QUICK TAKE | Why Does an Indian Army Soldier Have a Temple Near Nathu La? Seven Things to Know About Baba Harbhajan Singh

1. Who was Baba Harbhajan Singh?

Harbhajan Singh was a sepoy in the Army’s 23 Punjab battalion, posted in eastern Sikkim near the India–China border. The memorial that bears his name honours a soldier who died on duty and came to be known as Baba Harbhajan Singh.

2. How did he die?

He went missing in October 1968 while serving near Nathu La. One account, recorded by the government’s India Cine Hub, says he was escorting mules carrying supplies when he fell into a stream and drowned. The Union tourism portal describes the circumstances of his death as unclear.

3. Why did soldiers build a shrine for him?

According to local legend, Harbhajan Singh appeared in a fellow soldier’s dream, told him where to find his body and asked for a memorial. That story is part of a wider belief among devotees that he still watches over troops on the border.

4. Why are there two Baba Mandirs?

The older shrine near Kupup is associated with the place where he served. A more accessible memorial, now commonly called New Baba Mandir, was inaugurated in 1983. Both commemorate the same soldier, but they stand at different locations in eastern Sikkim.

5. Why is there an empty bed at the memorial?

The New Baba Mandir houses a bronze statue of Harbhajan Singh and an empty bed. The bed symbolises his continuing presence and gives physical form to the belief that he still keeps watch in the mountains where he served.

6. How high up is Baba Mandir?

The newer shrine sits between Nathu La and Jelep La at about 13,123 feet, roughly 52 km from Gangtok, according to India Cine Hub. It lies in a protected area, so visitors need a permit.

7. What else did Rajnath Singh do on Diwali?

Singh also paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the Sherathang War Memorial and met troops serving in the forward sector. He likened the jawans to Diwali lamps, praising the vigilance they maintain in extreme weather and difficult terrain.