In the Footsteps of Ranjha

I wish to follow the footsteps of Ranjha to experience the legend that has kept Punjab enchanted for centuries. Yes, this is not that age anymore, I won’t find a Heer when I cross Chenab, but I know this will be one hell of a journey, something to remember for life.

Just imagine: you begin at the village where Ranjha was born and grew up, leave for Heer’s village, cross the river Chenab at the same place the same way (boat), spend some time in Heer’s homeland, then go to the Balnath Hill, and eventually to the village of Heer’s in-laws. This is the path Ranjha walked.

Right now I’m busy finishing the research work on the legend of Mirza and SahibaN, would probably leave on this ‘exploration’ after August this year. Do YOU want to accompany me? Leave a message in the comments.

Here’s a pictorial summary of our ‘journey of love’:

1. Takht Hazara

The land where Ranjha was born and spent his childhood and early youth.

اک تخت ہزاریوں گل کیجے، جتھے رانجھیاں رنگ مچایا ہے
چھیل گھبرو مست اربیلڑے نیں سندراک تھیں اک سوایا ہے
والے کو کلے مندرے مجھ لنگی نواں ٹھاٹھ تے ٹھاٹھ چڑھایا ہے
کہی صفت ہزارے دی آکھ سکاں گویا بہشت زمیں تے آیا ہے

2. Midh Ranjha

The place where Ranjha took rest before crossing the river Chenab.

3. Crossing the River Chenab

This is where Ranjha requested Luddan, the boatman, to get him across Chenab.

4. Arrival at Jhang

Heer’s home land where Ranjha would spend next 12 years of his life.

5. Tilla Jogian

When Heer is forced into marrying someone from Rangpur, Ranjha heads over to Balnath to be accepted as Jogi.

ٹلے جائیکے جوگی دے ہتھ جوڑے سانوں آپناں کرو فقیر میاں
تیرے درس دیدار دے ویکھن نوں آیا د یس پردیس نوں چیر میاں
صدق دھار کے نال یقین آیا اسیں چیلڑے تے تسیں پیر میاں
بادشاہ سچا رب عالماں دا فقر اوس دے ہین وزیر میاں
بناں مرشداں راہ نہ ہتھ آوے ددھ باہجھ نے رجھدی کھیر میاں
فقر کل جہاں دا آسرا ہے تابع فقر دے پیر تے میر میاں
میرا مانوں تے باپ نہ ساک کوئی چاچا تایا نہ بھین نہ ویر میاں
دنیا وچ ہاں بہت حیران ہویا پیروں ساڈیوں لاہ زنجیر میاں

6. Rangpur

Eventually Balnath allows him to go to the village of Heer’s in-laws.

7. One, Forever

After they elope and are caught, Ranjha makes his case for Heer. Finally, both the families agree to a wedding. But Heer’s uncle Kaidu poisons her and she dies. As soon as they Ranjha is told, he takes his last breath. Both are buried in one grave in the ancient graveyard outside Jhang.

All the pictures are linked to the source.

Leave a Comment

  1. naseem says:
    May 28, 2011 at 3:55 am

    its really mesmerizing….. really feels nostalgic. great, please keep it up!

  2. Rafiq says:
    May 28, 2011 at 6:19 am

    I wish someone can make a video film of this journey

  3. padm nabh vasudeva says:
    May 28, 2011 at 7:23 am

    reliving experience and feeling the noble soul

  4. usman says:
    May 28, 2011 at 7:34 am

    I wish i could join you in this journey of love.But i guess at that time i will not here in Pakistan.Just pay my regards to this Love Land :)
    Wish you all the best.

  5. iqbal singh mangat says:
    May 28, 2011 at 7:58 am

    thanks buddy

  6. Sandeep Gour says:
    May 28, 2011 at 9:17 am

    amazing bro ….its very good to see the heer ranjha place …thanks bro ..keep it up ..we are waiting for more..:)

  7. Irfan Jamil says:
    May 28, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Romanticism at its best. God bless you!!

  8. Farhat Khanam says:
    May 28, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    It’s something really remarkable that takes one back in the annals of history and makes one breathe in that air that was replete with purity, love and absorption. A magnificent toil to enliven the folk tale.

  9. aman tur says:
    May 28, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    wonderful journey dear. so many thanks for uploading.

  10. shahid kaiser bajwa says:
    May 28, 2011 at 5:24 pm

    DEAR ,good work but please mentioned the place of Rangha i mean district and tehsil also thanks

  11. nav says:
    May 28, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    now i can imagine real pics …..

  12. Dr Aisha Siddiqua says:
    May 29, 2011 at 10:48 am

    Ranjha Takht hazari bhulyaa … Bhulya nahi par chand dian raatan

  13. jasbir says:
    May 29, 2011 at 11:45 am

    “takht hajare d najara bohat he peara”thanks veer physicaly taan shayed saade kismat ch nahee ke aase aapna taaran to paar d panjab dekh sakeae pr tuhade es effort de wajha nal tasveeraan ch taan dekh he lavaange.

  14. Abhimanyu Saagar says:
    May 29, 2011 at 4:49 pm

    Thank you dost thank you.May you go from strength to strength.This is what this great land needs today.

  15. Aslam Shah says:
    May 30, 2011 at 9:33 am

    I am spell-bound. A beautiful idea. Deserves our praise and thanks. Other journeys are warranted. Jeounda reh. Khush reh.

  16. lovejinder singh ''kaler'' says:
    May 30, 2011 at 9:35 am

    sat shri akal
    hey u r doing great job….
    i love pakistan coz my ancestors are from gujrawalan distt.

  17. Dr.Sarhandi says:
    May 30, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    Excellent,I am facinated by the tenderness of the story.Thanks for remembering me.

  18. R P chauhan says:
    June 1, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    Heart touching places

  19. RamaN Kaushal says:
    June 4, 2011 at 7:14 am

    true LOve

  20. Avtar Khehra says:
    June 4, 2011 at 8:09 am

    we are very feeling very lucky to see these places with theeye of your camera.thanx a lot.

  21. Nitin Duggal says:
    June 4, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    Amazing! Thanks for bringing this all together.

  22. isherdeep singh says:
    June 12, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    thanks alot for sharing these precious pics

  23. inderdeep singh says:
    July 3, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    good woork…..if people like u r there saving our culture,there’s no threat to it.

  24. BALJIT SINGH CHAHAL says:
    July 19, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    True Love ……………………
    baljit_chahal@yahoo.in Ludhiana In.

  25. jeet dhillon says:
    September 9, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    saw the movie many times but saw real places fir the first….sohail abid ji thank you

  26. kuljit singh says:
    September 11, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    true love always remembered.

  27. Sumit Kapoor says:
    October 16, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    I wish I could join you on this mesmerizing voyage … !
    Great Effort. May god bless you !!!

  28. Satish says:
    October 30, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    Thanks ! I can see love place of heer-rhanja

  29. Vijender says:
    December 20, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    I wish to visit this real love place

  30. HARWINDER 'CHANUWALA' says:
    December 27, 2011 at 8:53 am

    ਸੋਹਣਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ…….ਆਪਣਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ….ਸਾਝਾਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ……!

  31. jafar ali galib says:
    January 26, 2012 at 1:33 am

    thnx sir upload this pics…mera jiunda rahe punjab mera vasda rahe punjab…india da or pakistan dova da punjab

  32. Zahid says:
    February 18, 2012 at 2:19 am

    I visited their grave site, the name plate says it all “Ashiq-e-Sadiq”

  33. rajeshwar says:
    February 22, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    Thanks for uploading the above pics.

  34. rajeshwar says:
    February 22, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    Thanks for uploading above pics.

  35. pawan says:
    March 11, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    really touching sir……..my eyes got moist

  36. Madan Kapoor says:
    May 3, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    Pics are as beautiful as the Heer-Ranjha folklore itself- mesmerising, captivating and enchanting. Thanks for uploading such lovely photographs. Kush Raho. Rabji thuvaddi sarian muradein puri kare.

  37. prince says:
    May 10, 2012 at 3:59 am

    awsm work………….really……….