Beautification work a threat to Gobindgarh Fort, says architect

Neeraj Bagga

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 5

A conservationist feared that the Gobindgarh Fort may lose its archaeological significance as beautification work is being carried out at the fort to develop it as a tourist site.

Gurmeet S Rai, conservation architect, said: “The ravelins are one of the most important characters that define features of the Gobindgarh Fort. These were introduced as military design interventions by General Allard, who was French General in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. These provided protection to the inner fortification against cannon fire and were designed by Vauban, a noted French military engineer.”

Rai added that during ongoing conservation of the ravelins and moat walls, which are protected under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964, several significant archaeological remains have been excavated.

She said these were the footprint of the original form of the ravelins, the superstructure of which had later been dismantled by the Britishers. “For instance, continuous walls of nanakshahi bricks in mud mortar are found in north ravelins. These are currently in the process of being restored. There is also a possibility that additional details may emerge in the course of implementation of the works in these areas. While significant remains are evident, careful excavations will reveal details of the western ravelins for conservation,” she added.

Sources said tents were expected to be installed in the ravelins for tourists. Senior officials of the Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board said utmost care will be taken that preserved sites do not lose their archaeological significance.

The Gobindgarh Fort has archaeological remains of the Franco-Sikh style military architecture. tribune photo