Ali Baig Gurdwara

The ruins of the Sikh gurdwara that gave Ali Baig village, in Bhimber, its old name of Kirtan Ghar.

GPGreenPak Field GuidesSourced from Green Tourism Pakistan · 2 min read

Ali Baig, a village on the Upper Jhelum Canal in Bhimber District, was once called Kirtan Ghar after its Sikh gurdwara. The gurdwara now stands in ruins.

Why go

✦The ruins of the gurdwara of Kirtan Ghar
✦A village with a shared Sikh and Muslim past
✦Beside the Upper Jhelum Canal
✦Farmland of the Bhimber plains

About

The village also had a Khalsa Middle School, run by Sant Baba Sunder Singh, where children from Dina, Jhelum and the surrounding villages came to study Persian, Urdu, Punjabi and English. Today Ali Baig is one of the larger villages of Azad Kashmir, with around five thousand people, growing wheat, maize, sugarcane and vegetables. The local language is Pothwari.

History

The village's former name, Kirtan Ghar, came from the gurdwara. Alongside it the Khalsa Middle School, run by Sant Baba Sunder Singh, drew pupils from villages including Dina, Gora Nakka, Kalri, Kotla and Jhelum. Before 1947 Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus lived in the village; today it is home mainly to Arain families.

How to Reach

Near Bhimber in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on the bank of the Upper Jhelum Canal.

Responsible Travel

Dress respectfully, remove footwear where required, avoid interrupting worship, and ask before photographing people or religious interiors.

Planning tip

Best Time to Visit, October to March; summers on the plains are hot.

Getting there, Near Bhimber in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on the bank of the Upper Jhelum Canal.

Allow, One to two hours.

What to Do

◆See the gurdwara ruins with a local guide

◆Walk along the Upper Jhelum Canal

◆Ask about the old Khalsa school

◆Combine with other heritage sites in Bhimber

Nearby

Straight-line distance from Ali Baig Gurdwara, within 5 km.

Nothing else genuinely close by (within 5 km of Ali Baig Gurdwara) is published yet.

Other Places in the Same District or Area