Kutch is home to one of the oldest gurudwaras in country

Kutch district, known for its rich heritage, has another treasure that has come to light. Lakhpat in Kutch houses one of the oldest gurudwaras in India. Moreover, according to legends, Guru Nanak visited the spot where the gurudwara was later built on his way to Mecca in the 16th century.

Known as Pehli Patshahi Gurudwara, it was constructed in the 17th century. The gurudwara features in a book brought out by the SID Research Cell of the Centre for Environment Planning and Technology (CEPT) and Gujarat Mineral Research and Development Society titled "Stone Buildings of Gujarat".

The name of the shrine means "Gurudwara of the first teacher" as the spot was visited by the first guru, Guru Nanak. In fact, it also has Guru Nanak's paduka kept for visitors' darshan.

The book is written by Nimish Patel, Muktirajsinhji Chauhan, Bishakha Shome, Mansi G Shah, Eesha Agarwal and Chinmay Patel. It talks about the use of stone in religious, funerary and domestic buildings, water structures, public buildings and defensive structures.  

The book describes the Pehli Patshahi Gurudwara as having "carved stone balconies, perforated panels and small jharokhas". Low relief carvings adorn the structure built of locally available limestone and sandstone. The complex comprises of the main building with a courtyard and large gateway. It almost resembles a small fortified structure, says the book.

The present structure is a reconstruction done in the 19th century. The gurudwara was declared a protected monument in 1992 under the Gujarat Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act. The building also won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation award in 2004.

The book notes: "The earliest recorded use of stone for buildings in Gujarat was for foundations and fortifications of the Harappan settlements such as Dholavira built more than 4,500 years ago. Since then stone has been used extensively in many structures." The list includes several religious and secular buildings which have been focus of study by scholars and historians, palaces, step wells, funerary structures and others.

The book mentions that igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are available in Gujarat. It says the popular stones used for building are basalt, granite, limestone, dolomite and sandstone, which are all available in Gujarat.