Majnu Ka Tilla showcases an exotic spiritual blend with Muslim, Sikh and Tibetan stories

Majnu ka Tilla is a sort of commercial capital of the Tibetan community; a self-sustaining Tibetan refugee camp, with travel agents offering tours to the Himalayas, restaurants, curio shops, gold and silver smiths, among other businesses. The colony was established in 1960 on the right bank of the River Yamuna on the G. T. Road (National Highway-1), opposite Timarpur, Delhi. There are three main residential settlements with about 3,500 houses.

The ancient hillock gets its name gets its name from an Iranian Sufi mystic Abdulla, whom people referred to as Majnu (crazy). He camped here on a small hill at the edge of the Yamuna during the rule of Sultan Sikander Shah Lodhi. He was always lost in meditation, forgetting about the world around and wasted from fasting. When not meditating, he would ferry people across the Yamuna in his small boat for free.

It is believed that around 1505, day Sikh spiritual leader, Guru Nanak, was travelling across the Yamuna, came upon Majnu and shared his knowledge with him. The Muslim became his disciple. In 1783, Sikh military leader Baghel Singh built the Majnu ka Tilla Gurudwara to commemorate the stay, and the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Har Gobind also stayed here.

Today it is one of oldest extant Sikh shrines in Delhi and the surrounding estate of donated by early 19th-century Sikh emperor, Ranjit Singh.On Baisakhi Day, the birthday of Khalsa is a huge celebration here.