Gurudwara Reetha Meetha Sahib is the center of the religious faith of Hindus. Situated in district Champawat of Uttrakhand state of India, it is at a distance of about 72 km from the district headquarters in Champawat. Located at an elevation of 7,000 feet above the sea level in Uttarakhand., the Reetha Sahib holy shrine is situated in a small village named Deyuri at the confluence of two rivers named Lodia and Ratia. It is not very far from the famous Nanak Mata Sahib Gurudwara situated at a distance of 60 kilometers but the nearest railway station is 166 kilometers away at Tanakpur.
The Gurudwara Reetha Meetha Sahib is surrounded by pine forests with beautiful rivers and the lush green fertile land forming a backdrop. The Reetha Sahib market with local shops selling daily needs stuff offer a small break before the pious Gurudwara Darshan. From here, a road across the narrow steep slopes leads to the Gurudwara. There is a slope & twist in front of the road along the way to Reetha Sahib and although it is mesmerizing and beautiful yet you need to move your vehicle very slowly and carefully.
Constructed in 1960, the Reetha Sahib Gurudwara holds great significance in Sikh Religion because the first Guru of Sikhs and the founder of Sikhism “Guru Nanak Ji” had visited this holy shrine. He visited there in the year of 1501 along with his pupil named as Bhai Mardana. During his visit in this gurudwara, he held a mystic discussion with the pupils of the Siddha Mandali and Guru Gorakhnath residing there who were known as Gorakhpanthi Jogis. After this meeting when "Guru Nanak dev Ji" and Guru "Dhernath Baba" were communicating Bhai Mardana felt hungry and asked to Guru Nanak Ji to satiate his hunger. Then Guru Nanak Dev Ji plucked the reetha fruit from the tree growing in the Gurudwara premises and asked Mardana to eat the fruit.
However, the fruit of Reetha or soapnut has a bitter taste usually, but with the divinity of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji the fruit of that Reetha turned into a sweetened fruit. And after this the holy shrine of Sikhs has got its name as "Reetha Sahib" because of this sweetened fruit. These reetha trees can be still witnessed there in the premises of the Reetha Sahib Gurudwara. The pilgrims visiting there are offered the offerings of Reetha juice in sweets. And, a garden is situated at a distance of 10 kms from Gurudwara, where such meetha reetha trees grow and the fruits of those trees are collected and brought to the Gurudwara for distributing as a Prasad offering. This garden is called the Nanak Bagichi.
After visiting the Reetha Sahib Gurudwara the pilgrims visit Dheranath for making their religious journey complete and successful. This temple is located near the Reetha Sahib Gurudwara. And the fruit of the sweet reetha is offered here as well in the form of Prasad. This temple is a symbol of brotherhood from decades being a center of serenity and peace. On the auspicious day of Sikhs i.e. on Baisakhi Purnima, a huge fair is organized in this temple.
A trip to Gurudwara Reetha Meetha Sahib is a more rewarding way to Travel. So, pack your bags and head to Uttarakhand to explore this divine shrine.