Almost twenty kilometers from Gujranwala city, on the Daska Road, lies the small village of Fateh Bhinder, situated about five kilometers west of the main road in a rural setting. Unlike some of its neighboring villages, it does not appear to be particularly prosperous. A large canal—probably the Marala–Ravi Link Canal—flows nearby, and the surrounding area is lush and green. During the rainy season in July, the natural beauty of the landscape is striking, despite the intense humidity.
The village’s most notable landmark is an old gurdwara located on its outskirts. We arrived there in the late afternoon, as daylight was fading, and the villagers were busy with their daily routines. The gurdwara stands at coordinates 32°19'16.82"N, 74°17'16.51"E.
The building is in a very dilapidated state, with large cracks visible in the structure. It is built on slightly elevated ground at the southern edge of the village. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but it was probably erected in the early decades of the twentieth century.
The gurdwara is known as Pehli Patshahi (“The First Kingdom”), indicating its association with the first Sikh Guru, Baba Nanak Dev Ji, who, according to a plaque at the site, visited this place while traveling from Sialkot from the Babe Di Ber.
A view of the gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, Fateh Bhinder. (23.07.2019).
A view from the north-east. (23.07.2019).
A view from the north. (23.07.2019).
A front view of the gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, Fateh Bhinder. (23.07.2019).
A closer view of the gurdwara. (23.07.2019).
The ground floor. (23.07.2019).
The upper portion of the building. (23.07.2019).
Doors and windows of the building. (23.07.2019).
੧ ਓ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤੇਹ
ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਰ
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਕੀਬਾਬੇ ਦ ਬੇਰ ਤੋਂ ਏਥੇ ਆਏ
1 اونکارسری واہِ گرو جی کی فتح
گوردوارہ نانک سر
سری گرو نانک دیو جی کا
بابے دی بیر توں ایتھے آئے
Gurdwara Nanak Sar. Honourable Gur Nanak Dev ji came here from Babe Di Ber (Sialkot)
Stairs to approach the first floor and the roof. (23.07.2019).
The western side. (23.07.2019).
Cracks in the building are quite visible. (23.07.2019).
A view from the south. (23.07.2019).
A view from the east. (23.07.2019).
The condition of the interior of the building is even worse. Roofs are collapsing and there are heaps of debris or buffalo dung.
The internal arches of the gurdwara. (23.07.2019).
Roofs are collapsing and the whole building is quite unsafe. (23.07.2019).
Gapes in the first floor. (23.07.2019).
Another view of the ground floor. (23.07.2019).
The devastation inside the building. (23.07.2019).
A glimpse of the beauty of the building. (23.07.2019).
The inside view of the two floors. (23.07.2019).
A bridge over Marala-Ravi Link Canal, near Fateh Bhinder. (23.07.2019).
Marala-Ravi Link Canal, near Fateh Bhinder. (23.07.2019).
Sahibzada Shah Sultan. (23.07.2019).
I cannot thank him enough for driving the whole day in that hot and humid weather from place to place. We started from Sargodha and ended in the evening in Sialkot.
The writer. (23.07.2019).
A huge tree beside the canal. (23.07.2019).
Sunset at Fateh Bhinder. (23.07.2019).
As we can see in the pictures, the building is now almost a ruin. Huge cracks have appeared in the whole structure and the roof and floors inside have partially collapsed. But I think it still can be saved from total destruction. With some research and planning, this whole area can be developed for religious and historic tourism.
Tariq Amir
November 12, 2019.
Doha - Qatar.
Sincere thanks for photos and information
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