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Gurfeteh recently been reading this book and certainly have changed some of my views on what happened in 84 basically the book says that it had more to do with politics. Many issues it claims were political but turned into religious because of the Akali Dal. the book is very harsh toward Sant Ji and Sikhs. Has anyone else read it and what do you think of it.

Do you know of any battles that took place in and around Amritsar (Sri Darbar Sahib) during the 18th century, specifically from 1708 onwards to 1799? If so can you provide dates, and info about the battles. I know that Baba Deep Singh Shaheed's Dal fought Jahan Khan in 1757 just outside Amritsar and ended at Sri Darbar Sahib. The SIkhs fought Abdalis army in 1762 again at Amritsar.

A British Vision Under British rule came a new vision for Amritsar. This new era featured an exertion of European cultural imperialism marked by the tragic demolition of the lost palace by British authorities and the construction of a large gothic style clock tower in its place to dominate over Darbar Sahib and the Amritsar skyline. Construction of the clock tower started in 1862 and work on the project would continue for over a decade until eventually completed in 1874 [1] at a cost of over Rs. 50,000. [2] Although a clock tower traditionally has a small base, it was decided that the lost palace and all other buildings in the area would be demolished during construction to create a large open courtyard around the new clock tower. The clock tower was designed by John Gordon, the Municipal Chief Engineer of Amritsar. [3] Unlike some other British buildings in their Indian empire where elements of eastern architecture were sometimes incorporated, the new clock tower was designed entirely in the traditional European gothic style with red bricks. [4] The Clock Tower at Amritsar now in course of erection, at an estimated cost of 23,000 rupees ; the style adopted in this building is the decorated Gothic. The ornamentation, though simple, is very effective, and the proportions are singularly graceful. It is proposed to place in it a clock with illuminated dials, and as it is situated on the highest ground in Amritsar, and is itself 145 feet in height, it will be a very prominent object in the city. Hand-book of the Manufactures & Arts of the Punjab, Volume II B.H. Baden Powell, Lahore, 1872 The clock tower was initially designed by the authorities as part of a master plan to be facing a Town Hal [5]. Although wisely deciding to relocate the Town Hall to another section of the city, work on the clock tower continued. The construction of the gothic clock tower and the demolition of the lost palace met with serious disapproval from the Sikhs [6], but the British ignored this and moved forward with their project. While Guru Arjan had Darbar Sahib built on the lowest elevation in the city as a mark of Sikh humility, at 145 feet the gothic clock tower completely dominated the sacred space of Darbar Sahib and the surrounding landscape of Amritsar. But there is one incongruity, one slightly jarring note, and that is the obtrusive brick clock-tower which dominates the enclosure at the entrance. Built in a style which might be termed Early New England Gothic, it must have reminded many an American wanderer of the fire-engine house in his native village, or the ambitious but inexpensive church-tower of sanded wood. Far from being intended as a gratuitous insult to the Sikhs, it was most probably a generous donation on the part of the European community, meant to serve as a perpetual object-lesson in architecture, and as a dignified protest against barbaric excess of ornament. From the Black Sea through Persia and India Edwin Lord Weeks, New York, 1896 Although there have been some suggestions that the clock tower was really built by the British as a church, photographic evidence indicates that it only had a weather vane at its pinnacle and not a cross. Also the interior chamber was a relatively small room of approximately 20ft by 20ft, not a very large or practical space for congregations or church services. Looking completely out of place at Darbar Sahib the clock tower was an eye sore and much hated by the Sikhs yet it would endure for over 70 years. Title #0 Photo 5 of 9 Clock Tower of Amritsar ca. January 24, 1906, Hannah P. Adams, gelatin silver print, SSB Collection An elevated view of the gothic clock tower photographed from the roof of Darbar Sahib. An important view as it allows us to see into the large courtyard where the lost palace once stood. The courtyard is not visible from ground level photographs of the clock tower due to the large wall separating it from the parkarma.

Thanks Neo for starting this zone. There is a Sikh photo zone, but I was thinking that this zone would be better, as it wold be looking at the buildings rather than the religious connections with them. Needless to say, they are all part of Panjabi history. Sarai's are much a thing of the past. They are rarely used as they were. Taking a wrong turn in Amritsar made me pass this, and I wanted to share it's beauty with you. Old architecture and buildings like this are becoming a thing of the past. D'oh! Can't upload pictures Neo. No option given to upload them at bottom of page.

Just out of interest did the Akali Nihangs try ousting the corrupt sanataani elements which had overtaken darbar sahib back in those days?