Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji; Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji; Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib (Nanded); and Sri Hemkunt Sahib, high in the Himalayas — these four sacred places are among the holiest pilgrimages for Sikh devotees. The Haryana government gives ₹20,000 in financial assistance to its state’s pilgrims who complete the yatra to these places. In October 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini raised the annual quota for this assistance from 50 to 100 pilgrims. This guide covers the Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 in full — how much assistance is given, who is eligible, how to claim it after the yatra, which documents are needed, and where confirmation is still pending.
First, one important point to understand: this is not a free tour. The Haryana government does not organise the Guru Darshan Yatra itself. Pilgrims travel through the State Government, the Central Government or a recognised Society — such as the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) jathas — and claim financial assistance after the yatra from the Haryana government. The claim must be made within 2 months of completing the yatra. Anyone who does not understand this can miss out on the assistance.
Scheme at a glance
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme, 2016 |
| Notification | No. TM/AP.I/2016/2621, dated 12.07.2016; commenced 1 April 2016 |
| Department | Tourism Department, Government of Haryana |
| Yatra | Sri Hazoor Sahib (Nanded), Sri Nankana Sahib (Pakistan), Sri Hemkunt Sahib (Uttarakhand), Sri Patna Sahib (Bihar) |
| Assistance | ₹20,000 per pilgrim (as per the Tourism Commissioner, October 2026); the 2016 notification said ₹6,000 or 50% of actual expenditure, whichever less |
| Annual quota | 100 pilgrims (raised from 50 in October 2026) |
| Eligibility | Permanent resident of Haryana; yatra completed through State Govt./Centre Govt./Society; yatra completion certificate |
| Nature of assistance | Post-yatra reimbursement — first the yatra, then the claim |
| Claim window | Within 2 months of completing the yatra |
| Claim where | Director, Tourism Department, Haryana, in the prescribed format (Annexure A) |
| Application fee | No fee prescribed in the scheme (the yatra’s own cost is separate) |
| Online portal | Online registration portal directed in October 2026; not started as of 8 November 2026 |
| Contact | Tourism Department, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — 0172-2702955 |
What is the Guru Darshan Yatra?
The Guru Darshan Yatra means the darshan of four major sacred places associated with the Sikh Gurus. The Haryana Government launched this scheme in 2016 on the occasion of the state’s Golden Jubilee (50 years) — hence the name “Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme”. Under the scheme, financial assistance is given for the yatra to these four places.
Each of the four places has its own religious significance — Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Patna Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Hazur Sahib (Nanded) is where Guru Gobind Singh Ji spent his final days, and Hemkunt Sahib is the high Himalayan place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji meditated.
| Place | Where | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Hazoor Sahib (Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib) | Nanded, Maharashtra | Final resting place of Guru Gobind Singh Ji; one of the five Takhts |
| Sri Nankana Sahib | Nankana Sahib, Pakistan (near Lahore) | Birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji; yatra is by jatha to Pakistan |
| Sri Hemkunt Sahib | Chamoli district, Uttarakhand (about 4,632 m altitude) | Sacred gurdwara in the Himalayas; meditation place of Guru Gobind Singh Ji |
| Sri Patna Sahib (Takht Sri Harmandir Ji) | Patna, Bihar | Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji; one of the five Takhts |
How much assistance is given?
The answer to this question has two parts — because the 2016 notification and the October 2026 announcement state different amounts. In October 2026, Tourism Department Commissioner and Secretary Dr Amit Agrawal said at the review meeting of 22 October 2026 (chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini) that the assistance for the Guru Darshan Yatra is ₹20,000 per pilgrim — and in the same meeting the annual quota was raised from 50 to 100 pilgrims.
But the original 2016 notification fixed the assistance at ₹6,000 or 50% of the actual expenditure, whichever less. And in May 2026, a statement by the Chief Minister also mentioned ₹6,000 per pilgrim for these four destinations. So when the amount rose from ₹6,000 to ₹20,000 could not be verified from any public document. Do confirm the current amount with the Tourism Department before claiming — this guide states ₹20,000 on the basis of the October 2026 announcement, which was the rate stated by the department at that time.
Note: the 2016 notification said the assistance was “₹6,000 or 50% of the actual expenditure, whichever is less”. The October 2026 announcement mentions only “₹20,000 per pilgrim” — it does not confirm whether the 50% condition still applies. Ask the department about the 50% condition before claiming.
History of the assistance — from ₹6,000 to ₹20,000
The amount and quota of this scheme have changed over time as follows:
| When | Assistance | Annual quota | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2016 | ₹6,000 or 50% of actual expenditure (whichever is less) | 50 pilgrims | Scheme commenced — “Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme, 2016” |
| 12 July 2016 | Same rule | 50 pilgrims | Notification No. TM/AP.I/2016/2621 issued |
| 9 August 2016 | ₹6,000 or 50% (whichever is less) | 50 pilgrims | Statement of Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma (The Tribune) |
| May 2026 | ₹6,000 per pilgrim stated | 50 pilgrims | Chief Minister’s statement — on the occasion of the Sirsa–Hazur Sahib special train |
| 22 October 2026 | ₹20,000 per pilgrim (current rate, as per the department) | 100 pilgrims | Statement of the Tourism Commissioner; CM doubled the quota (22 October 2026) |
The table makes it clear that the date on which the amount rose from ₹6,000 to ₹20,000 could not be verified from public sources — ₹6,000 was stated in May 2026 and ₹20,000 in October 2026. The increase may have happened in those five months, but this guide makes no guess about it.
Eligibility — who can claim?
As per the scheme notification, these conditions must be met for the financial assistance:
- Permanent resident of Haryana is mandatory — a Haryana permanent residence (domicile) certificate must be submitted. Residents of other states cannot claim under this scheme.
- The yatra must be completed through the State Government, Central Government or a recognised Society — such as a jatha of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) or a registered institution. A purely private yatra undertaken on one’s own does not come under this scheme.
- A yatra completion certificate must be submitted — the certificate comes from the same State Government/Central Government/Society through which the yatra was made. Without it, the claim will not be accepted.
- The financial assistance is given to a pilgrim only once in a lifetime — whoever has taken this assistance once cannot claim it again.
Income limit: the scheme notification prescribes no income limit — neither minimum nor maximum income. Age limit: the notification prescribes no age limit either — the scheme is for Haryana residents of any age, provided the other conditions are met. This is stated clearly because the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana has a 60+ age condition — that condition does not apply to this scheme.
Who is NOT eligible?
- Those who are not permanent residents of Haryana — residents of other states cannot claim under Haryana’s scheme.
- Those who completed the yatra entirely privately, not through the State Government/Central Government/Society — the scheme requires travel through an authorised channel.
- Those who do not hold a yatra completion certificate — without the certificate the claim will not be accepted.
- Those who have already taken this financial assistance once — the once-in-a-lifetime rule applies.
- Those who have not undertaken the yatra at all — no claim can be made without the yatra; this scheme is not an advance assistance before the yatra.
- Those who claim more than 2 months after the yatra — the claim will not be accepted once the claim window has passed.
How does the yatra to the four places work?
The Guru Darshan Yatra is not a single programme on fixed dates — the yatras to the four places happen at different times and through different channels. Generally the yatra works as follows:
| Place | How the yatra happens | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded | By train/road; special trains also run (e.g. the special train from Sirsa on 15 May 2026) | In Maharashtra; yatra possible through the year |
| Sri Nankana Sahib, Pakistan | By HSGMC/SGPC jatha, under the Union Home Ministry quota; passport + visa mandatory | Jathas go on special occasions (Guru Nanak Jayanti, Baisakhi) |
| Sri Hemkunt Sahib, Uttarakhand | By road + on foot (about 19 km on foot/horse/palki from Govindghat) | Altitude about 4,632 m; yatra season usually May–October |
| Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar | By train/road; yatra possible through the year | Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji; large gatherings on Prakash Parv |
The channel of travel must be the one written in the notification — the State Government, Central Government or a registered Society. So before travelling, do check whether your jatha or organiser falls in one of these categories — otherwise the claim will not be paid.
Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) — special points
Of the four places, Nankana Sahib is the most distinct, because it is in Pakistan. Some special points about its yatra are important to know:
- Travel by jatha: the Nankana Sahib yatra is made with a jatha of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — the Union Home Ministry fixes a quota for every jatha. HSGMC has a quota of 200 devotees, and the committee has sought to raise it to 700.
- Passport and visa mandatory: a valid passport and visa are needed to go to Pakistan — the notification also asks for attested copies of the visa and passport among the documents.
- The 2026 jatha: on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Parv (24 November 2026), the jatha will go to Pakistan on 22 November 2026 and return on 1 December 2026 — more than 600 applications have already been received for this jatha.
- The June 2026 incident: in June 2026, 94 pilgrims from Haryana were stopped at the border despite holding visas — the first time this had happened. HSGMC has formed a five-member committee to investigate. So do take the latest jatha information from HSGMC before travelling.
The 2026 position — what happened?
Two major things happened in 2026 in connection with this scheme:
| Date | Event | Status (as of 8 November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | Chief Minister flagged off a special train from Sirsa to Hazur Sahib (Nanded) — more than 800 devotees travelled | Done — this was under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana, separate from the Guru Darshan scheme |
| June 2026 | 94 pilgrims from Haryana heading to Pakistan were stopped at the border | Done — HSGMC investigation committee formed |
| 22 October 2026 | Chief Minister’s review meeting — quota of all three yatras (Guru Darshan, Kailash Mansarovar, Sindhu Darshan) raised from 50 to 100; online registration portal directed | Announced — portal not yet started |
| 22 November – 1 December 2026 | HSGMC jatha to Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) for Guru Nanak Jayanti | Upcoming — 600+ applications received |
Note: the special train of 15 May 2026 ran under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana — the free-travel scheme for senior citizens aged 60+. The Guru Darshan scheme is different from it — under it, ₹20,000 assistance is claimed after the yatra. Do not confuse the two schemes.
Claim process — step by step
The most important point about this scheme is that the assistance is given after the yatra, not before it. First complete the yatra through an authorised channel, then claim. The claim must be made to the Director, Tourism Department, in the prescribed format (Annexure A) within 2 months of completing the yatra.
Caution about the SARAL portal: some websites mention online application through the Antyodaya-SARAL portal, but no SARAL service for this scheme could be verified. On the contrary, in October 2026 the Chief Minister directed that an online registration portal be built for these three pilgrimage schemes (Guru Darshan, Kailash Mansarovar, Sindhu Darshan) — which itself shows that no such portal had started yet. So this guide gives no SARAL application process — the verified method is the offline claim. The guide will be updated as soon as the portal starts.
The complete process for claiming after the yatra is as follows:
- Complete the yatra through an authorised channel: travel to any of the four places with a jatha/programme of the State Government, Central Government or a registered Society (such as HSGMC). Keep all bills and receipts of the yatra safely — proof of expenditure will be needed when claiming.
- Obtain the completion certificate: take the yatra completion certificate from the same State Government/Central Government/Society through which the yatra was made. This document is mandatory for the claim.
- Fill Annexure A: fill the application in the prescribed format (Annexure A) — applicant’s name, father/husband’s name, date of birth, complete present address, telephone/mobile number, yatra dates (from–to) and expenditure on the yatra (with proof).
- Attach the documents: attach all the documents in the list below, along with a declaration that you have never taken this financial assistance before and will not claim it in future.
- Submit to the Director: submit the application to the Director, Tourism Department, Haryana within 2 months of completing the yatra — office: Haryana Tourism Corporation, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh – 160017.
- Approval and payment: the Director examines the documents and forwards the case to the Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department, Haryana within 15 days; after approval, the financial assistance is released.
Documents required
These documents must be attached with the claim (as per Annexure A of the notification):
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Attested copy of Haryana permanent residence (domicile) certificate | Proof of being a permanent resident of Haryana |
| Attested copy of yatra completion certificate (from State Govt./Centre Govt./Society) | Proof of completing the yatra through an authorised channel — mandatory; without it the claim will not be accepted |
| Attested copies of visa and passport (if required) | Proof of travel and identity — mandatory for the Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) yatra |
| Proof of expenditure on the yatra | Bills/receipts of actual expenditure — needed if the 50% condition applies |
| Declaration | Declaring that you have never taken this financial assistance before and will not claim it in future |
| Passport-size photograph | To be affixed on the application form (Annexure A) |
| Bank details | Account details for payment — the 2016 form provided for payment by Demand Draft; the current payment mode is not verified, so ask the department |
Note: the portal’s live form, once it starts, will be final — submit any additional documents the department asks for at the time of claiming.
Claim approval process
After the claim is submitted, the approval process runs as follows:
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Scrutiny | The Director, Tourism Department, Haryana examines the application and documents | On receipt of the application |
| 2. Forwarding | The Director forwards the case to the Administrative Secretary, Government of Haryana, Tourism Department | Within 15 days |
| 3. Approval | Assistance is released after the Administrative Secretary’s approval | After approval |
| 4. Payment | As per the 2016 scheme text, assistance was released by Demand Draft | After approval |
A word of caution about the payment mode: the 2016 scheme text says payment was made by Demand Draft, but whether payment today is made by DBT (directly into the bank account) or still by Demand Draft could not be verified. Do ask the department about the payment mode when claiming. No RTS timeline for this scheme is published, so this guide gives no official figure for how long approval takes.
Fee, timeline and status check
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
| Application fee (Haryana scheme) | No fee is prescribed in the scheme — the claim is free |
| Yatra cost | The pilgrim bears the yatra’s own cost; the assistance is given after the yatra |
| Claim deadline | Within 2 months of completing the yatra — this is the scheme’s real “last date” |
| Approval process | Director → Administrative Secretary within 15 days → approval → payment |
| Payment | Demand Draft in the 2016 text; current mode not verified — ask the department |
| Status check (online) | No online status portal verified — contact the department directly |
| Status check (offline) | Tourism Department, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — phone 0172-2702955 |
| Last date | No fixed last date — each yatra has a 2-month claim window; no fixed date exists for 2026 |
| Frequency of benefit | Once in a lifetime per pilgrim |
Online registration portal — the new direction
At the review meeting on 22 October 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed officials to develop an online registration portal for all three pilgrimage schemes — Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Sindhu Darshan Yatra. As announced, assistance will be given only to pilgrims registered through the portal, so that the application process is transparent and eligible pilgrims get the benefit directly.
But as of 8 November 2026, the portal’s name, link or start date has not been announced — so this guide gives no portal link. The guide will be updated as soon as the portal starts. Until then, claims must be made offline — do not pay money to any unofficial link or person in the name of the portal.
Know the difference — Guru Darshan vs Sindhu vs Kailash vs Teerth Yatra
Haryana’s three pilgrimage assistance schemes look alike — but the amount and the yatra are different. After the October 2026 announcement, all three now have a quota of 100 pilgrims each:
| Scheme | Assistance | Annual quota | Yatra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 | ₹20,000 per pilgrim (₹6,000 or 50%, whichever less, in 2016) | 100 | Hazur Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Hemkunt Sahib, Patna Sahib — through State/Centre Govt./Society |
| Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 | ₹20,000 per pilgrim | 100 | Sindhu river, Leh-Ladakh (June, Guru Purnima) |
| Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme 2016 | ₹50,000 or 50% of actual expenditure (whichever is less) | 100 | Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, Tibet — through MEA (June–August) |
| Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana | Free yatra (3rd AC train, food, stay) | Batch-wise | For senior citizens 60+; apply via SARAL (full guide on this website) |
One thing is common to all three assistance schemes — the assistance is claimed after the yatra — whereas in the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana the government itself organises the yatra. The Guru Darshan scheme has one more special feature — the yatra is valid only through the State Government, Central Government or a registered Society, while in the Kailash scheme the yatra is valid only through the MEA.
Preparing for the yatra — before you go
Keep these points in mind before going on the Guru Darshan Yatra:
- Fix the channel in advance: travel only with a jatha of the State Government, Central Government or a registered Society — a purely private yatra will not get the claim. Take jatha information from HSGMC or the Tourism Department.
- Keep your passport and visa ready: a valid passport and visa are mandatory for Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) — complete the visa process in time, even with the jatha.
- Mind the altitude: Hemkunt Sahib is at about 4,632 m altitude — take your doctor’s advice and focus on fitness to avoid altitude sickness.
- Keep all bills and receipts: keep all tickets, hotel and transport bills from the yatra — proof of expenditure is needed when claiming.
- Collect the completion certificate during the yatra itself: the yatra completion certificate is issued by the jatha/organiser at the end of the yatra — keep it safe, as it is mandatory for the claim.
- Remember the claim deadline: the claim must be made within 2 months of returning — do not delay.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How much financial assistance is given under the Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme?
In October 2026, the Tourism Commissioner said the assistance is ₹20,000 per pilgrim and the annual quota has been raised from 50 to 100. But the original 2016 notification fixed the assistance at ₹6,000 or 50% of the actual expenditure, whichever less — and in May 2026, ₹6,000 was still mentioned. When the amount rose from ₹6,000 to ₹20,000 could not be verified — so do confirm the current amount with the department before claiming.
2. Does one have to apply before the yatra?
Not for the Haryana assistance — first complete the yatra through an authorised channel, then claim within 2 months of it. But joining the jatha/programme for the yatra is a separate process — for example, registration in advance is needed for the HSGMC jatha. Anyone who talks of applying first is confusing this scheme with the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana.
3. Who can claim?
A permanent resident of Haryana who has completed the Guru Darshan Yatra (any of the four places) through the State Government, Central Government or a registered Society, and holds the yatra completion certificate. The assistance is given to a pilgrim only once in a lifetime. The scheme prescribes no income limit or age limit.
4. Will assistance be given for a purely private yatra?
No. The scheme requires the yatra to be completed through the State Government, Central Government or a registered Society — a purely private yatra does not qualify for Haryana’s assistance, even if the yatra was completed.
5. Can one apply online through the SARAL portal?
Not verified. Some websites mention online application through SARAL, but no SARAL service for this scheme could be verified — and the Chief Minister’s October 2026 direction to build an online registration portal itself shows that no portal had started yet. The verified method is the offline claim.
6. Is it necessary to visit all four places together?
No. As per the notification, the assistance goes to pilgrims who have completed the Guru Darshan Yatra — a yatra to any of the four places qualifies. It is not necessary to visit all four places in a single claim.
7. How many times can the assistance be taken?
Only once in a lifetime per pilgrim. A person who has taken this assistance once cannot claim it again — the claim also requires a declaration to that effect.
8. How is the payment made?
As per the 2016 scheme text, the assistance was released by Demand Draft. Whether payment today is made by DBT or still by Demand Draft could not be verified; do ask the department about the payment mode when claiming.
9. When is the next Guru Darshan Yatra?
This scheme has no single fixed date — the yatras to the four places happen at different times through the year. The next Nankana Sahib jatha will go to Pakistan on 22 November 2026 for Guru Nanak Jayanti and return on 1 December 2026. The Hemkunt Sahib yatra usually takes place between May and October. Take information about the latest jathas from HSGMC or the Tourism Department.
Official links and contacts
| Task | Link / Contact |
|---|---|
| Scheme notification (copy, PDF) | statusin.in/uploads/21425-e_sawaran.pdf (copy of Notification No. TM/AP.I/2016/2621, dated 12.07.2016 — opened on direct check) |
| Haryana Tourism Department (scheme page) | haryanatourism.gov.in/News/kailash-mansarovar-yatra-scheme-2016 (on direct check on 8 November 2026 the site did not open — DNS/timeout; link given with a note) |
| Tourism Department (office) | Haryana Tourism Corporation, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh – 160017 |
| Phone | 0172-2702955 / 2702956 |
| [email protected] | [email protected] | |
| Website | haryanatourism.gov.in (did not open on direct check on 8 November 2026) |
| myScheme — Haryana schemes (list) | myscheme.gov.in/search/state/Haryana (detail page is client-rendered and could not be read directly; see also the list page) |
| SARAL helpline | 0172-3968400 | Email: [email protected] (for general SARAL portal queries only) |
Related guides — also read: Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana 2026: Free pilgrimage for 60+ (Hindi guide — no English mirror) | Haryana Sindhu Darshan Yatra Yojana 2026: ₹20,000 assistance | Haryana Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme 2026: Rs 50,000 assistance | Haryana Varanasi-Amritsar Yatra Yojana 2026: Free travel for senior citizens | Big relief for pilgrims: Quota doubled in Guru Darshan, Kailash Mansarovar and Sindhu Darshan (Hindi news — no English mirror) | Haryana Old Age Samman Allowance 2026: ₹3,200 per month
Disclaimer
This guide was prepared on 8 November 2026 on the basis of available official sources — the Haryana Government’s Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 notification (No. TM/AP.I/2016/2621, dated 12.07.2016), the Tourism Department’s October 2026 announcement (statement of the Tourism Commissioner, 22 October 2026), the Haryana Government’s press release of 22 October 2026, and the myScheme portal’s Haryana list. The assistance amount, quota and online portal information may change over time — before claiming, do confirm the current information with the Tourism Department, Haryana (SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — 0172-2702955). Wherever sources differ or information is unconfirmed, this guide says so clearly. Viksit Haryana is not an official portal of any government department.
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