Gurdwara Sahib Kolayat (Kolayat)
Gurdwara Sahib Kolayat, also known as Gurdwara Pehli Patshahi, is situated in the ancient town of Kolayat in Bikaner district. Kolayat, which is 52 kilometres away to the southwest of the district town, can be reached by rail and road. Kolayat is also known for a Hindu temple dedicated to Kapil Muni. Both Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh visited Kolayat.
History
Guru Nanak Shaib's Visit: Guru Nanak Sahib visited Kolayat during his Second Udasi to south. Here guru ji had discourse with some Jains. Guru ji came here from Bikaner and continued his journey to Dadu Dwara and so on.
Guru Gobind SIngh's Visit: It was here that Bhai Daya Singh and Dharam Singh rejoined Guru Gobind Singh after delivering the Guru's admonitory letter, the Zafarnama to Emperor Aurangzeb at Ahmadnagar.
More Info
There being no Sikh population at Kolayat, no memorial or shrine was set up in honour of the Guru's visit until 1968, when some Sikh who had recently settled in the area constructed Gurdwara Sahib Kolayat in a single room near the bank of an artificial lake northeast of the town. It is served by a Sikh farmer whose farmhouse-cum-residence is close by. Sikhs from nearby villages and farmhouses assemble here to celebrate the birth anniversaries of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh.
On a recent personal visit to the area (19 Oct 2009), the Gurdwara sahib was under construction. The Gurdwara is under baba Amrik Singh of Dukhniwaran Shaib, Patiala. Sangats from Punjab visit the Gurdwara for Sewa (selfless service). Langar is distributed 24 hrs.
How to Reach
Kolayat is situated on the Bikaner - Jaisalmer road. Visitors motering from South india are well advised not to take any shortcuts. Rajasthan, true to its name, is full of desert sands, only the main State Highways are trustworthy and well maintained; shortcuts are dangerous and full of sand. Learn from my personal experience, if you choose to try a shortcut you will get stuck and find, as I did, that help may be miles away.
