Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib
#5of 8 places to visit in GwaliorGwalior, Madhya Pradesh
Also known as Data Bandi Chhor Sahib · Bandi Chhor Gurudwara Gwalior
Quick answer
Opening hours: 04:00–22:00. Entry is free. Allow 1 hr. Best time: Early morning before 08:00.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read
- Opening hours
- 04:00–22:00
- Entry fee
- Free
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time of day
- Early morning before 08:00
- Best months
- Oct – Mar
- Address
- Gwalior Fort Road, near Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474001
About Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib
Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib stands inside the outer wall of Gwalior Fort and marks the cell where the Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib was imprisoned by the Mughal emperor Jahangir, an episode Persian-era chronicles including the Dabistan-i Mazahib place between roughly 1617 and 1619. The present complex, spread across six acres, was built in the 1970s and 1980s; the original marker on the site was a simple marble platform rather than a building. The main hall is faced in white marble with a gold-plated dome, following the architectural vocabulary shared by major Sikh gurudwaras across northern India rather than any local Gwalior building tradition, which makes the complex visually distinct from the sandstone monuments elsewhere on the fort ridge.
Best time of day: Early morning before 08:00. Ahead of the fort's main monuments opening, or the evening ardas after 18:00.
Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib timings
Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib opens at 04:00 and closes at 22:00. Those hours hold on Saturday and Sunday too.
- Opening hours
- 04:00–22:00
Mon–Sun 04:00–22:00 - Closed on
- Open every day
Opening hours compiled from mptourism.com and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib ticket price
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Indian visitors | Free |
| Foreign visitors | Free |
| Children | Free |
| Camera | Free |
Entry and langar are free as of 2026; donation boxes are placed near the main hall for those who wish to contribute.
Prices compiled from mptourism.com and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Best time to visit Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib
- Quiet
- Moderate
- Busy
04:00 – 08:00
Early ArdasBest time to go
A small, devoted crowd attends the early morning prayers before the fort's monuments open to tourists.
Quiet08:00 – 12:00
Morning Visitors
Local families and fort-bound tourists stop through on their way to the ridge monuments.
Moderate12:00 – 17:00
Langar Hours
Langar draws the steadiest footfall of the day alongside continued tourist visits.
Busy17:00 – 22:00
Evening Ardas
The evening prayer session brings a second wave of local worshippers before the gates close.
Moderate
History of Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib
Guru Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Sikh Guru, was imprisoned at Gwalior Fort by order of Emperor Jahangir; Persian court records place the detention between roughly 1617 and 1619, though Sikh tradition often gives 1609 as the year of his arrest at a younger age — a discrepancy sources do not fully resolve. The fort at the time already held 52 Hindu rajas whom Jahangir had imprisoned for defaulting on tribute, and Sikh tradition holds that when the emperor agreed to free the Guru, Guru Hargobind refused to leave unless the 52 rajas were released with him. The emperor's condition was that only those able to hold onto the Guru's cloak as he exited could go free, so a cloak was made with 52 tassels — one for each raja — allowing all of them to leave together. That release is commemorated across the Sikh world as Bandi Chhor Divas, observed on the same day as Diwali, and the Gwalior gurudwara is the pilgrimage site most directly tied to the historical event itself rather than to its annual commemoration elsewhere. The name 'Data Bandi Chhod' — 'the Giver who freed the prisoners' — refers to the Guru's role in that release.
Rules & etiquette at Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib
Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib asks all visitors, regardless of faith, to cover their head before entering the main hall — a cloth is provided free at the entrance for anyone without one — and to remove footwear at the shoe counter beside the gate. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and photography inside the main prayer hall is discouraged during kirtan and ardas, though it is generally permitted in the courtyard and outer areas. The gurudwara serves langar, a free communal meal, to any visitor regardless of religion or background; custom is to sit on the floor in the langar hall and return the used plate to the collection point rather than leaving it at the seating row. Entry and langar are both free, with donation boxes placed near the main hall for those who wish to contribute.
Tips for visiting Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib
- 1
Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib is quieter in the early morning before the fort's main monuments open, making it a practical first stop for visitors planning to continue on to Man Mandir Palace and the Saas-Bahu Temples afterward. The gurudwara sits close enough to the fort's outer wall that a short walk connects the two without needing transport, though the exact path is easiest to confirm with the gatekeepers on arrival since it is not signposted from the main tourist road. Bandi Chhor Divas, the anniversary of Guru Hargobind's release, draws the largest crowds of the year and coincides with Diwali — visiting in the days immediately before or after avoids the heaviest congestion while still catching the decorated hall. The langar hall runs through the same hours as the gurudwara itself, so a visit can reasonably include a meal without prior arrangement.
How to reach Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib
We haven't pinned Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib's exact position yet; the map shows the other places in our Gwalior guide. Use the address below or the directions link.
Gwalior Fort Road, near Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474001Directions in Google Maps
From Gwalior Junction Railway Station
₹70–₹1003 km · 10–12 min
Auto, negotiated
From Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport (GWL)
₹250–₹35012 km · 25–30 min
Prepaid cab
Nearest airport
From Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport (GWL), Maharajpura
approximately 12 km, 25–30 minutes by road.
Nearest railway station
From Gwalior Junction (GWL)
approximately 3 km, 10–12 minutes by road.
Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod Sahib FAQs
Why is the gurudwara called 'Data Bandi Chhod'?
'Data Bandi Chhod' translates to 'the Giver who freed the prisoners,' referring to Guru Hargobind's release of 52 imprisoned rajas alongside himself from Gwalior Fort.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entry and langar are both free, with donation boxes available for those who wish to contribute.
When was Guru Hargobind imprisoned at Gwalior Fort?
Persian court records place the detention between roughly 1617 and 1619, while Sikh tradition often cites 1609 as the year of his arrest.
Is langar available to non-Sikh visitors?
Yes. Langar is served to all visitors regardless of religion or background, following standard Sikh practice.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated . How we rank and check places
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