Gurdwara Beri Sahibਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਬੇਰੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ

Gurdwara Beri Sahib, also called Babe Di Ber, is a historic Sikh shrine in Sialkot, Pakistan, built around the beri (jujube) tree under which Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed and met the Sufi saint Hazrat Hamza Ghaus. The 500-year-old tree still stands in the complex, and the shrine is remembered as a symbol of Sikh-Muslim dialogue.

History

Sikh tradition remembers Guru Nanak Dev Ji reaching Sialkot during his udasis, his missionary journeys, when he stopped and preached wherever he went. The city at that time, tradition says, was 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, also recorded as Baba Beri, Baba Bair and Bair Sahib. Sardar Natha Singh later built a gurdwara there in memory of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's visit. In December 1992, in the unrest that followed the Babri Masjid dispute, a mob attacked the shrine and razed its tall central structure to the ground. The gurdwara was renovated during the 2010s and reopened for pilgrims. In September 2012 Pakistan announced that Indian Sikhs could visit four more gurdwaras, and access to Beri Sahib was restored that November.

Above all, Beri Sahib is remembered 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, and the shrine has become an enduring symbol of interfaith respect.

The complex, its frescoes and the sacred tree

The complex grew around the sacred tree. It includes a garden, a pool and residential rooms for pilgrims, a Nishan Sahib and a Parkash Asthan, 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.

The shrine is also known for its 19th-century frescoes. Surviving panels depict Guru Nanak Dev Ji meeting Hazrat Hamza Ghaus, Guru Gobind Singh Ji with the Panj Piare at the formalization of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib, all ten Sikh Gurus, and a stark scene of martyrdom showing a figure being boiled alive in a large vessel. 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.

Rituals, festivals and the pilgrim's day

Pilgrims begin with Ardas before the historic ber tree and Guru Granth Sahib Ji, then join kirtan and Gurbani recitation in the main hall. Langar sewa upholds the spirit of equality, and devotees offer rumalla cloth coverings and light lamps during evening prayers. Many visitors simply sit and meditate quietly beneath the ancient tree. Guru Nanak Gurpurab and Vaisakhi are marked here with Akhand Path, Gurbani kirtan and special gatherings of the sangat.

Visiting

The gurdwara stands in the heart of Sialkot city, in the locality known as Babey Beri, 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, and many visitors combine the shrine with the Sialkot Fort and the city bazaar.

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.