Next up for UP’s religious tourism push: A historic gurdwara in Lucknow

“Sikh heritage sites in Uttar Pradesh have historically received limited tourism focused attention. The Yahiyaganj project brings visibility to Awadh’s historical links with Sikh religious history,” said an official, adding that the initiative also reflects the growing recognition of minority heritage sites as part of tourism planning.

Officials said Rs 2 crore has initially been released for the project.

On the anvil, officials said, are plans to strengthen pathways to ensure smooth movement of devotees, enhance lighting and carry out beautification work. The project also aims to ease the approach to the gurdwara from Charbagh Railway Station, Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport as well as other major parts of the city.

It further aims to make the area more convenient and safer for large gatherings during festivals, especially Prakashotsav, when the gurdwara sees heavy crowds not only from the city and the state but also from other regions.

A senior official highlighted the importance of the gurdwara.

“As per gurdwara records and long-standing Sikh tradition, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru, stayed at the site for three days in 1670 while travelling from Patna Sahib to Anandpur Sahib. Gurdwara records also state that Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, visited in 1672 and stayed there for over two months.”

“The gurdwara preserves two rare hukamnamas attributed to Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. A handwritten manuscript of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is housed within the premises. According to the gurdwara custodians, the opening folio of the manuscript bears the Mool Mantar traditionally attributed to Guru Tegh Bahadur,” added the official.

Officials said these collections are not just exceptional archival records but are of spiritual significance not just for devotees but for scholars too.

The gurdwara complex also has an art gallery depicting key episodes from Sikh history. While popular among Sikh pilgrims, it is relatively less known among general tourists visiting Lucknow.

Over the past few months, the government has focused on improving facilities at several religious sites as part of its tourism push.

Earlier this month, it approved Rs 1 crore for the development of amenities at the Digambar Jain Temple in Lucknow’s Indira Nagar to strengthen “Jain heritage” in the state capital.

In September, it zeroed in on Kampil in Farrukhabad district for its “Mahabharata Circuit”. Historically known as Kampilya, Kampil is regarded as the capital of the Panchala Kingdom and the birthplace of Draupadi. The BJP government had approved a Rs 4-crore project to upgrade basic amenities, restore dilapidated structures, and highlight the site’s religious and archaeological significance to attract both pilgrims and heritage tourists.

What’s in store for the gurdwara:

-Developing a dedicated tourist rest room facility for devotees and visitors.

-Two elevators proposed to improve accessibility for elderly devotees and persons with limited mobility.

-Improving internal movement through organised pedestrian edges using kerbstones, along with installation of benches and dustbins at suitable locations.

-As the area faces waterlogging during monsoon, “a stormwater drainage line” is planned.

-Improving lighting and basic beautification for a better visitor experience.