Chuna Mandi

Chuna Mandi Bazaar also referred to as "Choona Mandi" is an area in Lahore in present day Pakistan. It is the birth place of the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das, the architect of the Golden Temple or Harmandar Sahib on Amritsar, India; the shrine was built by his son, the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan

There is a historic Sikh Monument ‘Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sri Guru Ram Das’. Guru Ram Das Je was the fourth Guru of Sikhs and was founder of the Sikh sacred city of Amritsar. From Chuna Mandi on the left side the street leads towards Rang Mahal and at about 200 yards, on right, the bazar ends on the Kashmiri Gate.

Straight on, the bazar is slightly wider but in a bad state of repairs due to sewerage line and demolitions of “Tharras’ by the civic authorities, it leads one to the Masjid Gate of the Fort that is just opposite Masjid Mariam Zamani.

On left is the historic Haveli Raaja Dhian Singh. From Haveli Dhian Singh a tortuous and circuitous bazar leads towards Sheranwala Gate where a portion of the city wall still exists and then are found the Circular Road in front dividing the city and the Badami Bagh locality.

The Chuna Mandi has been historical place of Haveli Dhian Singh who was a Commander of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his son Hira Singh very near to the Maharaja's palace. This Haveli saw many upheavals on the fall of Sikh rule.

The Haveli was converted into a Zilla School that later on became Central Model School and is located on Lower Mall Road now. The Haveli was also used as premises of the first Government College Lahore and now is the Nawaz Sharif Girls College for Lahore.

Shrines in the area

• Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sri Guru Ram Das - is a historical Sikh gurdwara in Pakistan. This is that holy historical place where Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru was born on October 9, 1534 (25 Asuj, Samwat 1591) to Sodhi Hardas Ji and Mata Daya Kaur. The Guru spent first 7 years of his life here. This place is situated inside Delhi Darwaza, near Purani Kotwali Chowk in Chuni Mandi.

• Gurdwara Diwan Khana at Chuna Mandi, Lahore. This holy shrine is located in Chuna Mandi of Lahore city. The birth place of Guru Ram Das Ji is close to it. The father of Guru Ram Das, Haridas and his ancestors were the residents of Lahore. When there was a marriage ceremony of a family members, Guru Ram Das, did not come in person to Lahore to attend the marriage ceremony of the son of his brother Sahari Mal and instead sent Guru Arjun Dev, with the instruction that he should not return until and unless summoned back. See the article Creation of Shabad Hazaray for more details about this.

This shrine is also known as Dharamsala Guru Ram Das Ji. Diwan khana of Guru Arjun Dev Ji is also inside this enclosure. Maharaja Ranjit Singh built a spacious building over the site which is registered in the record of Lahore Corporation at registration No N 2143. Sangat used to proceed on foot from here to visit Janamasthan (birth place) of the Guru. Its control remained with Shiromni Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee from 1927 to 1947 AD and at present it is in the custody of Auqaf Department and it has settled some people in it. The sangat cannot visit this place. Four shops and 18 ghumaon of land in village Rana Bhatti Shahdara are endowed to the Gurdwara.