Anandpur Sahib, a historic city situated on the banks of the river Sutlej, is an important pilgrimage centre of the Sikhs. The city was established by the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadurji, in 1664 and it was here that the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, baptized the first five Sikhs called the 'Panj Piare'.
The numerous Gurudwaras, or Sikh shrines, stand out in picturesque relief against the Naina Devi mountain range, in which the tenth guru trained his followers in the tactics of warfare. This training is re-created during the festival of Hola Mohalla, during which the descendants of the warriors of yore display their skill at various martial feats.