Nanded

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Aerial view of Nanded on the banks of river Godavari. Explore at Wikimapia.

Nanded (called Abichal nagar by the Sikhs) (19.1528°n 77.3189°e) is also known Nanded-Waghala. It is situated on the banks of the river Godavari in Indian state of Maharashtra, in central India. The District of Nanded lies between 18' 15" to 19' 55" North latitude and 77' to 78' 25" East longitude. It is Marathwada's second most important city, next only to Aurangabad and is situated 600 Kms. (400 Miles) East of Mumbai. Nanded-Waghala could prove to be of interest for international business, as it is one of the major cotton growing areas in India.

Nanded is a well-known Sikh Pilgrimage center. One can visit a famous Sikh Gurdwara, Takhat Hazoor Sahib here. This is the city where in 1708, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh left for his heavenly abode. Hazoor Sahib is on of the five most important Takhats (thrones) of the Sikhs. Yearly many thousands of Sikhs visit the city to pay their respects to the sacred Gurdwara by the river Godavari.

Mahur and Basar are adjacent tourist attractions. The waterfall of Sahastra Kunda is popular with tourists. Tourists can approach the city Nanded-Waghala from Mumbai (Bombay), Pune or Hyderabad. Nanded is well-connected to all parts of North India and South India by train.

There is a small airport to the north of the city called the Indira Gandhi airport. Unfortunately, none of the national carriers fly to this airport. The main mode of transport into this city is by train and by road.

History of the Traditional Sikh Name

Abchal Nagar, more correctly spelled Abichalnagar (abichal, lit. does not move meaning firmly fixed, unshakably rooted), i.e. Everlasting City, is the name Sikh tradition has given Nanded, a district town in Maharashtra. The place is sacred to the memory of Guru Gobind Singh, who passed away here on 7 October 1708. The shrine honouring his memory is treated as a takht, also spelled takhat - a seat constituting decisive religious authority for the Sikhs, and is named Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib. The name was probably suggested by a Scriptural line from the SGGS:

abichal nagaru-gobind guru ka namu japat sukhu paia ram
rooted steadfast stands the City of the Master Lord where solace is attained by repeating the Name
(SGGS,pg 783)
  • But the quote is usually interpreted as referring to the City of Amritsar founded by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Nanak.

References

1. Tara Singh, Sri Gur Tirath Sangrahi. Amritsar, n. d.

2. Thakar Singh, Giani, Sri Gurduare Darshan. Amritsar, 1923

3. Randhir, G. S., Sikh Shrines in India. Delhi, 1990

see also Wikipedia:Nanded

External Links