakistan.

Vaisakhi draws cross-border pilgrims from India. The Pakistan government grants special visas for Sikh pilgrims.

White marble Gurudwara centered on the sacred rock bearing Guru Nanak's handprint and the natural spring he created.