Local Buzz
Amritsar’s monuments and unique sites tell legendary stories of valour.
Ode to Heroes
On April 13, 1919, around 500 peaceful protestors were killed and over 1,000 injured by British soldiers at a public garden called 1 Jallianwala Bagh. Today, at the site of that massacre stands a memorial, a Martyr’s Gallery, with walls riddled with bullet holes and an eternal flame. Close by, the 2 Partition Museum ( partitionmuseum.org) is the first-of-its-kind in the world to showcase—through a collection of newspaper clippings, photographs, and oral records—the suffering of millions who were affected by the Partition of India. The
Khair-ud-Din Masjid is where the great call for war against the British was announced by scholar and religious leader Shah Attaullah Bukhari. The Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial and Museum by the Indian Army showcases the gallantry of the state’s soldiers, and houses the world’s largest sword memorial.
Historical Landmarks
Over 250 years old, the 3 Gobindgarh Fort is an imposing brick-and-lime structure that once housed Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s treasure, including the famed Koh-i-Noor diamond. Today, it features four museums and hosts a light-and-sound show after dusk. The former summer palace of the king, the 4 Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum ( punjabmuseums.gov. in) is located in the beautiful Ram Bagh Garden and displays arms, armours, paintings, coins, and manuscripts from his time. The historic Khalsa College ( khalsacollege.edu.in), founded in 1892 and considered the highest Sikh institute for education, is an architectural gem built in the Indo-Saracenic style on a 300-acre campus.
Cultural Nuggets
The original city of Amritsar, as established by Guru Ram Das and fortified by Maharaja Ranjit Singh with a wall and 12 gates, still stands today as the ‘walled city’. Connecting various historic sites and museums within it is the kilometre-long Heritage Walk, with lamp posts, statues, and fountains reminiscent of European promenades. Spread over 12 acres, Sadda Pind ( saddapind.co.in) is a living museum of a Punjabi village that offers a preview of the traditions, culture, and flavours of the state.