Ans. If the Mughal emperors are known for their passion for founding new cities and constructing famous buildings, then our Gurus’ contribution in building new cities is in no way less than that of the Mughal emperors. The following towns/cities were founded by our Gurus:
1. Kartar Pur (Raavi-now in Pakistan)Guru Nanak Dev Ji
2. Khadoor Sahib (District Amritsar)Guru Angad Dev Ji
3. Goindwal Sahib (District Amritsar)Guru Amar Das Ji
4. AmritsarGuru Ram Das Ji
5. Taran Taaran, Chheharta and Kartar Pur (District Jalandhar)Guru Arjan Dev Ji
6. Har Gobind Pur, Mehraj and Kirat PurGuru Har Gobind Ji
7. Kirat Pur Sahib Garden and ZooGuru Hari Rae Ji
8. Anand Pur SahibGuru Tegh Bahadur
9. Anandpur Sahib’s Forts, Paonta Sahib and Damdama Sahib (Guru ki Kashi)Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Generally, the life in cities is considered full of hazards. Everything is impure. Even air and water are polluted. Jealousy and envy in every walk of life run rampant. A trader wants to get better of the shopkeeper who, in turn, wants to beguile the customer. The tax collector of the state is after everyone. There is a spiritual chaos. In such poisonous atmosphere the significance of the ambrosial hour of the morning is non-existent.
Our Gurus built cities with a protective fence of truthful and honest living; where thievery and cutthroat business of normal cities would not exist. The environment would be clean, where no one would spread the poison of deception and where lender and borrower would be treated equally. No tax would be levied for difference in religious beliefs
ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਖ ਕੇ ਸਭਿ ਹਾਟ॥ ਸਾਹ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਏਕੈ ਥਾਟ॥੪॥ ਜੇਜੀਆ ਡੰਨ ਕੋ ਲਏ ਨ ਜਗਾਤਿ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੀਨੀ ਧੁਰ ਕੀ ਛਾਪ ॥੫॥
SGGS, P. 430
“All the shops ooze of peace and tranquillity, borrowers and lenders are treated equally.
There is no religious tax, the true Guru has put his divine stamp (on these rules)”
They founded cities on the banks of rivers, surrounded by sparkling pools and gardens. No landowner was forcibly ejected or routed in building of these cities.