Jallianwala Bagh Amritsar Entry Fee
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Jallianwala Bagh Amritsar Address: Golden Temple Rd | near Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, 143006, India
Jallianwala Bagh Amritsar Gallery Timings
| Gallery Timings | |
|---|---|
| Summers | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Winter | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm |
Situated near the Golden Temple, in the heart of old Amritsar town, is this infamous garden. It’s the witness to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 (or Jallianwala Bagh hatyakand, in Hindi).
Jallianwala Bagh is a 6.5-acre public garden which holds national importance. It stands as a memorial to all those who lost their lives during the open-fire by notorious General Dyer. Get in through the narrow, and the only entrance to the park and walk through the memorial monuments, gallery and the killer well to imagine what that day would have been like. Although parts of this park have been recreated, it’s still a place which takes you back in time.
The walls are spotted with bullet marks and holes telling you the story of the disaster that took place, back on 13th April 1919. The park has information plaques at places to help you know the historical importance of each spot there. The frightening Martyr’s Well too stands tall. It’s the same pit where people jumped in, to avoid the bullets of the British soldiers shooting like madmen.
Moreover, those soldiers blocked the narrow entrance to prevent people from escaping the unpleasant ceremony.
Jallianwala Bagh today is a site which honours those martyrs, the fallen victims. A red tower-like structure commemorates the incident. Stay until evening and you can see the monument illuminated. Also, scattered among the grassy lawns and flowery shrubs are sculpted bushes, in the shape of armed soldiers.
Apart from those shreds of evidence, Jallianwala Bagh houses Amar Jyoti – the flame which glows 24x7. There is also a small museum. You can get deeper into the massacre’s history with the evening light and sound show. It runs for an hour every day.
History of Jallianwala Bagh
Who built Jallianwala Bagh is still a mystery, but people believe it was once a garden house and private property of Bhai Himmat Singh’s family. However, when that inhumane incident took place, in 1919, Jallianwala Bagh was nothing but a mere piece of land.
The effects of World War I were surfacing in entire India. And apart from inflation and taxation, Punjab also suffered the loss of its boys, who were in the British army. Because of those reasons and many others, the British faced continuous conflicts and protests. As the situation was going out of control, the officials called for Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer. Next, he followed the order, which was to control the situation.
Effective immediately, he issued an order to ban public meetings and gatherings. However, people didn’t know about the notice and instead were preparing to celebrate Baisakhi, which was on that unfortunate day. And more than 10,000 people gathered in Jallianwala Bagh.
When the news reached the ears of General Dyer, he led his troops to the park and blocked the only exit. He then, ordered open fire. The unarmed gathering of innocent people, children, and women got caught in the mayhem, having no place to escape. And the slaughter continued for ten minutes or so. The frenzy stopped when the soldiers were out of bullets.
By that time, many people jumped into the nearby water-filled well too, for life. Unfortunately, 120 dead bodies were found in that well later. The British claimed that overall 379 people were killed, but going by the amount of ammunition Congress said that the General murdered 1500 people, at least. And what followed after this Jallianwala Bagh incident took place, were various movements for freedom and ultimately, the closure of British rule in India.
Image Gallery of Jallianwala Bagh Amritsar
Things to do at Jallianwala Bagh
Now that you know why Jallianwala Bagh is famous, here is a precise list of what you can do and see at Jallianwala Bagh.
1. A sculpture at the entrance: Just outside the entrance is a sculpture made up of white marble. Different faces are carved out, and the entire design forms like upward going smoke. At its base, names are written in gold, of “martyrs” who lost their lives in the massacre.
2. Udham Singh’s statue: Udham Singh assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, under whose watch the Amritsar massacre happened. And to honour Udham Singh’s act, people established the statue in the area outside Jallianwala Bagh.
3. The historical lane: It’s the narrow entrance to the park which is the only way in and out. It is the same path which General Dyer and his troops used. Walking through the lane is going to unsettle you. Try to imagine what if it’s blocked, just like that day.
4. Bullet marks: The sign of violence has been etched forever on a wall of red brick, towards the end of the park. It has 36 bullet marks highlighted by white paint.
5. The Martyr’s Well: It’s the well into which many jumped in an attempt to escape the ruthless firing; 120 bodies were retrieved after the bloodbath was over. To preserve the well, there is a temple like structure around it today. And the well itself is surrounded by wire mesh.
6. Flame of Liberty: It’s the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, built to commemorate sacrifices and honour the martyrs. It’s a towering red monument designed in the form of a flame. The President of India, Rajendra Prasad, inaugurated this Jallianwala Bagh monument in 1961.
7. Amar Jyoti: Amar Jyoti means eternal light. It’s a flame in that park which burns throughout the day and night, 24x7.
8. The Martyr’s Gallery and museum: It’s a small exhibition room which has photos, documentaries and artists’ rendition of the tragic event. You will find some preserved memorabilia too in the gallery, which were collected after the massacre.
9. Jallianwala Bagh garden: The flowery garden is popular as a picnic spot. However, throughout the park, those greens too display the violence, carved as soldiers. There also is the courtyard and a small pyramid to mark the location from where the soldiers fired the shots.
10. Light and Sound Show: In the evening, you can take seats for the light and sound show at Jallianwala Bagh. It’s an informative one-hour program narrated from Udham Singh’s perspective (voiceover by Amitabh Bacchan, the Bollywood actor). It starts every day at 7 PM in Summer and 5 PM during the Winters.
Best time to visit Jallianwala Bagh
Although you can visit the park all year round, the temperature around the Jallianwala Bagh location is at its extreme during the summer and winter months. So, the best time to tour Jallianwala Bagh is during October-November and February-March.
Time to explore Jallianwala Bagh
It shouldn’t take more than an hour to explore Jallianwala Bagh. But you can spend an hour or two in the garden too, away from the chaos and hustle-bustle of the city. Then, you can allocate another hour to the light and sound show in the evening.
Jallianwala Bagh Timings and Entry Fee
Being managed by the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust, the entry to the Jallianwala Bagh of Amritsar is free of charge. Whether you want to click numerous mobile selfies or record hours of videos through a camera, there’s no restriction.
Photography in the exhibition room – the Martyr’s Gallery, though, is prohibited.
Jallianwala Bagh opening hours are 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM but the timing can vary depending on the season, weather or holidays.
Places to visit near Jallianwala Bagh
Once you’re done visiting Jallianwala Bagh, here are some other places of interest nearby which you shouldn’t miss.
1. Golden Temple: The renowned Golden Temple, aka Harmandir Sahib, is the centre of Sikhism around the world. People from all religions, visit this gold-plated temple daily and the number averages around hundred thousand. Golden Temple also acts as one of the largest kitchens in the world providing free tasty langar to all. Jallianwala Bagh to Golden Temple distance is only 600 metre.
2. Akal Takht: Akal Takht – meaning the throne of Almighty – is the highest seat for justice. Any order from the one seated in the Akal Takht is mandatory for all Sikhs. It is situated within the Golden Temple complex.
3. Partition Museum: It is a public museum located in the town hall, 2 km away from Jallianwala Bagh. The partition of British India into India and Pakistan in 1947, has been one of the most shaking events in Indian history; the aftershocks of which are still felt. The museum has the stories and documents related to the partition and the riots that followed.
4. Punjab State War Heroes' Memorial & Museum: About 15 km from Jallianwala Bagh is this war memorial, which showcases the brave soldiers from the state of Punjab. The museum also has a light and sound show, taking you through the British era and the post-independence war zones.
5. Jama Masjid Khairuddin: Also known as the Khairuddin Mosque, this architectural beauty and centre of religious importance is 3 km away from Jallianwala Bagh. It has also played a significant role during the freedom struggle as a place of unity and war-cry.
6. Durgiana Temple: A few hundred metres ahead of the Khairuddin Mosque, Durgiana Temple is another place to visit near Jallianwala Bagh. This Hindu temple worships Goddess Durga, and the architecture is similar to that of the Golden Temple.
7. Gobindgarh Fort: Further one kilometre from Durgiana temple and 4 km away from Jallianwala Bagh stands the Gobindgarh Fort. Located inside the Lohgarh Darwaza, this historic fort was earlier occupied by the British army; and the Indian army afterwards. This 19th-century fort though is open to public now.
8. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum: The Ramgarh Palace, which used to be the summer residence of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is now a beautiful museum. It has the royal arms and armour, paintings, manuscripts and various other personal belongings of the King.
9. Khalsa College: The Khalsa College in Amritsar is a historic educational institute; it has been providing higher education since 1892. Situated on the highway to Wagah, the College also dons a beautiful architecture worth admiring.
10. Wagah Border: The ceremony at the India-Pakistan border is another event you shouldn’t miss when you visit Jallianwala Bagh. The colourful parade, every evening, is full of enthusiasm, dynamism and patriotism, which is followed by the lowering of flags by both nations. Also known as Wagah-Attari border, it’s a 45-minute drive away from Amritsar.
Those were some of the tourist spots you should visit when seeing Jallianwala Bagh. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to eat Amritsari Kulcha and Chhole. Poori-Aloo is another delightful treat you should try in Amritsar, preferably for breakfast.
Things to keep in mind while visiting Jallianwala Bagh
Well, I hope you have got a fair amount of information about Jallianwala Bagh opening and closing time, what to do there and what is the significance of Jallianwala Bagh. Now, here are a few things which you should keep in mind while you visit this park –
1. As Jallianwala Bagh and Golden Temple are close to each other, be mindful of what you wear. There aren’t any dress codes, but people might frown upon shorts and sleeveless dresses.
2. You won’t need the services of a guide. The engravings and other available documents are self-explanatory.
3. Apply mosquito repellent creams if you’re staying in the evening for the show.
4. There are no places to eat inside the Jallianwala Bagh complex. However, if you feel hungry, you will find plenty of street food stalls outside.
5. Beware of pickpockets.
How to reach Jallianwala Bagh?
Being in the heart of old Amritsar, Jallianwala Bagh is within walking distance of many other attractions and markets. Also, the bus stop of Amritsar as well as Amritsar railway junction are nearby. And here’s how you can reach Amritsar –
By Road: Amritsar is connected to all major cities through NH1. You can either take your car for a drive or get on a bus from nearby towns viz. Ambala, Patiala, Chandigarh and even Delhi. The bus stop is merely 2 km far from Jallianwala Bagh.
By Railway: The railway junction connects Amritsar to major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. The station is 4 km away and takes only 10 minutes by a cab to reach Jallianwala Bagh.
By Air: Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, which is 15 km away, connects Amritsar to cities like Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Amritsar also has international connectivity with Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries.
And once you reach Amritsar, you can use rental cars or public transportation. Cabs, tuk-tuks, rickshaws as well as buses are available to take you to Jallianwala Bagh.
Alternatively, you can book a private cab from top car rental companies in Amritsar and visit all the top sightseeing places of Amritsar in a hassle free manner.
Amritsar Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA offers Amritsar Tour Packages at pocket friendly prices. You can visit all the important landmarks of Amritsar in a relaxed manner with a private cab at your disposal. To know more about the various packages, please fill the Contact Us form.