Anandpur Sahib, the City of Bliss, is one of the important centres of Sikh religion. Founded by the ninth Guru, Tegh Bahadur, in AD 1664, the city came into prominence during the period of his son and successor, Guru Gobind Singh. Situated in the picturesque lower spurs of the Shivalik mountain ranges on the left bank of river Sutlej, the holy city is dotted by a number of historical gurdwaras. It was here that Guru Gobind Singh created the Order of the Khalsa at Takhat Kesgarh, which is one of the five centres of Sikh temporal authority. Guru Gobind Singh protected the city by constructing a number of forts at strategic points, the most important of them being kesgarh, Anandgarh, Lohgarh, Holgarh and Taragarh. It was at Anandpur that Guru Gobind Singh provided training to his followers in warfare and created special squads called the Nihangs, described as knight-eerants of Guru Gobind Singh. Though famous as the birthplace of the Khalsa, Anandpur is also know for its festivals, the most important of them being Hola Mahalla when the Nihangs take out huge processions and display their martial arts amidst the sprinkling of colours and beating of drums. The festival attracts thousands of visitors from different parts of the country and abroad. During the terecentenary of the creation of the Khalsa in 1999 over five millions pilgrims from all over world visited the holy city. An impressive Sikh Heritage Complex is being built at Anandpur which promises to the one of the wonders of the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mohinder Singh
Mohinder Singh is a renowned climber and mountaineer award winner. Civil Engineer by professional and retired as Commandant (G.D.) after having served in ITBP for 35 years. Born on 12-03-1944 at village "Raj Pur Bhayan" in the foothill of shivalik ranges. Dist. Hoshiarpur (Punjab State) India. He has done extensive trekking in Indian Himalayas for continous 25 years and also climbed in Alps (Europe). He has the distinction of being successful leadership of the First every climb of "Mount Everest", 29028 ft. from the route of North-Col Tibet (Chine) side in the year 1996 (pre honoured with the covered title "Khan Grid" by government of Mongolia in 1995 under the Culture Exchange Programme between India & Mongolia. He has rendered commendable services many years in the mountain area of Leh-Ladakh (J & K), Uttar Pradesh (Garhwal & Kumaon), Himachal Pradesh extending from Karakoram to Kumaon Himalaya. Few of the mountain achievements and adventures are mentioned below: Special rock climbing course, 1966, Basic mountaineering course at H.M.I. Darjeeling, 1967, Leader of Gangotri / Badrinath trek-king expedition via Kalandikhal 19995 ft. high peak (Garhwal Himalaya) in 1968. Climb of ferry peak (Sikkim), Advance mountaineering guide and rescue course at Australia (Europe) and climbed 03 peaks on "Alps" (Europe) 1971, Dy. Leader of Neelkantha 1974. Set a world record by his first ascent tovirgin peak. “Saser-Kangri-I in 1973 on 7th June. Climb of Trishul peak (7120 mtrs.) in 1970, unnamed peak (6065 mtrs.) in Kakbhusand range (Garhwal) and Pancha-Chulli-I (6037 mtr.) both in 1972. He has been pioneer to establish mountaineering & Ski-ing Institute at ITBP Auli (Joshimath) and worked as Training Officer and later on as Principal / Commandant of this Institute. He has been with foreign joint expeditions such as: Tunni peak in 1975, Gangotri peak, 1976, Nanda Devi (Main) two times in 1978 and 1979, Bhagirathi-I 1980, Nandakot 1981, East-Nanda Devi-1982. Participated Seminars and International Mountaineering Camps, Administrative officer duty in IMF 1991, leader successful expedition to Mt. Bamba Dhura (6355 mtrs) 1991, leader of successful team to Mt. Un-named peaks 6172 mtrs. & 6075 mtrs. In (H.P.) State 1992, Liaison officer and member of Indo-Ukraine (Russia) expedition to Mt. "Kangchen Junga" April-June 1993, overall leader of joint successful expedition Indo-Mangolia to Mt. "Joanli" (21760 ft.) in November 1994, Summiteer of peak, "Mana, 23860 ft. in August 1995, Summiteer of three unnamed peaks, 6725 mtrs. 6489 mtrs. & 6449 mtrs. In Leh-Ladakh in November 1995. Mohinder Singh has been awarded more than fifteen Commendations / citation, appreciations different occasion of challenging / special assignments. He has carried out meticulously mountain rescue works many times. He has been decorated with Indian Police Medal (IPM) for meritorious services in 1997 and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Award by Punjab State Government in 1998.
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