Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar
Amritsar, Punjab
Jallianwala Bagh is a garden and national memorial a few steps from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It remembers the people who were killed and wounded here on Baisakhi Day, 13 April 1919, when British troops fired on an unarmed crowd. The 7-acre site has a museum and gallery, a memorial and the well into which many people jumped, and a narrow passage by which the crowd had come in. It is a quiet and sobering place, and a key part of the story of India's freedom struggle.
What to see and do
- Walk through the narrow entrance passage and into the garden
- See the memorial flame and the wall that still has bullet marks
- See the well, and read the plaques that tell the story
- Visit the museum and gallery, with photographs and documents
Ideal for
- Visitors who want to understand India's freedom struggle
- Families with older children and students of history
- Anyone visiting the Golden Temple, as it is right next door
Good to know
- Entry is generally free, and no booking is required
- A source gives the memorial as open about 6:30 am to 7 pm in summer, and earlier in winter, but check locally
- The museum and galleries are reported open about 9 or 10 am to 5 pm, so check locally
- An evening light and sound show was reported at about 7 pm, but one source says it was suspended, so check whether it is running
- It is a place of remembrance, so be quiet and respectful
- Allow about 1 hour
Spiritual significance
Jallianwala Bagh is one of the most important memorials in India, and the massacre of 1919 was a turning point in the freedom movement. A visit here, beside the Golden Temple, shows both faith and sacrifice in Amritsar.
Why it matters
- A national memorial: to those killed on 13 April 1919
- A turning point: the massacre changed the freedom movement
- Close to the Golden Temple: an easy, short walk