Sikh heritage trips from the UK: the Golden Temple, the five Takhts and Hemkund Sahib

Starting in Amritsar

Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, is the spiritual heart of Sikhism, and for families in Britain it is where most heritage trips begin. The Akal Takht, the first of the five Takhts, stands facing it across the causeway. Many pilgrims stay several days, attending the morning and evening ceremonies, doing seva in the langar and visiting Jallianwala Bagh nearby.

Air India flies non-stop from Birmingham to Amritsar three times a week this winter. From London, there is no non-stop at the moment, so you connect in Delhi or Doha. See Birmingham to Amritsar and flights to Amritsar.

The five Takhts

The five seats of temporal authority in Sikhism, and how to reach them.

Our tip: Visiting all five in one trip means crossing India. Fly between them rather than driving, and keep the flights on one booking.

Anandpur Sahib and Hola Mohalla

Anandpur Sahib, in the foothills of the Shivaliks, is where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in 1699. Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib marks the spot. The town comes alive at Hola Mohalla, the festival of martial skill held the day after Holi, which in 2027 falls around 23 March.

Chandigarh is the nearest major airport, about two hours by road. See flights to Chandigarh.

Patna Sahib

Takht Sri Patna Sahib, in the old city of Patna, marks the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. Patna airport has domestic flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, so it is easy to add to a trip. See flights to Patna.

Hazur Sahib, Nanded

Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, on the Godavari river in Maharashtra, is where Guru Gobind Singh spent his final days. It is further from the usual routes, and flights to Nanded are limited, so many pilgrims travel by train from Mumbai or Hyderabad.

We check the current flight options for your dates and compare them with the train.

Hemkund Sahib

Hemkund Sahib, high in the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand, is one of the most spectacular gurdwaras in the world, beside a glacial lake at around 4,000 metres or more. It is reachable only in the warmer months, roughly May to September, as snow closes the path from October to April.

The trek starts at Govindghat, about 275 km from Rishikesh. It is about 13 km to Ghangaria, partly by shared taxi and the rest on foot or by pony, then about 6 km more with a climb of around 1,100 metres to Hemkund. Fly to Delhi and on to Dehradun to start the journey.

Gurdwaras in Delhi

If you are passing through Delhi, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, near Connaught Place, and Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk are both important historic gurdwaras and easy to visit between flights if you have a long connection or a night in the city.

When to go

October to March is the most comfortable time for Punjab, though December and January nights are cold. Gurpurabs bring huge crowds to the Golden Temple, with Guru Nanak Jayanti on 24 November 2026. Vaisakhi, on 14 April 2027, and Hola Mohalla in March are also very busy.

Hemkund Sahib has its own short season, roughly May to September. Avoid the heaviest monsoon weeks for the mountain roads if you can.

Older pilgrims and langar seva

Many grandparents make this journey. Book wheelchair help at every airport, choose accommodation close to the gurdwaras, and consider ponies or dandis for the Hemkund climb. Most historic gurdwaras offer simple rooms for pilgrims and langar for everyone.

Our team speaks Punjabi, so elders can talk to us directly. See our page on assisted travel for elderly passengers.

Etiquette

Cover your head inside every gurdwara. Head scarves are provided at the entrance if you forget one. Remove shoes and socks, wash your hands and feet where facilities are provided, and do not bring tobacco or alcohol. Sit on the floor in the darbar hall and the langar, and accept prasad with both hands.

Gurdwaras of Punjab beyond Amritsar

Punjab is full of historic gurdwaras. Tarn Taran Sahib, with one of the largest sarovars, is under an hour from Amritsar. Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib and Baba Bakala are all within easy reach, and Fatehgarh Sahib, near Sirhind, remembers the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzade.

A car and driver for a few days lets you visit several in a day without rushing, and many families combine them with time in their own village.

A sample route

A ten to twelve day trip might start with three or four days in Amritsar, then Tarn Taran, Goindwal and Anandpur Sahib by road, and Talwandi Sabo on the way south. From there, fly from Amritsar or Chandigarh to Patna for Patna Sahib, then on to Nanded, or return to Delhi to fly home.

An open-jaw ticket, into Amritsar and out of Delhi, saves backtracking. We can price it all as one booking.

Read next