Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhor Sahib – Gwalior Fort

Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhor Sahib in Gwalior commemorates a significant episode in Sikh history involving Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, who was unjustly imprisoned in the Gwalior Fort by the order of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Though officially detained over the non-payment of a fine imposed on his father, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the real reason was political. The Guru’s growing popularity and his policy of militarization alarmed certain fanatical elements in Jahangir’s court, particularly those aligned with the Naqshbandi sect. These detractors influenced the Emperor to act against the Guru.

Guru Hargobind Ji was summoned to Delhi and later imprisoned in Gwalior Fort — a notorious prison for political detainees and royals. According to Sikh historical sources, his detention lasted around two months. During this period, Bhai Jetha and the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir, a close friend of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, interceded on the Guru’s behalf. Their efforts persuaded Jahangir to release Guru Hargobind Ji.

The release, however, came with a remarkable condition. Fifty-two Rajput princes, also held in the fort, looked up to Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji as a spiritual and moral beacon. The Guru refused to accept freedom unless the other political prisoners were also released. Jahangir agreed to set free as many kings as could physically hold onto the Guru’s robe. In response, Guru Ji had a special robe stitched with 52 tassels, enabling all the detained Rajas to walk out of the fort with him. This heroic and compassionate act earned him the title “Bandi Chhor Data” — the Great Liberator.

Today, Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhor Sahib stands within the historic Gwalior Fort to honor this event. Originally, a small shrine maintained by local Muslim caretakers marked the site. After India’s independence in 1947, the Sikh community established a formal Gurudwara. The original marble platform still exists near the entrance of the current complex.

The existing Gurudwara complex, developed during the 1970s and 1980s under the guidance of Sant Jhanda Singh and Uttam Singh Mauni of Khadur Sahib, spans over six acres. The main building is a six-storey structure, with the sanctum located on one side of a spacious prayer hall. Beneath it lies a large basement, and above are four stories of rooms. A separate compound houses the Guru ka Langar (community kitchen), a large dining hall, and accommodations for staff and pilgrims. Notably, the Gurudwara has two sarovars (sacred water tanks), one each for men and women — a rare feature among Sikh shrines.