BIANCHI, an Italian engineer, who arrived at Lahore in Sikh times. According to the Khalsa Darbar payrolls, he served the Sikh State and was employed in 1835 as a road engineer on a salary of 9 rupees per day. He constructed a road from General Ventura`s house to the Fort in Lahore. He was entrusted with the task of building a circular road enclosing the city and the fort of Lahore. However, he could not accomplish the task owing to illness. He proceeded to Italy, but died on the way.
BOTA SINGH (d. 1739), an eighteenth century martyr of the Sikh faith, belonged to the village of Bharana in Amritsar district. In those days of dire persecution, he along with many fellow Sikhs had sought the safety of wastes and jungles. At nightfall, he would come out of his hiding place and visit some human habitations in search of food. Occasionally he would come to Amritsar by night to have a dip in the holy tank, spending the day in the wilderness around Tarn Taran. One day he was noticed by some people who thought he was a Sikh.
BANGLA SAHIB GURUDWARA, ROHTAK This Gurdwara is dedicated to the Ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. He came here in 1675 while going from Jind to Delhi. He stayed at this place for a few days. A well that existed at the time of his visit is also present but has been filled up now. Location This Gurdwara is located on Jind Road, near Mataji Gate. It is about one and a half kms from the Railway Station.
CHANDPUR, village connected by a 4km stretch of link road to Ropar Nangal road near Kotia power house, is sacred to Guru Har Rai (1630-61), who came here on visits several times. Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahib marking the site of the Guru`s camp is also known as Gurdwara Nira Sahib (from nira, i.e. fodder for the Guru`s horses). The present three storeyed domed building raised in 1950 has the sanctum on the ground floor. The Gurdwara is affiliated to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, but is managed by the local sangat.
CHAPPAR CHIRI (30° 45`N, 76° 40`E), Ban and Chhoti (senior and junior), are twin villages in Ropar district, along KhararBanur road, now officially named Banda Singh Bahadur road. This area was the scene of a historic battle. Gurdwara Baba Banda Bahadur is situated between the two villages by the side of the metalled link road joining them. The battle took place around here on 12 May 1710 between the Sikhs led by Banda Singh Bahadur and Wazir Khan, the imperial faujdar of Sirhind. The latter was killed and the Mughal army routed.
