Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is situated in the heart of New Delhi’s Cannaught Place area. It is loacted on the east side intersection of Ashok Road and Baba Kharag Singh Marg. Originally this place was the Bungalow(haveli) of Mirza Raja Jai Singh, hence the name Bangla Sahib. It’s original name was Jaisinghpura Palace. Mirza Raja Jai Singh was an important military leader of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
After the passing away of Guru Har Rai the seventh Sikh Guru, Ram Rai and his masands(masand is derived from Arabic word masnad, meaning delegating authorotiy of the sovereign) instigated Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to issue a decree summoning Guru Harkrishan to his court. Ram Rai was elder brother of Guru Harkrishan. Guru Harkrishan decided to go to Delhi since he felt that the “sangat”, his followers had been misguided and he saw an oppurtunity in this to clear their misunderstandings. Meanwhile Sikhs of Delhi approached Mirza Raja Jai Singh, a strong devotee of Sikh Gurus to prevent any harm coming to Guru Harkrishan either by Aurangzeb or by the masands of Ram Rai.
Ram Rai, on hearing that Guru Harkrishan had accepted the summons to appear before Aurangzeb in his court at Delhi, started rejoicing since Guru Harkrishan had taken a vow not to appear before Aurangzeb. If Guru Harkrishan comes to Delhi and refuses to meet Aurangzeb then definitely he will be arrested and suffer humiliation. Now Ram Rai felt that this act of Guru Harkrishan will surely lower his prestige among his followers and will pave the way for Ram Rai to declare himself as the true successor of Guru Har Rai.
Mirza Raja Jai Singh had made elaborate arrangements to receive Guru Harkrishan. Guru Harkrishan was received on the outskirts of Delhi like a royal guest of honor.
Rajas wife thought of testing the spiritual powers of the GURU and disguised herself as maid servant and sat among the attendants. GURU SAHIB at the age of 8 years identified the RANI and sat in her lap. Thus convincing her of the the spiritual powers of GURU NANAK and his True Desciples.
In those days small pox was raging in the city of Delhi on an epidemic form. The citizens of delhi suffred grief and death As a result of clamity that had befallen there. GURU JI out of love and compassion for suffering humanity dipped his holy feet in water and poured charan amrit into small chaubacha (tank). All those who took water from caubacha were cured from the disease. Thus the people of delhi were saved from that epidemic. Devotees with faith and devotion come from far and near and get rid of suffering by taking a dip in the holy water.
The Gurdwara runs a charitable hospital, a library and has a museum named after Sardar Baghel Singh.