Baba Sodal Temple

Baba Sodal Temple in Jalandhar honours Baba Sodal, a boy revered locally as a saint and worshipped by both Hindus and Sikhs. The shrine is known for its vivid colours and stands next to a holy water tank, regarded as the spot where he left the world.

The story is placed in the 17th century. The boy is said to have followed his mother to the river against her wishes; in anger she told him to drown, he asked her to say it again, and when she did he went into the water and never came up, taking the form of a sacred snake. Pilgrims bathe in the tank, and the water is credited with healing powers. Murals and frescoes inside show episodes from his life along with mythological scenes. A large fair is held every year in the monsoon, with processions, and at night the lit-up temple is reflected in the pond.