Saturday, October 25, 2008

Beautiful Heritage of SARAI AMANAT KHAN AMRITSAR


PHOTO 1: DELHI DARWAZA OF SARAI AMANAT KHAN, AMRITSAR
PHOTO 2 : LAHORI DARWAZA OF SARAI AMANAT KHAN, AMRITSAR
PHOTO 3 : JAIL CELL OF SARAI AMANAT KHAN, AMRITSAR
PHOTO 4 : MAGNIFICIENT CIRCULAR DOME OF SARAI AMANAT KHAN, AMRITSAR
PHOTO 5 : RARE AKBARI PILLAR NEAR SARAI AMANAT KHAN, AMRITSAR
PHOTOS BY RASHMI TALWAR

SARAI AMANAT KHAN , AMRITSAR

GATEWAYS OF OLD SARAI AMANAT KHAN , AMRITSAR
BY RASHMI TALWAR
AMRITSAR
"In exercise of power conferred by rule 32 of the ancient monuments archaeological sites and remains rules 1959 (of AMASR Act 1958) The central government has declared the area upto 100 meters from the protected limits and further beyond it upto 200 meters near or adjoining protected monuments to be prohibited and regulate area respectively for the purpose of mining and construction. No person can make any kind of construction/excavation/ mining operation within prohibited and regulated area without the written permission of the Director General, Archaeological survey of India, New Delhi. Whosoever unlawfully undertakes any mining operation or construction shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both. ………Archeological survey of India (Chandigarh) This blue warning board is written at the "SARAI AMANAT KHAN" MONUMENT PRESENT STATE OF THE MONUMENT However it was seen by this writer that the adjoining areas are being used as residences with new constructions. This was evident from the fact that while the monument and its adjoining areas are constructed with "NANAKSHAHI BRICKS" the new construction uses ordinary thick modern bricks . many of the adjoining portions are also being used as animal sheds and shelters. Also the restoration work undertaken hardly gels with the structure's construction . on many occasions movie production houses use the sarai in a historical backdrop . While the rooms in the arches are portrayed as jails without due permission from the ASI , they only connive with the local guardian of the monument and use the premises for photo shots . In the process many of the monument's structures are misued by using nails and others articles to launch lights and other paraphernalia used for filming . The beautiful 'SARAI' is situated in village Amanat Khan located 35 Kms South-East of Amritsar on Tarn Taran-Attari road. The Gateways and Sarai was built by 'AMANAT KHAN', the Mughal noble and calligrapher of the magnificent Taj Mahal. PROTECTED MONUMENT The warning reads on the Protected Monument reads: "This monument has been declared to be of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological sites and remains Act 1958 (24 of 1958). Whoever destroys, removes, injures, alters, defaces, imperils or misuses. This monument shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 3 months or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both". THE SARAI WAS BUILT ON A SERENE PORTION OF LAND It comprises of small cells around a big quadrangle with two imposing Gateways known as LAHOURI DARWAZA –which is white inlaid with fine glazed tile and Persian calligraphy and on the opposite side is the DELHI DARWAZA of red sandstone of RAJASTHAN and file filigree work can be seen in the upper balcony . Both DARWAZAS are placed in the center of eastern and western wings. A mosque, well and open space for horses and bullocks etc. were provided within the quadrangle. It has a "prayer Chamber" and is entered through arched opening. The roof is spectacularly made with Nanakshahi bricks in a grand circular rising upto the dome The spandrels of the arches are decorated with fine glazed tile work. The gateways, both similar in design, consist of two chambered central passage with rooms. The façade has two arched recesses, placed on either side of the central opening above which are Projecting balconies, executed in triviate style. The remaining portions are being decorated with arched recesses in low relief to the outer corners are added two octagonal towers crowned with Cupolas. The edges of the arches, the spandrels and two small panels are decorated with glazed tile-work. The colored designs show floral scrolls and GULDASTAS placed in between foliage. (Notification No. PN 19571 Dated 25.06.1928).

Friday, October 24, 2008

BSF traps One Bangladeshi

AMRITSAR OCTOBER 24, 2008 BSF traps One Bangladeshi RASHMI TALWAR TARN TARAN (AMRITSAR ) October 24, 2008--- BSF's 08 Battalion on Friday nabbed one Bangladeshi Nitin Bishna of village Janetta in Bangladesh while he was trying to cross over to Pakistan from the Khalra sector . BSF personnel Vipin Kumar nabbed the Bangladeshi at BoP (Border out Post) no 145 while he was attempting to cross the barbed wire. A case has been registered xxxx

Rs 98,000 in Indian fake currency seized from Indo- Pak border village

AMRITSAR OCTOBER 24, 2008 Rs 98,000 in Indian fake currency seized from Indo- Pak border village RASHMI TALWAR TARN TARAN (AMRITSAR ) October 24, 2008---- As much as 98,000 in fake Indian currency were seized from one Jatinder Singh of village Havellian Naushera Dhala on Indo Pak border, falling in the Tarn Taran district, on Friday. SP Special Narcotic Cell (TT) while talking to the press said that the SNC had set up a decoy and laid a trap for Jatinder son of Gurcharan Singh of the village. The deal between an SNC decoy and the smuggler was sealed at Rs 10,000 for fake currency of One lakh Rupees in Rs 500 denomination. When Jatinder came with fake currency he was nabbed by the sleuths of the SNC informed SP SNC Gurpeet Singh. a case has been registered against the accused. According to SNC Paramjit Singh is the mastermind behind this gang of Indo Pak smugglers. xxxx

DLH-CHD-AMRITSAR high speed train gets nod for pre-feasibility report from Lok Sabha

AMRITSAR OCTOBER 24, 2008 Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar high speed train gets nod for pre-feasibility report from Lok Sabha RASHMI TALWAR AMRITSAR October 24, 2008--------- Even as the issue Mumbai to Ludhiana freight corridor's extension to Amritsar is held in abeyance the Ministry of Railways has decided to conduct pre-feasibility studies for construction of high speed passenger corridors equipped with state of the art, signaling and train control system for Delhi – Chandigarh – Amritsar corridor . along with this studies would also be conducted for three other "high speed rail " corridors including ' Pune – Mumbai – Ahmedabad'; ' Hyderabad – Dornakal – Vijayawada – Chennai' and 'Chennai – Bangalore – Coimbatore – Ernakulam' . The proposed section will be having dedicated tracks solely for running trains at speed of 300 to 350 kilometers per hour. These trains will have state of art technology, traveling comfort and on board services. The Rail ministry said presently, technology for such trains is not available with Indian Railways. Detailed requirement of technology will be assessed during the course of pre-feasibility study. Till now, global tenders for engaging a consultant for Delhi– Chandigarh – Amritsar and Pune–Ahmedabad have been invited by Ministry of Railways. Minister of State for Railways Dr. R. Velu informed in a written reply in Lok Sabha . xxxx