Gurdwara Beri Sahibਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਬੇਰੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ

Gurdwara Beri Sahib — also called Babe Di Ber, Baba Beri or Baba Bair — stands in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. It marks the spot where Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed under a beri (jujube) tree during his udasis, his missionary journeys, and where he met Hazrat Hamza Ghaus, a revered Sufi saint of the city.

History

Guru Nanak Dev Ji reached Sialkot during his travels. Sikh tradition remembers the city at that time as gripped by fear — its people dreaded the curse of a holy man whose promise had been broken. The Guru sat beneath a beri tree near the spot where Hazrat Hamza Ghaus was meditating and sang Gurbani in a loud, clear voice. Disturbed, Hamza Ghaus came to question him, and the two spoke at length. Tradition holds that the Guru’s words moved the saint to pardon the city, and a bond of mutual respect grew between them.

The site of the Guru’s stay came to be known as Babe Di Ber — the Baba’s beri tree. Sardar Natha Singh later built a gurdwara there in memory of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s visit. The shrine suffered damage in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid dispute, when an unruly mob razed its tall temple structure. The gurdwara was renovated during the 2010s and reopened for pilgrims, and access for Indian Sikh pilgrims was restored in November 2012.

Architecture & the complex

The complex grew around the sacred tree. It includes a garden, a pool and residential rooms for pilgrims, and a large well once worked by Persian wheels. The main building carries a white dome with red trim above an arched sanctum, and the diwan hall inside is kept decorated for daily prayers. Nineteenth-century frescoes once adorned its walls, including scenes of Guru Nanak meeting Hamza Ghaus. The ber tree itself — believed to be more than 500 years old — still stands within the premises and remains the spiritual heart of the shrine.

Religious significance

Beri Sahib is remembered above all for the meeting it commemorates: a Sikh Guru and a Muslim mystic in dialogue, ending in forgiveness rather than conflict. For pilgrims, sitting beneath the ancient ber tree is a direct, living link to Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s presence in Sialkot. The shrine has become an enduring symbol of interfaith respect, and Sikh yatris from India, the UK, Canada and beyond now include it in heritage tours of Pakistan. Guru Nanak Gurpurab and Vaisakhi are marked here with Akhand Path and Gurbani kirtan.

Visiting / pilgrim info

The gurdwara stands in the heart of Sialkot city, adjacent to the historic Sialkot Fort. It is about 125 km from Lahore and 190 km from Islamabad by road; the nearest airport is Sialkot International Airport, around 20 km away. The shrine is open daily from early morning until evening, with daily prayers, kirtan and sewa. Langar is served and small lodging spaces are available for yatris. Morning visits are best, as the surrounding old city grows busy later in the day.

See also: Gurdwaras in Pakistan — the complete guide to the country’s historic Sikh shrines.

Why is it called Beri Sahib?

The name comes from the beri (jujube) tree under which Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed and preached during his visit to Sialkot. The tree, believed to be over 500 years old, still stands in the complex.

Who was Hamza Ghaus?

Hazrat Hamza Ghaus was a revered Sufi saint of Sialkot. Sikh tradition remembers his meeting with Guru Nanak Dev Ji at this site, after which he pardoned the city’s residents — an encounter celebrated as a moment of interfaith harmony.

Can Indian pilgrims visit Gurdwara Beri Sahib?

Yes. The gurdwara was renovated in the 2010s and reopened to pilgrims, and access for Indian Sikh pilgrims was restored in November 2012. It is now a regular stop on Sikh heritage tours of Pakistan.

Where exactly is the gurdwara?

It stands in the historic centre of Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan, next to Sialkot Fort — about 125 km from Lahore and 190 km from Islamabad.