Bhagwant Mann clears revised Anandpur Sahib Heritage Street project
Synopsis
Bhagwant Mann has cleared a revised Heritage Street in Anandpur Sahib that will physically link Quilla Anandgarh, Takht Sri Kesgarh and other key gurdwaras into a single pilgrim corridor — alongside a new welcome gate at the Shambhu border. It is the AAP government's biggest heritage-tourism bet in Punjab since 2022.
Key Takeaways
Bhagwant Mann on 3 June 2025 approved the revised Heritage Street project in Anandpur Sahib .
The corridor will link Quilla Sri Anandgarh Sahib , Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib , Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib and Gurdwara Bhora Sahib .
A grand welcome gate at the Shambhu border was also cleared, showcasing Punjab's ‘Panj-ab' identity.
Designs will require approval from the Union Ministry of Tourism ; a high-powered committee will oversee execution.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday, 3 June 2025, approved the revised Heritage Street project in Anandpur Sahib and cleared the construction of a grand welcome gate at the Shambhu border, in a push to deepen the state's cultural footprint and burnish its heritage tourism pitch. The decisions were taken during a high-level review of the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department in Chandigarh.
What the Heritage Street covers
The revised corridor will begin at the roundabout near Quilla Sri Anandgarh Sahib and extend to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Park, Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib, and Gurdwara Bhora Sahib. The route is designed as a spiritual and cultural spine through one of Sikhism's most revered historic centres, linking key gurdwaras for devotees and visitors.
What the Chief Minister said
“The proposed Heritage Street in Anandpur Sahib will begin from the roundabout near Quilla Anandgarh Sahib and extend to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Park, Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib, and Gurdwara Bhora Sahib. The project has been conceived to further strengthen the spiritual and heritage experience for devotees and visitors,” Mann said.
He added that the design would be cleared by the Union Ministry of Tourism and other competent authorities, and that a high-powered committee would be constituted to oversee implementation. “The design will be duly approved by the Union Ministry of Tourism and other competent authorities. A high-powered committee will also be constituted to oversee the smooth and hassle-free implementation and execution of the project,” he said.
The Shambhu border gate
Separately, Mann approved a grand welcome gate at the Shambhu border — Punjab's primary entry point from Haryana — designed to project the state's ‘Panj-ab' identity and traditional architectural motifs. The structure is intended as a symbolic threshold for travellers entering Punjab by road.
Why it matters
Anandpur Sahib, founded by the ninth Sikh Guru and the birthplace of the Khalsa, draws lakhs of pilgrims every year, particularly around Hola Mohalla. A formal heritage corridor stitching its principal gurdwaras together could meaningfully reshape pilgrim flow and footfall economics for the town. This is also among the larger heritage tourism commitments by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab since it took office in 2022.
What's next
The revised plan will move through Union ministry clearances before execution begins under the proposed oversight panel. Detailed cost estimates and timelines for both the Heritage Street and the Shambhu gate are yet to be made public.
Point of View
But their real test is pilgrim experience after the cameras leave — drainage, crowd management, vendor regulation, last-mile access. Punjab has announced ambitious religious-tourism plans before, with uneven follow-through on execution. The decision to route the design through the Union Tourism Ministry suggests a more disciplined approach this time, but the absence of a published budget, timeline or land-acquisition framework leaves the project's credibility resting on the high-powered committee yet to be constituted.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Street project?
It is a spiritual and cultural corridor approved by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on 3 June 2025, running from the roundabout near Quilla Sri Anandgarh Sahib to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Park, Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib and Gurdwara Bhora Sahib. The aim is to link key historic gurdwaras for devotees and visitors.
Who approved the revised Heritage Street plan?
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann approved the revised plan during a high-level review meeting of the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department held in Chandigarh on 3 June 2025.
What is being built at the Shambhu border?
A grand welcome gate has been cleared at the Shambhu border, Punjab's main road entry from Haryana. It is designed to reflect the state's ‘Panj-ab' identity and traditional architectural style.
When will work on the Heritage Street begin?
A start date has not been announced. The design must first be approved by the Union Ministry of Tourism and other competent authorities, after which a high-powered committee will oversee implementation.
Why is Anandpur Sahib significant?
Anandpur Sahib is one of Sikhism's most revered historic and spiritual centres, closely associated with the founding of the Khalsa, and draws large numbers of pilgrims each year, particularly during Hola Mohalla.
