Investigating the Architectural Manifestations of Path and Place in Sacred Sikh Architecture

The paradigm of sacred architecture, since early times, has been guided by elements of path and place making. Previous researches have shown that there are specific architectural elements which correspond to the path and place making in sacred spaces. This paper aims to analyze the path- and place-making elements proposed in previous researches and develop a comprehensive list of the same for sacred Sikh architecture, i.e., Gurdwaras. The list, thus developed, shall help to rediscover the underlying pattern of path and place making which contribute toward the sacredness in Sikh architecture. The study also helps to rediscover the architectural elements responsible for the uniqueness of these memorable spaces and which are reminders of events and experiences that took place in them. Few prominent historical Indian Gurdwaras have been included in the study for identifying the architectural elements signifying the presence of path and place making. The study concludes with the summary of architectural manifestations of sacred Sikh architecture which correspond to the categories of path and place.