My visit to Gurudwara Sangatsar ji, Larnaca, Cyprus by Kulwant K. Jheeta, 30 August 2019

Gurudwara Sangatsar Ji Cyprus is a 15 minute drive from Larnaca Airport and a 5 hour flight from London Gatwick Airport.

Larnaca (Larnarka) is a port city on the south coast of Cyprus. It’s known for Finikoudes Beach, a sandy strip in the city centre backed by a palm-lined seaside promenade. There are many hotels on the sea front. Temperatures in July, August can rise up to 38 Celsius. The sea has cool breeze in the morning and evening and pleasant for a swim, walk or just laze in coffee places looking over the sea

Sun Hall Beach Hotel is 3 star, self catered basic spacious apartments with one to two bedrooms with separate TV area and a kitchenette for 2-6 people. The Sun Hall Beach Hotel has no restaurant on site but many eating places are close by. Rooms are cleaned daily.

A sevadar, who supports for a new gurdwara building from Woolwich Gurdwara calderwood street recommended this hotel as it has spacious family rooms, huge terraces and 10% group bookings can be negotiated. Rooms are between 70 – 140euros per night. It is a known place for Sikh group visitors for the Gurdwara events.

However, the Sun Hall Hotel, slightly expensive next door, is a 4 star modern place, and is my preferred choice. It has a gym, swimming pool, and offers breakfast/half board. Breakfast is a buffet with hot and cold wide choices. Vegetarians can eat heartily too. The rooms have tea/coffee, fridge, an iron and fresh water bottle placed every day. Rooms are modern, clean and comfortable beds. Family rooms are available too. The hotel has seating areas by the reception and air conditioned as you move around the hotel, unlike the Sun Hall Beach, which has air con in rooms only and you sweat profusely on hot days as you make way down to the ground floor.

The Larnaca Gurdwara is 3.5km from these hotels and a taxi from Sun Hall Hotel is 8euro. Best to have a return taxi for eu 15 if turning back soon. Taxi ranks and bus stops are on the door step. The main bus station is 5mins walk, where bus information can be gained to travel to other cities. Buses arrive every 20mins, and the fare is 1.50euro to travel up to about 8km.

Cyprus is an orthodox Greek community where setting up a place of worship of other community/religion was difficult. But Cyprus being part of European Union a diversity of cultures and religions has enabled other faiths to set up.

Gurudwara Sangatsar Sahib – address: 6059 Larnaka, Larnaca, Cyprus.

Besides Darbar sahib there are separate spaces for cooking, washing and a langar Hall.

The saadh sangat comprises mainly young Sikhs from villages in India who are on student visas and who eagerly do the seva. The Sikh youth community in Cyprus felt the need for a Gurudwara where Sikhs could gather and seek Guru ji’s blessings. The Gurudwara is the relentless efforts of few settled families and many new young adults. Many youngsters are working as hired domestic workers in private homes and restaurants and not attending college. It was never their aim to study. Their lifestyle is basic and somewhat ‘lost’ without a family unit, particularly their elders, and the boys ‘constantly squabble among themselves.’ is a shared belief by many individuals. The aim for many is to enter the UK, who have parted with large sums of their hard earned wages to bogus Indian ‘agencies’

The Gurudwara is a temporary building with walls erected with concrete blocks, corrugated metal roofing. It accommodates around 300-400 people. About 200 young Sikhs currently attends and it’s an opportunity to socialise too. Bhai Balraj Singh ji is the Granthi, who besides his normal work schedule takes care of the place. Guru’s bani is recited in the morning and evening. The main program on Sunday which includes the recitation of “Sukhmani Sahib”, followed by “Anand Sahib”, “Ardas” and Guru Ka Langar. The program lasts from 9am till 1pm.

A visit is a must as it gives a blessed proud feeling to see young Sikhs planting seeds of Sikhi outside India.

By Kulwant Kaur Jheeta

30 August 2019