Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple



Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple, Gangtok, Sikkim

Information of Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple, Gangtok, Sikkim


The Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple is one of the most visited temples of Sikkim. It is regarded to be the favorite of the army men. The Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial is situated between the Jelepla Pass and the Nathu La Pass and thereby, it is here that hundreds of devotees visit every day with great enthusiasm. It is believed that this temple fulfills the wishes of the devotees visiting it and as a result this very fact makes the temple a sacred one. There is this typical ritual followed in the temple that is, the devotees leave their water bottles at the temple and collect it back while returning back to their respective journeys.

Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple Mythology & History

The Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial was built in the memory of the Late Harbhajan Singh who was a brave Sepoy in the Pujab Regiment. He was born in a village called Browndal which is in the Kapurthala district of Punjab. He became a soldier in the Indian army at a very young age and his posting was done on the Indian-Sino border, which is near the Nathula Pass.

It was the 4th of October, 1968 that during the escort of a mule caravan that is from Battalion headquarters to Deng Chukla, Harbhajan Singh fell into the fast flowing stream and as a result was dreadfully washed away. It was really unfortunate that this accident happened when there was heavy rainfall in that area. As a result nobody could find the body of Harbhajan Singh even after the continuous search alert of two days. Later the search could not continue because of the unfavorable weather conditions. However, it is said that Lt. Harbhajan Singh came in the dreams of few soldiers and thereby, guided them till his dead body.

You would be amazed to know that a few days later the news of an army man patrolling on his horse spread among many soldiers. This was also spotted by the Chinese soldiers on the Indo-China border and they reported that they saw a ghost rider patrolling at the border. It is said that Baba Harbhajan Singh appeared in many army official's dreams to guide them against the plots of the Chinese. It is really unbelievable that whatever was said by Baba Harbhajan Singh in the dreams was proved to be right each and every time.

One such dream also appeared to the army men, where Baba Harbhajan Singh instructed to have a shrine which was to be made in his own name and so immediately action was taken and a temple in his name was built.

Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple Architecture

The architecture of the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial temple is quiet simple but the belief with which the soldiers of the Indian army and other devotees come to this very temple makes it an extra ordinary one. The temple has many orange flags outside it which adds the kind of environment in which a temple looks really pleasant. The site of the temple is a very hilly place, which adds that scenic beauty and peacefulness to the temple.

The temple is a small one where you can spot the photographs of Baba Harbhajan Singh, his army dress- shoes, his medals and awards. The walls and appearance of the temple seems to look ordinary but the stories of the brave Baba Harbhajan Singh brings that life to the temple.

Festivals at Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple

Every day at the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple is not less than a festival as you can find hundreds of devotees coming here each day. The scenario at the temple is such that even a rikshaw driver or a vegetable vendor who is passing by shows up in the temple.

Such is the fascinating story behind the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple. If you are one of those who want to believe the story only after experiencing it, then you should surely visit the temple to experience the serenity as well as the holiness. More of all, you are surely going to be the part of nature, which is truly amazing as well as exciting to experience.