Ritual Tourism Potential in Pakistan

This is the first time the government of Pakistan (GoP) has begun to work on revitalising and promoting ritual tourism. The government has developed a comprehensive plan for restoring religious sites that are sacred to different faiths. Tourism policies are primarily focused on socio-economic uplift and preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Pakistan is home to many ethnic groups, cultural festivals, religious sites, and rituals. The settlers established their distinct and diverse places of worship, accustomed locals to their rituals and contributed many cultural aspects that are now celebrated in our country. The festivals, such as Holi, Christmas, Easter and Diwali, are observed. This eclectic mix of festivities is ingrained in Pakistani culture.

This area was part of great civilizations thousands of years ago. Harappa is the oldest known man-made civilization. The Indus Valley Civilization is a significant cultural asset to the country. Most of the sites have not been well-maintained, and many historic religious sites have succumbed to decay. The government is now working hard to restore these sites.

The religious sites have been around for centuries. Pakistani governments try to preserve their sanctity over the years. The plans for the excavation and restoration of these sites have been linked to catering tourism. As a result, a slew of exciting tourism initiatives have been launched across the country.

The proposed sites listed below have already been restored.

Kartarpur Corridor
Gurdwara Nankana Sahib
Gurdwara Punja Sahib
Gurdwara Rori Sahib
Gurdwara Sacha Sauda
Katas Raj Temple
Taxila Museum
Bibi Jawindi
Darbar Khwaja Ghulam Farid
Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh
Mata Sahib Kaur
Tilla Joggian
Bhai Karam Singh
Gurdwara Chowa Sahib

Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s birthplace in Gujranwala has also been designated for preservation.

Potential for Ritual Tourism in Pakistan

Kartarpur Corridor

This is a sacred site for Sikhs. The founder of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak, established the first commune in 1504. The corridor was inaugurated on November 9th, 2019 to serve the Sikh community in India and Pakistan. This allows Sikhs from India to enter Kartarpur without a visa. Visa-free entry has improved interfaith harmony in Pakistan.

Nankana Sahib

Another sacred place for Sikhs is the Gurdwara of Nankana Sahib, which is located in Nankana city. It was named after Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, who started preaching Sikhism from Nankana Sahib. People of other faiths frequently visit Nankana Sahib. The foundation stone for Nankana Sahib University was laid in October 2019.

Gurdwara Panja Sahib

This gurdwara is located in Hasan Abdal, Punjab. It is famous for bearing Guru Nanak’s hand imprint. Hari Singh Nalwa is thought to have built the first gurdwara here, known as the Gurdwara Panja Sahib. It is one of the three holiest sites in Sikhism, alongside Nankana Sahib in Sheikhupura and the Golden Temple in India. Sikhs from all over the world come here in April to commemorate the birth of Khalsa, or purity.

The design and architecture of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Panja Singh are strikingly similar which represents the unity in the followers of Sikhism.

Mata Sahib Kaur

Mata Sahib Devan Kaur (1681-1747) was the wife of Guru Gobindh Singh. Har Bhagwan Devan (alias Ramu), a Bassi Khatri from Rohtas, Jhelum, was her father. Mata Sahib Devan was born in Rohtas on November 1, 1681. Her father Bhai Rama, a devout Nanak Naam Leva Sikh, offered her to be Guru Gobindh Singh’s bride. The wedding took place on April 15, 1700, in Anandpur.
She is the mother of Khalsa Panth. When a Sikh is baptised, Guru Gobind Singh Ji becomes the father and Mata Sahib Devan Ji takes on the role of mother. Her final resting place has also been renovated as a Sikhism holy site.

Karam Singh Bhai

Karam Singh Bhai (1885-1922), a martyr in the Panja Sahib episode, was the son of Takht Keshgarh priest Bhat Bhagvan Singh of Anandpur Sahib. On November 14, 1885, he was born and given the name Sant Singh. His father taught him Sikh sacred lore and devotional music. He grew up to be an accomplished singer of holy hymns. During the Guru Ka Bagh agitation in 1922, Karam Singh and his wife Kishan Kaur went on pilgrimage to Gurdwara Panja Sahib. The Gurdwara committee was so impressed with his kirtan that they hired him as a member of the choir. During the riots, he was killed. His eternal abode is also being renovated.

Gurdwara Chowa Sahib

Gurdwara of the Exalted Spring is a renovated site on the outskirts of Rohtas Fort, Jhelum. The gurdwara, located near the fort’s Talaqi gate. It commemorates the location where Guru Nanak is said to have created a water spring during one of his Udasi journeys.
Charat Singh built the first commemorative structure, which included a pool and a recitation area for the Guru Granth Sahib. The current structure was commissioned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1834.
Sikhs believe Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana were in the area during Guru Nanak’s fourth journey. They travelled in the summer and arrived at Tilla Jogian after 40 days. Bhai Mardana bemoaned the scarcity of water in the area. Guru Nanak moved a stone which revealed a natural spring. Ranjit Nagara, a Sikh community organisation based in the United States, took over the Gurdwara’s rehabilitation and renovation in 2020. The work is being done with international funding and a multicultural team to restore the Gurdwara to its original form and function while also adding new facilities.

Taxila

The Kingdom of Gandhara founded Taxila, which has special significance for Buddhism. Originally, it is known as Takshashila, meaning “City of Cut Stone”. it had been ruled by several empires, each vying for the advantageous trade route between South and Central Asia.
Taxila has numerous tourist attractions including Bhir Mound, Sirkap, Sirsukh, Dharmarajika Stupa, Kunala Stupa, Mohra Moradu Stupa, Jaulian Stupa, Jandial Temple, and Taxila Museum. Taxila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pakistani government has made concerted efforts to preserve its significance.

Bibi Jawindi Tomb

The Tomb of Bibi Jawindi is one of five monuments in Uch Sharif that have been proposed for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The shrine, which dates back to the 15th century, was built in the spirit of the historical Sufi premier Bibi Jawindi of the Suhrawardiyya order, strictly hegemonic Sunni school of theosophical thought that places special emphasis on the Shafi’i school of classical jurisprudence in the context of Sharia interpretation. Jaw Indo was the great granddaughter of Jahaniyan Jahangasht, himself a famous Sufi saint. Her tomb has been renovated for spiritual devotees.

Darbar Khawaja Ghulam Farid

Khwaja Ghulam Farid (1845–1901) was a 19th century Punjabi Sufi poet. He belonged to the Chishti Nizami Sufi clan. He wrote in many languages, but his Punjabi and Saraiki poetry is especially well acclaimed.
Khawaja Ghulam Farid’s followers are referred to as Faridi. Faridiyat, a field of study, was founded in the 20ttth century. The tomb of Khawaja Ghulam Farid has also been restored to its former glory.

Gurdwara Rori Sahib

Gurdwara Rori Sahib is two kilometres South of Eminabad and one and a half kilometres North of Talab village. Eminabad is an historic town, 55 kilometres away from Lahore and 15 kilometres away from Gujranwala. A four kilometre metal road connects it to Grand Trunk Road and the Eminabad railway station. In this area there are three important Sikh historical sites.
Gurdwara Rori Sahib
Gurdwara Chakki Sahib
Gurdwara Khuhi Bhai Lalo
This gurdwara is also restored.

Gurdwara Sacha Sauda

Gurdwara Sacha Sauda is 37 miles from the Lahore-Lyallpur Railway Line. Guru Nanak, as a young man, came across some Sadhus who were starving without food. The Guru decided to use the money given to him by his father to provide a meal (langar) for the Sadhus. His father, Mehta Kalu, was irritated, but Guru Nanak told him that he had done a very good deed. On the spot where Guru Nanak fed the sadhus, Maharaja Ranjit Singh built a Gurdwara. The structure of Gurdwara is designed in the style of a fortress. The Darshani Deorhi draws large crowds. After partition, the sangats were permitted to pay homage to the Gurdwara in April 1993.

Kohna Bagh Fort

Qilla Kohna Bagh is located on a hill, separated from Multan by the Ravi River. The Katoch Rajput Dynasty constructed the fort between 800-1000 B.C. Ranghars, however, rebuilt it after it was destroyed by the British.
The fort was notable for its architecture as well as its defence installation. The four gates of fort are De, Sikki, Hareri, and Khizri. The bombardment from the guns in 1818 severely damaged the citadel but now it is also restored.

Tilla Jogian

Tilla Jogian is a Hindu temple and monastic complex in Salt Range. The complex housed hundreds of ascetics and was the most important Hindu centre. The site is also significant in Sikhism because of its ties to Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.
The complex is 25 kilometres West of Jhelum, near the Jhelum River and the Grand Trunk Road, an ancient route that connected Central Asia and India. Nearby attractions include Rohtas Fort, the Katas Raj Temples and the Hindu sacred pond.
This area is forested with olive, pines and Acacia modesta trees. Tilla Jogian was a Brahminical seminary that is now surrounded by sprawling housing developments. This location is also being renovated.

Katas Raj Temples

Shiri Katas Raj Temples is a collection of temples in Kallar Kahar, Punjab, linked by walkways. The complex is built around Katas, a sacred pond to Hindus. Many believe it was formed from Shiva’s tears as he shed after the death of his wife, Sati. This temple has been associated with important traditions and special significance for Hindu religion.

Sadh Belo Temple

Sadh Belo is a temple situated on the Bank of Indus River, near Sukkur. This island temple is Pakistan’s third-largest temple. The complex consists of eight temples, along with a garden, a library, dining and residential area for monks, travellers or pilgrims.
Hindu community regularly visits the temple. Pilgrims from across the border also visit the site. Permission for non-Hindu is required from Hindu Panchayat of Pakistan. Pakistan Waqf Board supervised renovations and repairs of the site.

Vital Initiatives

Renovation of Hindu Rest House in Saidpur Model Village Islamabad. The historical building of the rest house serves as a top tourist attraction in the area.
Launch of Al-Biruni Radius. The ‘Heritage Trail’ at the ‘Al-Biruni’ point of Nandana Fort, Jhelum. It will pass through Nandana Fort and Temple, Shiva Temple of Katas Raj, Khewra Salt Mines, Malot Fort and Temples, as well as Takht-e-Babri.
A similar trail, Gandhara Trail is launched which will cover and reconstruct old Buddhist sites.
Pakistan has launched a tourism dedicated TV channel, Discover Pakistan.
Brand Pakistan is a platform for local and international influencers for extensive advertising campaigns by using digital channels to highlight Pakistan’s tourist attractions.

If you are interested in ritual tourism in Pakistan, do contact us at www.pakistanbikers.com.