Baba Bakala ਬਾਬਾ ਬਕਾਲ਼ਾ |
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town | |
Location in Punjab, India | |
Coordinates: 31°33′18″N 75°15′56″E / 31.55500°N 75.26556°ECoordinates: 31°33′18″N 75°15′56″E / 31.55500°N 75.26556°E | |
Country | India |
State | Punjab |
Region | Punjab |
District | Amritsar |
Tehsil | Baba Bakala |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 8,946 |
Languages | |
• Official | Punjabi (Gurmukhi) |
• Regional | Punjabi |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
PIN | 143201 |
Nearest city | Amritsar |
Vidhan Sabha constituency | 25 |
Baba Bakala is a historical town and tehsil in the Amritsar district in Punjab, India. It is known as the location of Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib.
Baba Bakala is closely associated with the 9th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The Guru is said to have meditated here for 26 years, 9 months and 13 days. There is a Gurdwara at the site commemorating this.
Baba Bakala was originally known as Bakkan-Wala (meaning 'Town of the Deer' in Persian) however over time this was shortened to Bakala. The town was originally a mound, where deer were found grazing.
Before passing away in Delhi, the Guru at the time, Guru Har Krishan uttered "Baba Bakale" which the Sikhs at the time interpreted as meaning that the Guru's successor was to be found at the town of Bakala, close to Amritsar. Once the next Guru was found, the phrase "Baba Bakale" evolved into the official name of the town, Baba Bakala.
Baba Bakala is located at 31°33′18″N 75°15′56″E / 31.55500°N 75.26556°E, on Batala Road, near Amritsar, Punjab, India. The town is located only 43 km (26.7 miles) away from the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar, 46.5 km (28.9 miles) northwest of Jalandhar and 193 km (120.5 miles) northwest of the state's capital of Chandigarh.