Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
Established in 1970s in remembrance of the first Sikh Guru and the founder of Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is located at a distance of 25 miles from the city of Leh on the way to the magnetic hill. It would be surprising to know that in pre-dominant Buddhist state, the Ladakh lamas revered Guru Nanak Dev Ji as ‘Nanak Lama’ or as ‘Guru Gompka Maharaj’ since many centuries. According to local legends, in early 16th century, the locals were tortured and harassed by a demon. During the visit of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Ladakh in those times, he was also attacked by the same demon who tried to kill Nanak Dev Ji by throwing a huge boulder. However, Nanak Dev Ji could not be harmed as the rock turned soft like molten wax on touching Nanak Dev Ji. Despite of all efforts of the demon, Guru Nanak Dev remained unscathed. Realizing the fact that Guru Nanak himself is a divine power, demon underwent a transformation and stopped harassing the locals. Since then, Guru Nanak Dev was worshipped by lamas and the boulder with the imprints of body of Guru Nanak Dev was worshipped as a sacred boulder.
The boulder thrown by the demon was discovered after centuries when a road was being built from Leh to Nimmo in 1970s.The construction of the road came to a halt as this huge boulder could not be removed from the road despite of all the efforts. Not knowing about the legend of the boulder, the army officials decided to blow it off. It was then when the lamas gathered and told the legend of ‘Nanak Lama’, the manifestation of Guru Nanak Dev revered by them to the army officials.
After that, the army officials, local people and lamas established this Gurudwara around the boulder which is today, being run and maintained by the Indian Army. A wonderful place to stop by, pay your obeisance and relish on some tasty langar and tea served in the Gurudwara premises.