| ABOUT
THE COMPLEX |
| Introduction |
In
1499, Guru Nanak Dev founded a unique religious faith rooted
in the core values of universalism, liberalism, humanism
and pluralism. The nine Gurus after him consolidated his
teachings, further articulating the faith, thereby establishing
Sikhism as a way of life.
Two hundred years later at Anandpur Sahib, on the occasion
of Baisakhi, the Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh formally
instituted the Khalsa Panth of saint-soldiers, an egalitarian
and distinctive social order, committed to peace, equality
and justice for all. Today, on the site of this epoch-making
event stands the majestic Gurdwara Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib.
April 1999 marked the Tercentenary year of the Birth of
the Khalsa, an event celebrated all over the world. To commemorate
this event, the Government of Punjab envisioned the Khalsa
Heritage Complex at Anandpur Sahib as an inspiring tribute
to the heroic and poignant saga of the Sikhs and the Punjab. |
| Khalsa Heritage Complex |
Being
built on a 100-acre site, the Complex has presently been
conceived as two functionally integrated sets of buildings.
The Western complex forms the gateway for the town. It houses
functions that respond directly to the needs of the people
— changing exhibit galleries; a two-level research
and reference library centred around a great reading room
open to vistas of water gardens to house rare archival materials,
books, journals as well as audio visual resources; and a
400-seat auditorium to host seminars and cultural events. |
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|
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A
165-metre bridge from the Western complex provides pedestrian
access to the Eastern complex, the Khalsa Heritage Museum,
that comprises permanent exhibit galleries on 500 years
of Sikh heritage along with museum facilities to rival any
world-class museum. A series of reflecting pools create
a seven-acre water body between the two complexes. Arcaded
walkways and gardens on either side gently cascade towards
the serene pools. Public facilities and a cafeteria are
located at the base of the bridge overlooking this vista.
The finest craftsmanship is being deployed to create a Complex
worthy of Sikh aspirations and traditions. In the future
new facilities may be added to make the Khalsa Heritage
Complex the world’s foremost, comprehensive Sikh heritage
centre |
|
| Architecture
& Exhibition Design Expertise |
Moshe Safdie, the internationally acclaimed Boston-based
architect has designed the Khalsa Heritage Complex. Ashok
Dhawan, an eminent architect, is his associate in India.
M/s Larsen & Toubro Ltd., India’s foremost construction
company, has been assigned the challenging
task of exhibit design for the Museum, "AB Design Habit"
. |
The Museum
Popularly known as the ‘Ajooba’, the Khalsa
Heritage Museum, the first of its scale in the world, is
a storytelling Museum covering 6500 square metres of fully
air-conditioned space. The story to be told within the Museum’s
monumental architectural spaces is deeply spiritual, passionate
and emotional. The exhibition design therefore strives to
convey this spirit by the creation of a variety of immersive
environments that transport visitors into a different time
and space, thereby enhancing their capacity to receive the
intended communication. A multi-layered communication strategy
ensures that visitor aspirations are met, in a language
and level of detail of their choice. The visitor to the Khalsa Heritage Museum will not only leave better informed
but will also be emotionally moved. Cutting edge communication
technologies juxtaposed with original artefacts have been
seamlessly integrated with the vernacular aesthetic to highlight
a robust, living culture.
The Museum caters to a wide audience — Sikhs from rural,
semi-urban and urban milieu; non-resident Sikhs; the devout
and the sceptic; other Punjabis and tourists; the
non-literate, the scholar, the aesthete; children, teenagers,
the aged. Each one would find something in this Museum that
interests, informs or touches them, irrespective of who they
are, from where they come and whatever may be their faiths. |
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The Museum as conceived by AB Design Habit with a state-of-the art
multi-sensorial experience based on the metaphor of centring —
the land of Punjab, the watan that sustains its people, draws
the non-resident Sikh homewards in pilgrimage. The show
locates its people in their innermost selves, in the home, in
the countryside, in the global work place, in their sacred
spaces, in an attitude of kirt, Naam and wand chhakhna.
Then the visitor is introduced to 15th Century Punjab, the
milieu in which Guru Nanak was born, leading up to the spirit
of his Revelation, encapsulated in a luminescent installation
evoking the concept of Ek Omkar, the space gently echoing to
the sound of the Mool Mantra.
The
Museum culminates within a serene space encouraging the
visitor to quietly reflect on their experiences. The same
luminescent installation seen earlier continues from above to
plunge into the depths, thereby conceptually connecting the
beginning to the end. This summation space resonates with the
message of universal good for humanity embodied in the last
lines of the Ardaas — “Nanak Naam chardi kala, tere bhane
sarbat da bhala”, reiterating the contemporary global
significance of the Gurus’ teachings.
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The
first level of the Museum galleries with their lofty sweeping
roofs is devoted to the lives and teachings of the Gurus. A
highlight are the galleries that describe significant events
leading to the Birth of the Khalsa, conceived as a visual
narrative and special effects show to dramatise the event.
Shadow play of larger than life imagery with battlefield
sounds captures Khalsa valour and the heart-rending saga of
the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas.
A
flower-like tensile structure in shimmering gold and silver
glows from within to embody the spirit of Guruship, manifest
in the Guru Granth Sahib & Guru Panth. The lower level
galleries chronicle Khalsa trials, tribulations and triumphs
from Banda Bahadur up to the immediate aftermath of Partition,
when Sikh dynamism transformed the Punjab with its élan,
energy and resilience. |
| Feasibility |
Khalsa
Heritage Complex has been conceived to project the history,
culture and Restage of Sikhs on an international scale.
Situated in the foothills of Shivalik range of Himalayas,
Anandpur Sahib is 80 kms by good motorable road from
Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab. The last stretch of 11kms
has been four-laned. There are two decorative entry gates on
the main road with a beautifully developed park to greet the
visitors to the town. By train, it is an overnight journey
from Delhi. The rail link from Chandigarh to Morinda is Completed to facilitate a train journey from Chandigarh to
Anandpur Sahib.
Khalsa
Heritage Complex has a great potential for tourists as the
town already attracts a large number of pilgrims, to Sikh
Gurdwaras and the temple of Sri Naina Devi besides a good
number of foreign tourists. An average of 5,000 pilgrims visit
various Gurudwaras at Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib on
weekdays and about 13,000 pilgrims visit during weekends and
holidays. Anandpur Sahib is halting place for climb to the
temple of Sri Naina Devi atop the range – which is shortly
going to have a ropeway trolley from Anandpur Sahib upto the
temple. At present, about 1,000 pilgrims visit Sri Naina Devi
daily. Anandpur Sahib is on way to Dera Vadbhag Singh and
legandry temple of Baba Deot Sidh. About 1000 visitors throng
to these two pilgrimage centres daily. The town is also
enroute to Dharamshala – the headquarters of Dalai Lama.
National Highway from Chandigarh to Kulu and Manali tapers off
from Kiratpur Sahib which is just 10 kms away. The place is
very close to world famous Bhakra Dam which is also visited by
people from all walks of life.
Traditionally known as the area for medicinal herbs, 320 herbs
have been identified around Anandpur Sahib. A Nature Reserve
Park of 289 acres has been set up for phased development.
Dedication and Meditation Centre is another major attraction
of the town. Besides, Dashmesh Academy provides lush grounds
for horse riding, tennis, football, hockey; ranges for archery
and shooting; and a multipurpose hall for Martial sports.
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| Present Status |
What may
be seen today on the site of the Khalsa Heritage Complex is
the bare structure of this vision — an edifice under
construction. Once complete this Museum will probably be the
world’s largest cultural and historical museum dedicated to a
single community. |
| Project Cost |
The
total construction cost of this project, including
exhibits, is estimated at Rs. 224 Crores (US $56.00 millions).
To date approximately Rs. 132.50 Crores (US $33.15 millions)
have been spent on the project. An additional amount
of Rs. 140 Crores (US $35 millions) will be required
initially as a corpus fund for operations and maintenance |
| Opening Date |
The Khalsa
Heritage Museum is scheduled for public opening by
April,2009 for Ist Phase to coincide with the 400th year of
the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden
Temple at Amrtisar and the 300th year of the martyrdom
of all the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh. |
