Old Gurdwara Sri Chakki Sahib, Eminabad

The Old Gurdwara Sri Chakki Sahib is a historic Sikh shrine at Eminabad, on Eminabad Road in Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan. In Sikh tradition the site is linked to Guru Nanak and to the sixteenth-century Mughal conquest of the area, when Guru Nanak is said to have been present in Eminabad during the invasion of Babur. It is one of the main Sikh heritage sites in the district and draws pilgrims from abroad on festival dates. Visitors see a gurdwara complex with the characteristic Sikh architectural vocabulary of domes, arches and a central prayer hall, set in the small town of Eminabad rather than in central Gujranwala. The atmosphere is devotional, and on pilgrim days the grounds become busy with groups, music and communal activity. A visit takes about an hour at the site, plus 30 to 40 minutes each way from the city, so a half-day is a realistic allowance. Morning is the best time to come, when the light is good for photographing the exterior and the grounds are quiet. Crowds peak around Baisakhi in April and around Guru Nanak's birthday in autumn, when Sikh pilgrim groups travel to the area; those dates offer a lively experience but require patience and early arrival. Visitors should dress modestly, cover their heads when entering the shrine area and remove shoes, following standard gurdwara etiquette. Rickshaws or ride-hailing apps such as inDrive and Yango can reach Eminabad Road in roughly 25 to 40 minutes, with a return trip including waiting costing about PKR 1,200 to 2,000. Entry is free. Because opening arrangements and security procedures can change, confirming access locally before travelling is advisable. Combining the trip with a stop in the old city makes the journey more worthwhile.