Teesri Udasi Gurudwara, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh - Where Guru Nanak Dev Ji rested on his way to Tibet

 At the age of 30, Guru Nanak left his village to travel around the world. People believe that he wanted to spread the word of God. But it is also possible that he went to seek enlightenment by meeting religious scholars around the world. Each of his journey was is called Udasis and over the next 24 years he undertook five journeys and covered around 28,000 kms on foot. Guru Nanak was born in 1469 which means he started his journey in 1499 and would have finished in 1523. 

His third journey or Teesri Udasi began in 1514 and culminated in 1518 during which he covered places like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Ladakh, Tibet, Nepal and Sikkim. During his stay at places in Sikkim, Ladakh and Tibet he must have come across a large number of Buddhist monks who call him by the name Rinpoche Nanak Lama or Guru Gompa Maharaj or simply Nanak Lama. All along his route of travel are evidences of his stay preserved in the form of folklore and ancient relics. 

Buddhist Monks from Tibet regularly visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar to offer prayers to their Lama.

On his way to Tibet, Guru Nanak halted at a mountain next to a lake. This place now houses the Teesri Udasi Gurudwara.

Gurudwara made on a rocky mountain

Overlooking a lake is a set of rocky mountains. Within one of the mountain in the rocks is a cut where Guru Nanak Ji stayed for some time enroute to Tibet. A gurudwara was later build in that location. From the base of the mountain at the lake to the Gurudwara is a little bit of a climb. That can be an effort due to the height and lack of air. 

Located at a height of 14000 feet, it will take two days journey to reach the Gurudwara. You will also need a permit to visit this area which your tour operator will arrange. This permit is called ILP or Inner line permit. This permit is only provided to Indian citizen. You have to have an Aadhaar card to avail this permit. 

Beyond Tawang there is a prominent place called Y Junction. You will be checked once again at this point. This area and beyond is totally under control of Indian Army because China border is very close by and this place has been a flash point for past conflicts. The road from Y junction further goes to Bumla Pass. At 13000 feet on this route is the PTSO lake. Guru Nanak Ji is said to have halted at this lake and meditated. 

Why is Guru Nanak Dev Ji so popular in this area?

Firstly this place is very sparsely populated. There are vast areas which are uninhabitable. Secondly there is hardly any contact with the outside world. Even the introduction of internet has changed very little in these areas. So anything which comes and creates an impact will have a lasting impression. That happens when an extremely intelligent and highly religious person like Guru Nanak Dev Ji comes visiting this place. Through stories, songs, poems and preaching he created such a lasting impression that the locals all across the places he visited, right upto Tibet started regarding him as God. 

This fact is so true in modern times, any person with knowledge is equated to divinity.

Note - This article is in continuation with an earlier article published by the same author. 



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