Despite restoration, Ram Bagh fails to attract visitors, only 23,500 in a month

AMRITSAR: The recently restored old glory of Ram Bagh Gate and its museum has failed to attract tourists. In last one month, only a limited number of tourists had marked their presence at the historical site.

As per the records of the district tourism department, only 23,500 tourists have visited the heritage site from October 12 to November 14, which is meagre when compared to the number of tourists visiting the holy city in a month. On an average, three lakh tourists visit the city every month.

Despite free entry to the monument, the number of visitors has dwindled.

Ram Bagh Gate is located on the route from the Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s at the Ram Bagh Garden to Golden Temple.

The restoration of the 240year-old Ram Bagh Gate has been done under ‘Hriday’ (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) project of the National Institute of Urban Affairs of the Union ministry of urban development and the Amritsar municipal corporation (MC). After the restoration, the monument was inaugurated on October 12. Designed by wellknown conservation architect Gurmeet Rai, the ground-floor displays the story of Amritsar beamed on its walls in a museum, whereas a vintage printing press and a primary government school have also been restored on the first floor of the gate.

Caretaker of the museum, Prem Kumar, said, “As many as 5,000 tourists had visited the Ram Bagh Gate on the inauguration day. However, after ten days, the number of visitors declined to 1,500 per day and now, the number of visitors has dwindled to just 125 per day.” Between 10am to 1pm, there is hardly any visitor and it is usually after lunch that the visitors start coming, he said.

“Most of the tourists don’t prefer to visit the printing press here, though it is a part of our history. People are unaware about its importance. Most of the printing machines were brought from the United States of America, before the Partition,” superintendent of the printing press Baldev Singh said.

OFFICIALS SAY THE SITE LACKS PROMOTION; NUMBER OF VISITORS WILL INCREASE WITH BETTER MARKETING STRATEGIES

LACKS MARKETING AND PROMOTION

District tourist officer Gursharan Singh said, “Number of tourists who visit here is comparatively less from other heritage sites in the district as the restored glory lacks marketing. The numbers will definitely increase if more marketing and awareness is created about the place. We are planning new ways for its promotion.”

MC commissioner Sonali Giri said, “We are preparing promotion plans for all heritage sites in the city. Special attention will be given to promote Ram Bagh Gate and we plan to charge a nominal entry fee for its maintenance.”