Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum, Anandpur Sahib

The Virasat-e-Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib was begun in 1999 to commemorate the third centenary of the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh. Spread across a generous 6,500 sqm, the recently opened Virast-e-Khalsa museum tells a memorable story of Punjab and Sikhism, using hand-crafted artefacts and latest technology. Designed by acclaimed architect Moseh Safdie, this story-telling repository is the first of its scale in the world, and has been envisioned as the world’s largest cultural and historical Museum dedicated to a singly community. Conceived as two functionally integrated sets of buildings, the western complex, forming the gateway for the town provides pedestrian access to the Eastern complex over a 165-metre bridge. A series of reflecting pools create an expansive water body between the two complexes with arcaded walkways and gardens on either side. Public facilities and a cafeteria are located at the base of the bridge.

The Khalsa Heritage Complex now known as Virasat-e-Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib as an inspiring tribute to the heroic and poignant saga of the Sikhs and the Punjab. The vision it offers the world and itself, can only be a crafting of the finest sensibility and aesthetic that convey both the incisive stand taken on behalf of Truth by the Gurus of the Sikh faith and the grandeur of its history.

This complex designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie is a striking tribute to the proud history and heritage of Sikhism and Punjab. From a distance, the museum looks like a lotus flower with five petals. Replete with monumental arches, bridges, colonnaded walkways, tranquil pools and gardens, this complex sprawls over 100 acres. The galleries depict the evolution of the Sikh faith in an interactive way with sophisticated multimedia exhibits and artefacts, murals and galleries. As soon as you enter the complex, a stunning mural on a three-storeyhigh curved wall showcases the vibrancy of everyday life in Punjab, depicting street scenes, festivals and Punjab’s scenery. This is called Panj Pani. Another gallery depicts Punjab in the 15th century and explains the Sikh concept of one god through ‘Ik Onkar’. The next few galleries are about the Sikh gurus and the years after that. Textiles of the Punjab region, marble inlay sculptures, paper craft, leather puppets and other exhibits relay the rich craft traditions and the history of the state and its faith. Audio guides, recorded in the voices of celebrities Kabir Bedi, Divya Dutta and Surjit Patar, are available in three languages. The complex has a cafe, auditorium and an amphi theatre.