Guru Ki Maseet, Islamic monument in Sri Hargobindpur, India
Guru Ki Maseet is a three-bayed former mosque outside the planned core of Sri Hargobindpur, built of mud-mortared brick with outer walls about 1.8 metres thick. Its eastern facade has three pointed arches, the central one taller than the two flanking arches, and each bay carries a double dome, the central dome larger than the others, supported internally on squinches.
Guru Hargobind Sahib had the mosque built at the request of local Muslims, for settlers and artisans working on Sri Hargobindpur; he also built a dharamsala for Hindus there. After the 1947 partition the mosque was abandoned and Nihangs established a gurdwara in it. Restoration began in 2010 under Gurmit Rai of Cultural Resource Conservation.
The building is called Guru ki Maseet, "the Guru's Mosque", because Guru Hargobind had it built for local Muslims and his Muslim artisans. Since 1947 Nihang Sikhs kept the Guru Granth Sahib there; after a 8 February 2001 agreement between Tarna Dal head Kirtan Singh and the Punjab Waqf Board, Muslims pray there again.
The former mosque stands outside the original planned core of Sri Hargobindpur, in the area once settled by artisans, overlooking the Beas riverbed. Its thick mud-mortared brick walls and three arched openings face east. Since 1947 Nihangs have kept a gurdwara here, so cover your head and remove shoes before entering.
On 8 February 2001, Kirtan Singh, head of the Nihang Tarna Dal who had guarded the building, signed a memorandum with the Punjab Waqf Board allowing Muslims to pray there again. Board administrator Dr Rizwan-ul-Haq called it an event of international importance for communal harmony.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,939 contributors worldwide.