Punjab • 4 monuments
One of the latest additions to India’s marvellous architectural wealth is the Golden Temple of Sripuram located near the village of Thirumalaikodi. Inaugurated in 2007, the temple is adorned with tonnes of pure gold foil embedded on copper base. Situated in a holy pond (containing water brought from all sacred rivers of India), the temple is accessible by walking on a 1.8 km. star-shaped path which represents Sri Chakra. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Narayani, a form of Goddess Mahalakshmi, and is headed by a self-styled godman Narayani Amma. The whole path leading to the temple has messages from the holy books Gita, Bible and Quran. The granite idol of the goddess, embellished with gold ornaments, is spellbinding and is believed to offer immense pleasure to the eyes. Spread over 100 acre, the whole complex is surrounded by the lush green beauty of small hills that add to the magnificence of the place. Though, there are no charges to visit and pray at the temple, the tourists facing time shortage can avail special passes (costing up to INR 250 per head) for the same. The temple glitter gold throughout the day and is definitely a wonder creation.
Gurudwara Ramsar Sahib was constructed in the year 1855 by Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Guru of the Sikh religion. It is believed that to make the surroundings more serene, Guru ji dug a small holy tank (sarovar) and named it Ramsar Sahib after the name of his father Guru Ramdas. This place is considered to be one of the most sacred places since it is believed that Guruji along with his scribe have spent one year at this place and shared the principles of Sikhism by compiling the Adi Granth. This granth, is commonly known as the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikh religion which embodies the scriptures and philosophy of this religion. In this complex, there is an eight storied building which is the printing press of the Guru Granth Sahib. A total of 40,000 volumes are printed here every year.
Described as the most unfortunate and shameful incident in the history of India’s struggle for freedom, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 is deeply etched in the memory of every Indian. On the occasion of Baisakhi, thousands of people performing peaceful celebrations at the bagh (garden) were mercilessly subjected to about 1,600 rounds of bullets by the British troops. While hundreds of the innocent people died in the firing, many jumped into the well present in the garden in an attempt to save their live. The Indian Government established a memorial at the garden in 1951 which is a must-visit site on any visit to Amritsar. One can still find walls with uncountable bullet marks as well as the aforementioned well. The memorial in the shape of a flame honours the martyrs of the incident. An eternal flame which burns day and night was also added later. Other highlights of the place include a gallery displaying portraits of brave Indian freedom struggle revolutionaries and leaders and a light and sound show held every evening.
Named after Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, and constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, better known as the Lion of Punjab, Gobindgarh Fort is the pride of the holy city of Amritsar. One of the most majestic structures of Punjab’s golden history, the fort came into existence in 1760 and was initially named as Bhangian da Qila. Annexed by the British in 1849 and handed over to the Indian Army in 1948, the fort was later handed over to the Punjab Government and has only recently been opened for tourism. A brick and lime structure with powerful ramparts and huge bastions, the fort boasts of two strong gates, the more popular one being the Nalwa Gate. The British made numerous additions to the fort, the most noteworthy ones being Hawa Mahal, Durbar Hall and Phansi Ghar (the execution place) where the revolutionaries of Indian freedom struggle were hanged. The local authorities are currently making great additions to the fort for attracting more number of tourists. A light and sound show and special lighting effects are expected soon.
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