Peep into past: City museums offer immersive experience
Amritsar, an important seat of Sikh religion and culture, has imprints of tangible and intangible history spread across its length and breadth.
Archives of the past have been housed and displayed in several museums located in the city, giving enough reasons to immerse in the fascinating history of Amritsar.
Partition Museum
The Partition Museum is the first memorial to the Partition of the subcontinent. Galleries comprise oral history accounts, biographies, photographs, music and audio, besides contemporary artwork. Also on display are unique exhibits such as a jail cell, train platform, riot-hit house, metal saw, refugee tent and a tree of hope (paper leaves on barbed wire, a participatory installation). Open all days from 10 am to 5 pm.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama at Ram Bagh is an aesthetically designed tall cylindrical building depicting the visual documentation of the Maharaja’s life and times. Built at a cost of Rs 5 crore by the National Council of Science Museums, it depicts vibrant life of the Maharaja through eight smaller dioramas in halls on the ground floor. The main attraction is a gigantic 12 metre tall and 100 metre long painting depicting six major battles spread in a span of over 40 years of the Maharaja. Open all days, except Monday, from 10 am to 5pm.
Summer Palace, Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh Palace, popularly known as the Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, is over 190-year-old heritage building that has stood the test of time. It houses multiple art and manuscript galleries, a weapon gallery, statues of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Maharani Jind Kaur, Hari Singh Nalwa and Sham Singh Attari. The Summer Palace was the housing quarters of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his family. In evening, a light and sound show is organised here. Open from 9 am to 5.30 pm.
Bhai Veer Singh Niwas Asthaan
A writer, a theologist, a scholar, a nature lover and whatnot. Bhai Veer Singh was one of the most versatile personalities who left his indelible impression on Amritsar’s socio-political map. Bhai Vir Singh Niwas Sthaan, a 4-acre property situated at Lawrence Road, has been converted into a museum-cum-library. It also has an expansive flower and fruit garden that has over 100-year-old heritage trees and is home to native birds.
Turban Musuem and Toshkahana
The historic military fort situated in the heart of Amritsar was also regarded as the heart of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s kingdom. The Gobindgarh Fort is among the most popular heritage forts in Punjab and has two museums inside.
In Turban museum, one can witness various styles of turbans of Punjab, while the traditional Sikh weaponry is at display at Toshkhana. Open all days, except Monday, 10 am to 5pm.
Nanak Singh Museum
Nanak Singh Centre and Museum on the third floor of Bhai Gurdas Library, GNDU, is a dedicated space reflecting the life and works of the eminent Punjabi novelist. The centre has on display the first editions of Nanak Singh’s rare books, manuscripts, complete literature, honours received by him, his personal belongings, original illustrations by painter Sobha Singh as book covers.
Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum
Situated on the Amritsar-Attari GT Road at Naraingarh, the Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum has eight galleries, depicting the state’s history and its contribution to the World War-I and World War-II. Also on display are the Battle of Saragarhi and Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Opened in 2016, it features the history of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru, with the introduction of “martialisation” of the Sikhs. Open all days, except Monday, 10 am to 9 pm.
Sikh History Museum
The Sikh Research Centre established at the Khalsa College has probably the largest collection of exhibits on Sikh history and heritage. Set up in 1930, the Sikh research centre was established as a seat of excellence by Sikh historian Dr Ganda Singh who headed this department from 1930 to 1947. The five galleries here house thousands of artefacts, books, manuscripts, paintings on Sikh religion, Sikh philosophy, culture and politics. Some of these have been brought from museums in Britain and Lahore.
