Patiala Heritage Walk

Introduction:

Patiala, one of the major cities of Punjab, has a unique heritage and some fine traditions.

The historical sites within this city – both the popular and the lesser-known ones – continue to fascinate visitors.

The Patiala Heritage Walk aims to provide a glimpse into the city’s glorious past and preserve the city’s architectural heritage and serene beauty through cultural awareness.

Welcome to Patiala. Experience the grace and richness of Punjab’s traditions.

History

Patiala, an erstwhile princely state, capital of PEPSU and is currently a district headquarter, is situated in the Malwa region of Punjab. Malwa has the largest number of districts in the reorganized Punjab, and the antiquity of some of the cities goes back to the ancient and early medieval period. Patiala is relatively a young city, a few years more than two centuries old.

Famous for ‘peg’, ‘pagri’, ‘paranda’ (tasseled tag for braiding hair and ‘jutti’ (footwear) for the royalty and aristocracy, Patiala presents a beautiful bouquet  even to a casual visitor to the city. A brilliant spectrum of Rajput, Mughal and Punjabi cultures, a fine blend of modernity and tradition and a judicious synthesis of all that is beautiful in form and bold in spirit conjure up a vision called ‘Patiala’.

In the 18th century, the political vacuum created by the downfall of the Mughals was successfully filled up by the Sikh Misldars in Punjab by thwarting the designs of both the Marathas and the Afghans. One among these independent principalities of the Sikhs was that established by Baba Ala Singh at Patiala.

The early history of the founders of Patiala state is more of a myth than reality. Can we ray more of a myth.The rulers of the erstwhile states of Patiala, Nabha and Jind trace their ancestry to one Chaudhary Phul. Apparently the appellation of the dynasty ‘Phulkian’ is derived from their common founder. One of his sons, Chaudhary Ram Singh was baptised and blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. His son Ala Singh assumed the leadership in 1714 A.D. when Banda Bahadur was engaged in the fierce struggle against the Mughals. A man with vision and courage, Ala Singh carved out an independent principality from a petty Zamindari of 30 villages. Under his successors, it expanded into a big State, touching the Shivaliks in north, Rajasthan in the south and upper courses of the Jamuna and the Sutlej. While confronting the most trying and  challenging  circumstances in the middle eighteenth century, Baba Ala Singh, unlike many of his contemporaries, displayed tremendous courage and shrewdness in dealing with the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas, and successfully established and maintained a state which he had started building up bit by bit from its nucleus Barnala. In 1763 Baba Ala Singh laid the foundation of the Patiala fort known as Quila Mubarak, around which the present city of Patiala is built.

After the third Battle of Panipat in 1761 in which the Marathas were defeated, the writ of the Afghans prevailed throughout Punjab. It is at this stage that the rulers of Patiala began to acquire ensigns of royalty. Ahmad Shah Abdali bestowed upon Ala Singh a drum and banner. After the latter’s death, his grandson Amar Singh, succeeded and received the title of Raja-i-Rajgan. He was also allowed to strike coins, After forty years of ceaseless struggle with the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas, the borders of the Patiala state witnessed the blazing trail of Ranjit Singh in the north and that of the British in the east. Bestowed with the gift and instinct of survival, and of making right choice at the right time, the Raja of Patiala entered into a treaty with the British against Ranjit Singh in 1808, thus becoming a collaborator in the grand empire building process by the British in the sub-continent of India. The rulers of Patiala such as Karam Singh, Narinder Singh, Mahendra Singh, Rajinder Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Yadavindra Singh were treated with respect and dignity by the British.

It was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (1900-1930) who gave the Patiala state a prominent place on the political map of India and in the field of international sports. Most of the buildings with splendid architectural designs were constructed during his reign. His son Yadavindra Singh was among those Indian princes who, readily came forward to sign the Instrument of Accession, thus facilitating the process of national integration. In recognition of his services, he was appointed the Rajpramukh of the newly established state of PEPSU. Eulogizing the role of the Maharaja in fighting against the intrigues and manoeuvres of the unfriendly and hostile princes of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel the then Deputy Prime Minister and in charge of Home Affairs Ministry remarked : "1 must mention the notable contribution which His Highness, the Maharaja of Patiala, has made to the unity and integrity of India. He took the cause of the country at a time when there were few friends amongst the princely order and when serious attempts were being made to balkanize India. It was his patriotic lead that contributed in a large measure, to a change in the attitude of the princes to the problem of accession to the Indian Dominion".

• Heritage walk will starts from
Shahi Samadhan and ends at
Quila Mubarak.
10.00 a.m. everyday
• Summer Timing
(March to November) - 0800 hrs
• Winter Timing
(December to February) - 0900 hrs
Evening: 1800 hrs to 2000 hrs (Summer)
             1600 hrs to 1800 hrs (Winter)
• Heritage Walk contribution:
Rs. 25/- for Indian
Rs. 75/- for Non-Indian
• For further information:
Tourist Information Centre,
Old Commissioner Office Mall Road,
Patiala-147001.  TO-09872774777



Patiala Heritage Walk Leaflet Front, Back

Published by:
Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board
Archives Bhavan, Plot 3, Sector 38-A,
Chandigarh 160036
Tel.: 0172-2625950;
Fax: 0172-2625953;
Email: phtpb123@gmail.com
www.punjabtourism.gov.in

Concept: Debashish Nayak, Advisor PHTPB

Layout Design: Nilesh Dave, STATUS INC.


Patiala Heritage Walk Book

Printed by:

CITY HERITAGE COLLECTION

108, Anilkunj Centre, Near Shefali Shopping Centre,

Paldi Cross Road, Paldi, Ahmedabad - 380007, Gujarat, India

Phone:91-79-26579755/26579180

Amritsar Heritage Walk

INTRODUCTION:

The Heritage Walk is a guided tour deep inside the narrow lanes and bye - lanes of the 400-year old city of Amritsar. One gets to see Katras, Akharas, Bungas, Havelis and Hattis- the vocabulary of traditional town planning and architecture. The walk takes you back in time as you witness traditional trades and crafts being practiced in the same place and in the same manner, as has been done for centuries. It is, however, the famous intricately carved wooden facades that will take your breath away.

This walk is an opportunity to feel part of this beautiful, sacred, vibrant,

Guru Di Nagari.

Welcome to Raamadaaspur. Welcome to Amritsar.

History of Amritsar

Amritsar was founded by Sri Guru Raamdas, the fourth guru of the Sikhs in about 1574 A.D. Before the city was founded, the area was covered with thick forests and had several lakes. To start the city the Guru invited 52 traders from different sects belonging to nearby places like Patti and Kasur to settle here. These families started the first 32 shops in the city which still stand in the street called Batisi Hatta (32 shops) The Guru himself shifted to live among them in the city which came to be called Raamadaaspur and has been eulogised in the Guru Granth Sahib.

The construction of Amrit Sarovar from which the city gets its present name was also started by Sri Guru Raamadas. His successor, Sri Guru Arjan Dev, completed the project and located the Harmandir Sahib in its midst.  Later, when Guru Arjan Dev completed the writing of the Holy Granth Sahib (Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs), a copy of Guru Granth Sahib was ceremonially installed in Harmandir Sahib.  Baba Buddha Sahib was appointed the first Granthi.

After the last Guru Sri Gobind Singh Baba Banda Bahadur a Sikh from Nanded came to Punjab and inflicted several crushing defeats on the Imperial Mughal forces. This led to the rise of Sikh power and the formation of several “jathas” or bands called “Misls” (literally “equal”, also “an example”). 12 Misls of the Sikh confederacy controlled Punjab and from time to time attempted to expand their territory and resources. 4 of these misls, namely; the Ahluwalia Misl, Ramgarhia Misl, Kanhiya Misl and Bhangi Misl controlled Amritsar at various points in time. Each of them contributed to the City of Amritsar.

Before Maharaja Ranjit Singh, outer Amritsar was controlled by the Bhangi misl who built the Gobindgarh Fort. They were crushed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh early in his career. Part of Amritsar was controlled by the Kanhiya Misl with whom Maharaja Ranjit Singh formed a matrimonial alliance by marrying Jai Singh’s  infant granddaughter Mahtab Kaur when he was 6 years old himself. 

The Ahluwalia Misl controlled a large part of the city. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was its most prominent leader. He defeated the Afghan Ahmed Shah Abdali in the battle of Amritsar in 1765. He was at one time the richest and most powerful misaldar. The Misl built a Fort in the city and had full control, till Maharaja Ranjit Singh forced them to accept his leadership.

The Ramgarhia Misl controlled the rest of Amritsar and was one of the most powerful misls. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was the first to fortify Amritsar. He surrounded the place with a huge mud wall calling it Ram Navami or Fort of God. It was attacked by the imperial Mughal forces but it was rebuilt by Jassa Singh who renamed the place as Ramgarh from which his misl took its name; Raamgarhia. He was a ferocious military leader and even attacked the Red Fort in New Delhi and made away with 4 guns and the endowment slab on which the Mughals were crowned. He then placed the slab within the Golden Temple Complex. During the misl period barracks, bungas, forts and havelis were constructed as required, around the Golden Temple for use by the Sikh Army. 

Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought all the misls under his charge and took over full control of Amritsar by 1802 A.D. It was he who fortified the Gobindgarh Fort along modern lines. He also built the Ram Bagh palace and garden on Mughal lines and covered the Harmandir Sahib in gold and made it look like it does today. Maharaja Ranjit Singh also built a huge wall with 12 gates around the city of Amritsar. Only one gate The Raam Bagh Gate stands today.

The British took over Amritsar in 1840 A.D. The years under British rule saw the demolition of the outer walls of the city and rebuilding of gates, as well as the construction of the Town Hall from where they administered the city of Amritsar. The British also renamed the Ram Bagh garden as Company Bagh. The current building of the Railway Station, the Post Office and the Saragarhi Gurdwara Memorial were all erected during the British era.

The best example of Indo-British architecture however, is the Khalsa College, designed by the famous architect Ram Singh, a resident of Cheel Mandi, Amritsar. His works include the Darbar Hall of Queen Victoria at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the Darbar Halls of Mysore and Kapurthala, Chiefs’ College at Lahore and several other outstanding examples of Indo-British architecture. He used the exquisite Pinjara Woodwork and wooden carvings of Amritsar and made them famous all over the world.

The Heritage Walk showcases some exquisite woodwork and traditional architecture. The city is the cultural capital of Punjab today.

• Heritage Walk starts from

Town Hall at 8:00 a.m. and ends

at Entrance to - The Golden Temple

10:00 a.m. everyday

• Summer Timing

(March to November) - 0800hrs

• Winter Timing

(December to February) - 0900hrs

Evening: 1800 hrs to 2000 hrs (Summer)

        1600 hrs to 1800 hrs (Winter)

• Heritage Walk contribution: 

Rs. 25/- for Indian

Rs. 75/- for Foreigner

• For further information:

Tourist Information Centre,

Exit Gate of The Amritsar Railway Station,

Tel: 0183-402452

Amritsar Heritage Walk Poster

 Amritsar Heritage Walk Leaflet-Front, Back

Amritsar Heritage Walk Ticket-Front, Back

Published by:
Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board
Archives Bhawan, Plot 3, Sector 38-A, Chandigarh 160036
Tel.: 0172-2625950; Fax: 0172-2625953; Email: phtpb123@gmail.com
www.punjabtourism.gov.in
Concept: Debashish Nayak, Advisor PHTPB
Background Research: Surinder Kochhar
Text Editing: Geetika Kalha
Layout Design: Nilesh Dave, STATUS INC

Amritsar Heritage Walk Book

Printed By:

CITY HERITAGE COLLECTION

108, Anilkunj Centre, Near Shefali Shopping Centre,

Paldi Cross Road, Paldi, Ahmedabad - 380007, Gujarat, India

Phone:91-79-26579755/26579180