Among the other monuments in Delhi, one of the most famous is the Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial. It holds a lot of religious and cultural importance and is also connected deeply to the roots of history. With time, the government has worked hard to convert this place into a sight for sore eyes. As a result, the number of tourists visiting this place every year has faced a significant rise.
Apart from the intriguing architecture, the light and sound show held at the place adds more beauty and value. Today, we will talk about one of the most visited monuments in Delhi- the Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial.
About Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial
The government of NCT of Delhi established Tegh Bahadur Memorial. Then Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Shiela Dikshit inaugurated the memorial in the year 2011.
The memorial is present on Singhu Boarder, GT (Karnal Road) (National Highway 1), which is a connecting road from Delhi to Amritsar.
It has a central structure and is 24 meters in height. The central structure is made in memory of the sixth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The visitor is amazed by the memorial because of its world-class illumination, design, and architecture.
The Tegh Bahadur memorial has a central pylon in the middle, with ten monoliths that surround it (five on each side) which represent the ten Sikh Gurus and their teachings. While the three arches have been made as a tribute to the three disciples of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
History of Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial
The Tegh Bahadur memorial is constructed on the Singhu border by the joint hands of the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took the initiative to build it, and later, then Chief Minister Smt. Shiela Dikshit inaugurated it in June 2011. The agenda of building the memorial was to give tribute to the Sikh community for their huge sacrifices and great contributions.
Today, this memorial is known to be North India’s largest installation artwork and has contributed to some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.
The architecture of Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial
The beauty of the Tegh Bahadur memorial is the most attractive thing which makes the visitors stop and see. It is constructed in a unique and modern way in a wide area of approximately 11 acres. With that, each pillar has different messages. The messages are more of the teachings of the ten Gurus of Sikh.
The central obelisk, which is 24 meters in height, is made to depict the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and with that, the three arches represent his loyal disciples. The constructors built the other ten monoliths in memory of all the ten Sikh Gurus. The Monoliths contains the teaching or the beliefs of the ten Sikh Gurus:
- Meditating God’s name
- Earing righteously
- Sharing with others
- Worshiping true God
- Respecting Khalsa’s decisions
- Obeying God’s will and equality of women
The structure is a great piece of work, with a huge garden area and an open sky maintaining peace all around. It is a perfect place to remember the ten Sikh Gurus and meditate on their name.
Sound Show at Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial
The builders of the Tegh Bahadur memorial did a great job and came up with a unique concept for the light and sound show. This show adds stars to the appearance of the memorial. The theme which has been decided is Panchtatva, meaning the five elements of the universe, Sky, Air, Earth, Water, and Fire. These elements describe well the character of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
There are different artists behind the music which plays at the show. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan composed it, and Daler Mehndi sang the first song, while Om Puri and Kabir Bedi were the two artists whose melodious voices were used for the voiceover.
The memorial hosts the show for only 25 minutes in English, Hindi, and Punjabi languages every day. The timings of the show are between 7:30 AM and 9:40 PM.
Facilities Provided to Visitors
The memorial provides great facilities to its visitors. These are the following:
- The green lawns for a picnic– The beautiful lawn full of greenery and colorful flowers is the best place for a picnic and relaxing mind.
- Conference Room– The conference room situated within the memorial has the capacity to accommodate 100 people at a time.
- Cafeteria– The cafeteria is placed within the memorial for people to enjoy the meals while they are visiting the memorial.
- Venue for Birthday Parties– The area also contains a venue for birthday parties and can cater to a great number of people at a time,
- Religious Functions– On religious occasions, the members of the memorial organize functions, and people in huge numbers come and visit the Tegh Bahadur Memorial.
- Day outing for children– With a large park and so many things to see, children enjoy visiting the memorial frequently.
Memorial Entry & Timings
The memorial has different timings for visiting in different seasons. They are as follows:
- From March to October – Timings are between 10 AM to 6:00 PM
- From November to February – Timings are between 8:00 AM to 5:50 PM
The tickets for adults are Rs.10 and for children below the age of 12 years is Rs.5.
Final Remarks
People often visit this place for a cultural and historical retreat. Tourists witness the best sight on special occasions and events such as Gurupurab and Bandi Chhod Diwas etc. The parks and cafeteria in the place make it an opulent outing spot for the locals and tourists.
Every now and then, celebrity singers come to this place and hold live shows to entertain the public. The beauty of the monument at night, with breathtaking lighting combined with the sound show, makes the place a worth-visit spot.
Have you visited the Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial of Delhi yet? How was your experience? Share with us in the comments section!