Punjab government grants holy city status to Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo, ensuring facilities and strict rules for devotees.
Anandpur Sahib : Calling it a moment of appreciation, humility, and duty for the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that the Punjab government has made history by releasing a notification granting Sikh religious cities the status of holy cities.
“Dear Punjabis, your own government in Punjab has taken a historic decision by issuing a notification to grant Sikh religious cities the status of holy cities,” Chief Minister Mann said in a video greeting to the people of Punjab. The statement was made from the holy site of Sri Anandpur Sahib during a state-level event honoring Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s 350th “Shaheedi Diwas,” or martyrdom day. I am grateful to God for giving us the strength, discernment, and capacity to make such a momentous choice.
The Chief Minister explained the importance of the action by pointing out that three of the five Sikh Takhts are in Punjab. Punjab is home to the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib, the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib near Talwandi Sabo, and the Sri Akal Takht Sahib at Amritsar. He stated that the cities connected to these holy Takhts have now been formally recognized as holy cities and centers of faith.
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The state government would make sure that devotees visiting these cities with reverence have access to all the amenities they need, according to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. “To ensure that devotees and sangat arriving from all over the world in faith do not face any inconvenience, the Punjab Government will make all necessary arrangements and provide facilities, including e-rickshaws, mini-buses, and other public transport services,” he stated.
The Chief Minister clarified that these sacred cities will henceforth be subject to stringent rules. “The sale of meat, alcohol, tobacco, and any intoxicating substances will be completely prohibited in all these cities,” he declared, guaranteeing that this choice honors the locations’ sacredness.
“I assure you with full responsibility that no effort will be spared in ensuring the overall and appropriate development of these cities,” he added, restating the government’s pledge. These cities are significant symbols of our cultural legacy in addition to being places of worship.
“I offer my sincere congratulations to the entire Sikh sangat,” the chief minister said in a statement congratulating the Sikh community. Long ago, this momentous decision to designate holy cities ought to have been put into effect. These cities have formally achieved the status of holy cities since the notification was issued, marking the implementation of this decision.
The walled cities of Amritsar in the Amritsar district, Sri Anandpur Sahib in the Rupnagar district, and Talwandi Sabo (Sri Damdama Sahib) in the Bathinda district were formally designated as Holy Cities of the State of Punjab by the Punjab government on December 15, 2025. In acknowledgment of their spiritual significance and worldwide religious relevance, the notification legally grants these historically and religiously significant cities special status.