Published By: Nirtika Pandita

Have you been to these historical places in Punjab?

This cultural and spiritual land has a lot of hidden gems

The agricultural land and victorious men, Punjab is also a land with abundant history and culture. Having gone through various rulers and religions, Punjab is home to some of the best historical architectural marvels. Preserved over centuries, these structures and monuments have become the identity of the state and draw lakhs of visitors every year.

Golden Temple aka Sri Harmandir Sahib

One of the most sacred places for Sikhs, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, is a pilgrimage site. The construction of the temple began in 1577 AD by building the pious lake the AmritSarovar. Though the idea for the town was first coined by Baba Amar Das, after Baba Ram Das succeeded the throne the building of the temple came into being. However, it was only by 1588 AD that the construction really started to take place by Guru Arjan Dev. The temple since then has become a holy place for Sikhs as it houses the holy text of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which came to the temple in 1604 AD. The architecture of the temple is such that it is built on a level lower than the surrounding constructions symbolizing the defiance of ego and pride.

JallianwalaBagh

This historical site in Punjab has the bitter memories of a fateful night. In April 1919 in the history of Punjab, a dark chapter was etched when thousands of innocent people were killed by British commanding officer general Reginald Dyer. The officer launched fire without any warning, killing many. The incident took place in the JallianwalaBagh ground. And after independence, a memorial was made in JallianwalaBagh commemorating the sacrifice of innocent lives.

Quila Mubarak

Located in Bhatinda,Quila Mubarak is a 300-year-old building that has served as home to many rulers passing through the state as well as a prison for Rajia Sultana, the first female ruler of Delhi. The construction of the fort took place in the Kushana period by King Kanishka. The Qila Mubarak complex is spread over 10-acre comprising Ran Baas, the Darbar Hall, and QilaAndroon. The fort is built with two segments: the QuilaAndroon and Quila Mubarak. Initially, the Qila Mubarak was built as a Kachigarhi by SidhuJat ruler Baba Ala Singh- founder of the Patiala dynasty - in 1763. Later, the bricks were added to the construction. This served as a residential palace of the Royal family of Patiala.

The other historical places to visit in Punjab are Wagah Border, Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum, Khair-ud-Din Masjid, Gurudwara Mata Kaulan, Guru KeMahal, Sheesh Mahal, and Lodhi Fort to name a few.