Gurdwara Bohri Sahib, where the Gurus once rested

Located around one-and-a-half kilometre off the main Amritsar-Cheharta road, the Kot Khalsa village holds deep historical and spiritual significance, especially because of Gurdwara Bohri Sahib.

The gurdwara stands at a site once known for a large banyan tree (called bohri in Punjabi) and a nearby well. In earlier times, travellers would rest under the tree’s shade and drink water from the well.

The site gained spiritual importance in 1594 AD, when Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, began travelling to Guru Ki Wadali. He would often pause at this spot during his journey. Later, the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, revered as the master of both spiritual and worldly authority, also visited the location. He would camp here and go hunting in the nearby forests His presence gave the place even more spiritual value.

Years later, a saint named Baba Mast Ram was drawn to the serene and divine atmosphere of the area. He became deeply connected to the site and began offering his services there. As faith in the place grew, the first annual Hola Mohalla fair was held here on March 15, 1940. Since then, the fair has become a yearly tradition, attracting devotees from across the Majha region and beyond.

Over time, Gurdwara Bohri Sahib earned a reputation as a place where prayers are answered. Many families believe that their wishes, such as the birth of children or the resolution of personal difficulties, have been fulfilled through blessings received at this sacred site.

The village itself has an interesting history. Originally known as Kote Sayyidmood, after a Muslim ruler, the name changed following the establishment of Khalsa College in 1890. It gradually came to be known as Kot Khalsa. The official renaming was made possible by Major Mahinder Singh Sarkaria, who worked to honour Sikh heritage through this initiative.

Today, Gurdwara Bohri Sahib continues to be a place of peace and devotion, where history, faith and community come together. It remains a treasured spiritual site in the heart of Amritsar.