Known for the heartrending massacre on 13th April 1919 that shook the entire history, Jallianwala Bagh is located in Amritsar near the famous Golden Temple. It surely ranks among the most poignant of India’s memorials and is a public garden that commemorates the massacre of powerful celebrators by the British troops. Thus the place is steeped utterly in a historical significance which is unparalleled and something that will remain etched in the memory of the entire nation even after so many years. This place is now a beautiful park which is managed by the Jallianwala Bagh National memorial trust.
History and Story Related to the Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 has surely tainted the pages of history by being one of the most gruesome and tragic incidents ever. On 13th April 1919, the British General O’ Dyer opened fire on a crowd attending a peaceful meeting held as a part of the freedom movement which took the lives of about 2,000 innocent beings, including women and children. It was in response to this that the greatest poet Rabindranath Tagore gave up his title of Knighthood which was bestowed upon him by the British. This horrific incident took the entire nation by storm giving rise to a lot of discontent and protest movements against British rule.
Jallianwala Bagh Amritsar is a memorial that was constructed after the independence to commemorate the innocents who lost their lives in this ghastly incident. Established by the Indian Government in 1951, it was Dr. Rajendra Prasad who inaugurated this memorial on 13th April 1961.
The architecture of Jallianwala Bagh
The Jallianwala Bagh is turned into a beautiful park today while it still bears the remnants of the tragic incident of the past. It spreads over 6.5 acres of land and several structures are there within the premises which reflect the atrocities that occurred in 1919. These wounds find a tangible existence in two very particular structures in the park. One of them is the wall towards the end of the park which still bears the bullet marks. These are the bullets that were hurled at blindly on the innocent people. Another is the well, situated near the entrance in which many people had jumped to save themselves from the bullets. Thus after the attack had subsided, thousands of dead bodies were retracted from the well that very well summed up the atrocities of the British rule in India. These structures are a living symbol of our struggle for India’s independence.
The garden also houses the Flame of Liberty memorial which comprises of a 30 feet high central pylon, standing in the middle of a shallow tank. This structure is made out of red sandstone and is made from 300 slabs with the Ashok Chakra etched on them. There’s also an inscription on all four sides of the pylon reading, “In memory of martyrs. 13 April 1919.”
The garden also has a semi-circular veranda which is a spot from where the soldiers had fired at the crowd. It also houses a Martyrs’ Gallery and a museum.
Nearby Attractions of Jallianwala Bagh
There are a lot of attractions in and around Jallianwala Bagh that will add more excitement and thrill to your entire trip. These are Akal Takhat (400 m), Golden Temple (600m), Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum (4.6 km), Gobind Garh Fort (4.2 km), Jama Masjid Khairuddin (2.9 km) and more.
How to Reach Jallianwala Bagh
Located at a distance of 1.3 kilometers from the Golden Temple, you can reach Jallianwala Bagh via the auto-rickshaw or car. Again, a taxi or bus is also available from all parts of Amritsar to reach here. The nearest airport is the Raja Sansi Airport which is located at a distance of 14 km and the city owns a railway station which is situated at a distance of 3 km from the Golden Temple. One can hire a taxi or cab from the respective places.
Best Time to Visit Jallianwala Bagh
This place is sprawling with the visitors throughout the year while the best time to visit Jallianwala Bagh is from October to March to avoid the unbearable summer heat. During the winter season, the region experiences the pleasant weather and the sightseeing tour become comfortable.
Jallianwala Bagh Timings:
Summers: 6 am-7pm
Winters: 7 am- 6 pm.
For Gallery,
Summers: 9 am-5 pm
Winters: 10 am-4 pm
Jallianwala Bagh Entry Fees: Nil
