Tomri Sahib Temple (Punjabi: ), also known as Tombri Temple, Toomri Temple or Nanda Ram Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located in the village of Baddoki Gosaian in Gujranwala District of Punjab, Pakistan. The temple was historically an important religious and pilgrimage site for Punjabi Hindus, and was also revered by local Sikh and Muslim communities.
The temple is situated in the village of Baddoki Gosain, approximately 2 miles southwest of Gakhar Mandi on the Grand Trunk Road, and about 16 kilometres from the city of Gujranwala. The site lies within the Rachna Doab region of Punjab.
The temple's establishment is attributed to Gosain Baba Sai Das, a spiritual figure regarded as the founder of the Gosain community and a contemporary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak. Some sources suggest that construction of the temple began in 1892 under his direction, although local estimates place the origins of the site at up to 500 years old.
Sai Das attracted followers from multiple religious communities; Hindus regarded him as a Gosain, Sikhs as a guru, and Muslims as a pir. After his death, his son Baba Ravanand became the caretaker of the temple and oversaw its activities with the support of local elites.
Prior to the Partition of British India in 1947, the temple was a major center of pilgrimage in Gujranwala. Devotees gathered for annual festivals such as Narsingh Chaturdashi and Budh Purnima, during which a large fair known as Mela Yag was held.
Monthly religious observances were also held on the Chaturdashi of every Shukla Paksha, during which devotees participated in Jyoti Darshan and sought spiritual guidance. Another major gathering associated with the temple was the Jhag Da Mela, which attracted pilgrims from surrounding regions for the fulfilment of vows ("mannat"). The temple complex functioned as a center of religious learning and devotion in Punjab, with Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims participating in its spiritual activities.
Following the Partition in 1947, most of the Hindu population of the area migrated to India, and the temple was abandoned. The structure remained without regular maintenance or caretakers.
In December 1992, following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India, parts of the temple complex were damaged during retaliatory unrest. Several ancillary structures and sections of the main complex were reportedly destroyed. In subsequent decades, the site has remained in a state of neglect, though it has attracted visitors for tourism and media productions. In recent years, the Directorate General of Archaeology, Punjab has been conserving the temple through structural stabilization, preservation of original features, and restoration of the pond, flooring, and water channels as part of Gujranwala's cultural heritage.
The temple is associated with devotion to Vishnu and the spiritual lineage of Baba Sai Das, founder of the Gosain tradition.
According to historical and literary sources, Sai Das (born 1468 in the Gujranwala region) established a religious centre at Baddoki Gosain, where a temple complex with a surrounding water tank was constructed in a style comparable to sarovar traditions. The site became associated with the Gosain community and functioned as a place of spiritual instruction and devotion.
Sai Das is described as a contemporary of Guru Nanak, and some traditions recorded in Gosain Gurbani state that the two figures met and exchanged religious ideas. These accounts suggest theological and devotional parallels between the Gosain and early Sikh traditions, though the historicity of such encounters remains a subject of interpretation.
The temple and its associated tank were used for ritual practices, including bathing and congregational gatherings. Devotees visited the site for Jyoti Darshan, fulfillment of vows (mannat) during the festival of Jhag Da Mela, and participation in annual festivals such as Narsingh Chaturdashi and Mela Yag. The site held significance not only for Hindus but also for some Sikhs and Punjabi Muslims, among whom Sai Das was regarded respectively as a guru or a pir.
The Tomri Sahib Temple is constructed on a raised platform and is surrounded by a square-shaped pond covering approximately 5,625 square metres (1.4 acres). A bridge supported by six red-tiled arches connects the main temple structure to the surrounding area, dividing the pond into two sections.
The pond is constructed using brickwork attributed to the Mughal period and is accessible by stairways on all four sides. A walled enclosure (locally known as piyala) is located in the northwest corner of the pond, possibly designated for women. A canal system once supplied water to the pond from a nearby well.
The temple structure features decorative engravings, red tile work, and marble flooring within its corridors. The complex is surrounded by banyan, peepal, and berry trees, which hold cultural and religious significance. A cemetery dating to the pre-Partition period is located near the site. Additional features once included a gold-plated steeple, a large idol within the temple, a nearby cremation ground, and a langar hall, many of which no longer survive.
The temple is no longer an active place of worship and remained in a state of neglect for several decades following the Partition of British India in 1947. The structure suffered from deterioration, loss of architectural elements, and encroachment in surrounding areas.
In recent years, the Directorate General of Archaeology, Punjab has initiated conservation work on the site under the "Chief MinisterâÂÂs Magnificent Punjab Program" with the approved cost of 121.839 million rupees. Restoration efforts have included structural stabilization of the shikhara, strengthening of the causeway, removal of vegetation and graffiti, and conservation of original architectural features such as lime plaster, frescoes, and brickwork.
During the restoration process, earlier floor layers were removed to reveal the original brick-edged flooring, which is being preserved. Work has also focused on reviving elements of the temple complex, including the central pond, its stairways, and associated water channels. The project aims to conserve the temple as part of Gujranwala's cultural and architectural heritage.