Gurudwara Guru ka Taal

Gurudwara Guru ka Taal is a large Sikh place of worship in Sikandra, northwest Agra, Uttar Pradesh, about two kilometres from Akbar's Tomb. It marks the place where the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, is remembered to have courted arrest in 1675 before being taken to Delhi, where he was executed. The complex is dominated by a gleaming white marble gurdwara with domes and a large sarovar-like tank that gives the site its name, taal meaning pond. Visitors see an open compound with a large prayer hall, where the Guru Granth Sahib is installed and kirtan, devotional hymns, is sung through the day. Everyone is welcome regardless of faith. Heads must be covered, shoes removed and left at the shoe counter, and feet washed in the shallow channel at the entrance. A defining feature is the langar, the free community kitchen that serves simple vegetarian meals of dal, roti and vegetables to anyone who sits on the floor in rows. Eating there is a meaningful experience, and visitors may leave a donation or help with serving or washing up. A visit typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes, longer if staying for langar. The atmosphere is calm and well kept, and the marble courtyard is cool underfoot even in summer. The best photographs capture the white domes against the sky and the tank, but photography inside the prayer hall is not appropriate. The gurdwara is busiest during gurpurab festivals and on weekends, and mornings are peaceful. Because Sikandra is a separate district from central Agra, it pairs naturally with Akbar's Tomb and Mariam's Tomb on the same trip.