014. Mangat - Gurudwara Of Bhai Bannu

Mangat is not only the name of a small town in Mandi Bahauddin, but also the name of a Sikh clan. The focus of this post is the town’s historical connection to the Sikh community. Mangat is home to a magnificent and splendid gurdwara, which I discovered purely by chance. While traveling from Gujrat to Sargodha, I passed through the town and caught a glimpse of this grand building. It immediately captured my attention, and I decided to stop and explore it.

A local gentleman kindly accompanied me and shared some information about the site. For a while, a primary school operated in the gurdwara, but fortunately, it is now vacant and preserved.

Mr Iqbal Qaiser has given the following details on the website "allaboutsikhs.com":

The residence of Bhai Bannu Ji, a devotee of Sat Gur Arjun Dev Ji, was at this place. "Bhai Bannu wali beer (volume) of Granth Sahib" was kept here in the book form. 

At the side of the tank, a beautiful Gurdwara was built during Sikh rule by the royal command of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A large endowment of land was made but the priests got it transferred in their names. This is a splendid darbar. The tank is getting filled with dust. There is now a vegetable market outside the Gurdwara. The floral frescoes have been painted on the walls.

Gurdwara Bhai Bannu, Mangat. (26.03.2009.)  

 Gurdwara Bhai Bannu, Mangat. (26.03.2009.) 

The ground floor of the gurdwara. (26.03.2009.)  

The 1st floor of the gurdwara. (26.03.2009.)  

            View of the beautiful marble-tiled floor from the first floor. (26.03.2009.)  

Second floor of the gurdwara. (26.03.2009.)   

A fewrooms along the outer wall, southwestern corner. (26.03.2009.)  

A general view of Mangat town. (26.03.2009.)  

The scond floor. (26.03.2009.)  

Beautiful frescoes in the gurdwara, Mangat. (26.03.2009.) 

Beautiful frescoes in the gurdwara, Mangat. (26.03.2009.) 

੭੬੫ ਟਹਲ ਕਰਾਈ ਭ: ਸਾਈ ਦਿਤਾ ਲੂਠਰਾ (*) ਸਪੁਤ੍ਰ  ਰਾਮ ਚੰਦ ਕਾਲ ਸ਼ਾਦੀਆਂ ਵਾਲਾ ਹਿਸਾ ਭਾਈ ਬਨੋ ਦਾਦੀ ਆ (*)

ਵਿਸਾਖ ੧ : ੧੯੭੯

765 روپے ٹہل کرائی بھائی سائی دِتؐا لوٹھر(*) سپُتر رام چند کال شادیاں والا حصہ بھائی بنو دادیا(*)
وِساکھ 1 : 1979 (1922)

Rs 765. Service rendered by Bhai Sayi Ditta Luthra (*) son of Ram Chand of Kal Shadian** Wala; share of Bhai Banno Dadaiya(*)

    

                    * Words are not clear. 

                   ** Kal Shadian or Kala Shadian is a village, 25 km south of Mangat,  at                                                  32°18'48.39"N,  73°34'13.87"E

 

View of the gurdwara from the eastern side. (26.03.2009.)  

Another beautiful view of the gurdwara from the southern side.  (26.03.2009.)

Our guide told us about an old building in the town and invited us to visit it. We accepted his offer, and he led us into the heart of the town. The building in question was a Dharamshala—a guest house—built by the Sikh community in 1908. This beautiful structure is still serving its original purpose. In fact, at the time of our visit, a marriage procession was being hosted there. The place is currently managed by a community of migrants from Ambala.

A view of Dharamsala. (26.03.2025.)

 Inside view of the dharmsala. (26.03.2009.) 

Ek Onkar

Sat Guru Parsad

Sat Sri Akal

Inn of Dharam Arth & Dharamsal Bhai Kisan Singh Chawla

Dated: 1 Wisakh 1965 (12 April 1908 AD)

Another view of the Dharamsala. (26.03.2009.)

This gurdwara is located at 32°30'47.62" N, 73°30'16.66" E, just six or seven kilometers from Mandi Bahauddin on Phalia Road. If you have any interest in old buildings and our heritage, you will be delighted to visit this place.

The most encouraging thing about this gurdwara is that, unlike many others, it is not occupied by anyone. This makes it relatively easy to manage and restore to its former glory. The restoration could be carried out at minimal cost to the government. I am confident that if we reach out to Sikh organizations, they would be more than willing to participate in its repair and preservation. This gurdwara could become a symbol of peace and love between the two communities. After all, it is a house of God.

Tariq Amir

May 20, 2014.

Doha - Qatar 

Update (07.07.2025.):

At the time of my visit in 2009, I had no knowledge of the Gurmukhi script and therefore could not read the inscription on the entrance of the gurdwara, which gives the year of construction as 1922. Today, Ms. Parminder Kaur, a resident of Amritsar, kindly helped me read this inscription. She also graciously provided a translation of the holy verses from the Guru Granth Sahib written inside the gurdwara.

I would especially like to thank her for her help and effort.

Tariq Amir

July 7, 2025.

Islamabad

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