✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Rauza Sharif in Sirhind, Punjab, is the dargah of Shaikh Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi, the Naqshbandi Sufi scholar known as Mujaddid Alf Sani, who lived in the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir. It stands on the Sirhind–Bassi Pathana Road, close to Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib. Google Maps shows about 43 km and 55 minutes by road from Chandigarh, and the annual Urs draws thousands of pilgrims.
The shrine is a short distance from the Sikh sites at Fatehgarh Sahib, so many day trips to Sirhind can take in both. This guide draws on the Fatehgarh Sahib district portal, Wikipedia and Google Maps, and it notes where they differ.
Rauza Sharif at a glance
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| What it is | The mausoleum (rauza) or dargah of Shaikh Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi (district portal, Wikipedia) |
| Where | Sirhind–Bassi Pathana Road, Sirhind (Fatehgarh Sahib district); plus code M94R+C65 on Google Maps |
| From Chandigarh | About 43.3 km and 55 minutes via SH 12A on Google Maps; another route via NH 5 and Sirhind–Morinda Road is 49.5 km (59 minutes) |
| Timings | Google Maps has two listings: one showed “opens 6 am” during our overnight check, the other shows open 24 hours. Ask locally before you plan around it |
| Biggest gathering | The annual Urs; the dates move about ten days earlier each year (district portal) |
| Nearby | About half a kilometre in a straight line from Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, judging by the two Maps pins |
| Visitor rating | 4.6 to 4.7 on Google Maps across the two listings, 226 reviews in total (21 September 2026) |
Who was Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi?
The district portal says the shrine belongs to Shaikh Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi, popularly known as Mujaddid Alf Sani, who lived in the times of Akbar and Jahangir, from 1563 to 1624. Wikipedia gives 1564 to 1624 or 1625, so the sources differ by a year at each end. Wikipedia describes him as an Indian Islamic scholar and Hanafi jurist of the Naqshbandi Sufi order, remembered as a mujaddid, a reviver of the faith, for opposing the Din-i Ilahi at the Mughal court.
The district portal adds that Sunni Muslims hold him in very high esteem and regard the mausoleum as a second Mecca. That is the portal’s own wording.
What is in the compound
Wikipedia describes the mausoleum as a fine building of brick partly overlaid with stone and marble. The compound holds a number of other tombs, mostly of members of Shaikh Ahmad’s family, including his sons Khawaja Muhammad Sadiq and Khwaja Muhammad Masum; the latter’s rauza is sometimes called the rauza chini because of its mosaic work. It also has a large mosque with a basement and a small tank for ablution, and beside the rauza are the tombs of the Afghan ruler Shah Zaman and his queen.
The Urs
The Urs marks the death anniversary of the Mujaddid. The district portal says thousands of pilgrims from various parts of the world visit for it, and that the dates change every year, falling about ten days earlier than the year before. Wikipedia says the Urs has been held here for more than 300 years, draws visitors from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and other countries, and lists the 2023 Urs as 13 to 15 September. We found no official 2026 date, so confirm the dates locally before travelling, and expect large crowds while it runs.
Other tombs around Sirhind
- Tombs of Ustad and Shagird: two tombs about a kilometre west of Rauza Sharif in the village of Talanian, commonly said to be those of a master mason and his apprentice, from around the 16th century. Wikipedia says the Ustad’s tomb is protected under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.
- Tomb of Mir-i-Miran: about 5 km north of Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind, described by Wikipedia as the only important stone building in Sirhind, with the tank known as Bibi Sar nearby. The district portal also lists Aam Khas Bagh as a tourist place.
Visiting: timings and etiquette
- Timings: the two Google Maps listings disagree, one showing “opens 6 am” and the other open 24 hours, so treat them as unconfirmed and ask locally.
- Etiquette: this is an active Muslim shrine. Dress modestly, take off your shoes before you enter, keep your voice low, and follow any signs or instructions from the staff at the entrance.
- Combine it with: Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, which is close by. The two are separate places of worship for different communities, so plan a separate stop for each.
How to reach Rauza Sharif from Chandigarh
Google Maps shows 43.3 km and about 55 minutes via SH 12A, and an alternative of 49.5 km and 59 minutes via NH 5 and the Sirhind–Morinda Road. The district portal says the nearest airport is Chandigarh/Mohali, about 50 km from Fatehgarh Sahib, and that Sirhind Junction, on the Delhi–Amritsar line, is the rail stop, with many express and superfast trains halting there.
Plan a longer day trip
- Sikh heritage day trip: Fatehgarh Sahib and Virasat-e-Khalsa for the Sikh sites in the same area.
- Best gurudwaras in Punjab for more places of worship within reach of Chandigarh.
- Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Aam Khas Bagh are also in Sirhind.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rauza Sharif in Sirhind?
It is the mausoleum, or dargah, of Shaikh Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi, known as Mujaddid Alf Sani, a Naqshbandi Sufi scholar of the Mughal era. It stands on the Sirhind–Bassi Pathana Road near Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib.
When did Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi live?
The district portal gives 1563 to 1624, while Wikipedia gives 1564 to 1624 or 1625. The sources differ by about a year.
How far is Rauza Sharif from Chandigarh?
Google Maps shows about 43.3 km and roughly 55 minutes via SH 12A, or 49.5 km and 59 minutes via NH 5 and the Sirhind–Morinda Road.
What are the timings?
Google Maps has two listings that disagree: one showed “opens 6 am” when we checked overnight and the other shows open 24 hours. Ask locally to confirm.
When is the Urs at Rauza Sharif?
The district portal says the dates fall about ten days earlier each year, and Wikipedia lists 13 to 15 September for 2023. We found no official 2026 date, so confirm it locally.
What else can I see nearby?
Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib is close by, and Wikipedia lists the tombs of Ustad and Shagird about a kilometre west and the tomb of Mir-i-Miran to the north of Sirhind.
