Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Prominent Gurdwaras Across the World
Gurdwaras are central to Sikh ethos. In the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikhs pray, listen to Gurbani and seek to understand its message. The spirit of Sikhism is manifested through various activities that take place in a Gurdwara— the recitation of Bani from Guru Granth Sahib, kirtan, katha, sewa, and langar.
Guru Nanak Dev and his successor Gurus envisioned a life where spirituality and daily living coalesce seamlessly. They expected the Sikhs to embody moral conduct, earn an honest living, and share their rewards, all while maintaining a deep spiritual and ethical foundation. Gurdwaras are abodes of the Guru.
This is a meticulously curated collection of 51 prominent Gurdwaras from around the world, each selected for its unique impact on its community. Roopinder Singh paints a vivid word picture of these spiritual sanctuaries, their history and heritage. The exquisite paintings of Allan Jay Quesada, complement and enrich the text. Gurdwaras explores the profound connections between social reality and spiritual consciousness that these Sikh institutions represent.
Look Inside
History and heritage are explained in rich detail in the text of the book, even as every page is illustrated with watercolour paintings that illuminate the text.
Now with readers worldwide
The book finds its readers, and readers find the book.
From a book talk at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center to a presentation at Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar; from a book celebration in Chandigarh to two appearances at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2025 and 2026, 'Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru' is steadily travelling across the world and getting media attention.
And it all began with the presentation of the first copy of the book to Mrs Gursharan Kaur, wife of the late Dr Manmohan Singh at her residence in New Delhi.
Readers' Comments
Reader's Comments
The tome Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru by Roopinder Singh is already a classic, a classic of the presentations of the abodes of the Guru in different lands, in far-away lands, where the Sikhs, in search of purity and piety, in search of plenty and prosperity ventured in untoward spaces, in a manifest as well as immanent universe.
Prof Harjit Singh Gill, Prof Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru is a beautifully curated and visually rich exploration of Sikh sacred spaces. The book brings together gurdwaras from across the world and presents them not just as architectural sites, but as living centres of prayer, community, and service. What stayed with me most was the way the book captures the spirit of practices like kirtan, langar, and seva, showing how these spaces continue to embody the core values of the Sikh tradition.
Kamla K. Kapur, Indian-American playwright, poet, and author.
I hope that this book on Gurdwaras will serve as a gateway to the world of the Sikh ethos.
Dr Manmohan Singh in his Foreword
