Kiratpur also known as Kiratpur Sahib is a town in Rupnagar district, Punjab, India. It is one of the several towns founded by the Sikh Gurus, and is situated on the left bank of Sutlej river in the Shivalik foothills. The foundation of Kiratpur was laid by the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, in May 1626 by ceremonially planting a sapling on a tract of land acquired from Tara Chand, the ruler of a small hill state, Kalur.
Guru Hargobind settled in Kiratpur in 1635. Guru Sahib spent about 10 years of his life at Kiratpur Sahib. It remained the seat of the Sikh Gurus until Guru Tegh Bahadur founded a new village, Chak Nanaki, in 1665, about 8 kms further north of Kiratpur, the present Anandpur Sahib.
Kiratpur is a sacred place for the Sikhs. Guru Nanak Dev Ji is said to have visited this place when it was little more than a wilderness. Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Guru spent the last few years of his life here. Both Guru Har Rai and Guru Harkrishan were also born at this place and they were blessed with the Gurgadi (Guruship) at this place.
Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur was executed in 1675 for refusal to accept Islam and the beheaded Guru ji was brought to Gurudwara Kiratpur Sahib from Delhi with due respect and devotion by Bhai Jaita. Gurudwara Babangarh Sahib was later constructed to commemorate the holy place and the Punjab Government erected a memorial here to honor the Guru ji. The tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh, took the sacred head of his father and took it out in a procession to Anandpur Sahib, 10 kms away, for holy cremation. Since then Kiratpur Sahib on the Nangal-Rupnagar-Chandigarh road is sacred to the Sikhs as they immerse the ashes of their dead at this place.
Historic Gurdwaras at Kiratpur Sahib:
Gurdwara Patal Puri: This Gurdwara,on the banks of the Sutlej is situated near the railway tracks and is the place where many Sikhs take the ashes of their dead to be immersed in the river. Guru Hargobind in 1644 as well as Guru Har Rai in 1661 were cremated here. The ashes of Guru Harkrishan were brought from Delhi and immersed here in 1664.
Gurdwara Charan Kamal: commemorates the spot where the Pir had met the Ist Prophet of Sikhism, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. His mausoleum is located on a hill nearby. He died after the Guru Hargobind had established Kiratpur.
Gurdwara Shish Mahal: first built as the home of Baba Gurditta Guru Hargobind later established his residence here. Both Sri Guru Har Rai Ji and Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji were born in the residence.
Gurdwara Damadama: Guru Hargobind delivered divine sermons here.
Gurdwara Sri Takhat Sahib: The 6th and the 7th Prophets were proclaimed Gurus at this spot according to the Sikh tradition and rites.
Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib: Here Guru Hargobind had laid out an herbal and flower garden. He also met with Mohsin Fani, the famous scholar of Religions and the Mughal Prince, Dara Shikoh at this Gurdwara.
Gurdwara Manji Sahib: Marks the site where Guru Hargibind’s daughter, Bibi Veero had her house constructed. A sacramental book containing divine hymns (Pothi), a cot, a hand fan and a scarf (gifted to her by her father) and the holy cap of Guru Nanak Dev Ji can be seen here.
Gurdwara Babaan Garh: Bhai Jaita (Jiwan Singh after baptism), in defiance of the Mughal authorities had managed to escape with the martyred head of the 9th Prophet, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur from Delhi after his martyrdom in 1675. It was first rested here. From Gurdwara Teer Sahib the 6th Prophet had revealed Gurudwara Patal Puri by shooting an arrow. The 7th Prophet was created at Patal Puri and ashes of the 8th Prophet were immersed in river Satluj nearby.
Gurdwara Baba Gurditta is located on a close by hill. It is built in memory of Baba Gurditta Ji (Son of Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji) who breathed his last breath at this place.
Kiratpur Sahib is also associated with Pir Budhan shah, a Muslim saint known for his very long life.
Source:
https://www.mapsofindia.com/punjab/tourism/kiratpur-sahib.html
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Kiratpur
http://singhstation.net/2015/04/the-history-of-kiratpur-sahib/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiratpur_Sahib