Realsouravbiswas: refine layout per standard format and improved wording

2026-03-15T08:11:34Z

refine layout per standard format and improved wording

imported>Yobot: Fix REFPUNCT + other minor fixes

2021-01-14T15:24:40Z

Fix REFPUNCT + other minor fixes

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
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| footer = Twin towers of Ramgarhia Bunga, located behind the [[Golden Temple]] on opposite side of [[Akal Takht]]. Designed like a [[minaret]], they are an 18th-century Sikh watchtowers to detect and defend against Afghan Islamic army attacks.
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'''Ramgarhia Bunga''' or '''Burj''' is the three-storeyed red stone [[watchtower]]s complex located near southeastern edge of the [[Golden Temple]], [[Amritsar]].<ref name=pht1/> The two minaret-style Ramgarhia Bunga high towers are visible from the ''parikrama'' (circumambulation) walkway around the Harmandir Sahib Sarovar (water tank).<ref>{{cite book|author1=Pashaura Singh|author2=Louis E. Fenech|title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA435 |year=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-969930-8|page=435}}</ref> It is a pre-[[Ranjit Singh]] structure built by [[Sikh]] warrior and [[Ramgarhia]] [[misl]] chief [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] in late 18th-century,<ref>http://sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?id=2532&cat=14</ref><ref>http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/heritage/Amritsar/Amritsar.htm</ref> after the 1762 destruction and desecration of the Sikh holy temple and site by the Afghan Muslim forces led by Ahmed Shah Abdali.<ref name=pht1/> The Bunga watchtowers-related infrastructure was constructed to station sentinels to watch for any surprise attack, house soldiers to help fortify the area, and to protect the holy complex from desecration.<ref name=pht1>[http://punjabtourism.gov.in/Downloads/Brochures/Golden%20Temple%20Amritsar%20Darbar%20Sahib.pdf The Golden Temple], Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board, Government of Punjab, India</ref><ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p74"/>

The Ramgarhia Bunga houses the granite slab of ''[[Peacock Throne|Takht-e-Taus]]''<ref>https://www.punjabitribuneonline.com/2016/05/%e0%a8%9c%e0%a9%b1%e0%a8%b8%e0%a8%be-%e0%a8%b8%e0%a8%bf%e0%a9%b0%e0%a8%98-%e0%a8%b0%e0%a8%be%e0%a8%ae%e0%a8%97%e0%a9%9c%e0%a9%8d%e0%a8%b9%e0%a9%80%e0%a8%86-%e0%a8%a6%e0%a9%80-%e0%a8%85%e0%a8%a8/</ref> from the [[Red Fort]] on which, according to the [[oral tradition]], all the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal emperors]] were crowned in [[Delhi]]. This slab was seized by Sikhs from Delhi, during an attack against the Mughal armies, and brought back to [[Amritsar]] as a symbol that the Mughal Empire will end with the removal of their coronation stone.<ref name=pht1/>

==History==
[[Image:Darbar Sahib and Ramgarhia bunga.JPG|250px|thumb|right|Ramgarhia Bunga and [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] illuminated on [[Guru Nanak Dev]] [[Gurpurab]]]]
During the reign of the Muslim [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Emperors, The Golden Temple was damaged many times, but each time it was rebuilt by the [[Sikh]]s. Sardars of the 12 [[Sikh]] [[Misl]]s decided that some of the [[Khalsa]] leaders must be housed inside it for its protection against their enemies. According to Fenech and McLeod, during the 18th century, Sikh misl chiefs and rich communities built over 70 such ''Bungas'' of different shapes and forms around the Golden Temple to watch the area, house soldiers and defend the temple.<ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p74"/> Such ''Bungas'' were also built near major Sikh shrines elsewhere on the [[Indian subcontinent]] in the 18th-century.<ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p74"/> In the 19th century, these served defensive purposes, provided accommodation for Sikh pilgrims and some served as centers of learning.<ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p74">{{cite book|author1=Louis E. Fenech|author2=W. H. McLeod|title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA74|year=2014|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-3601-1|pages=74–75}}</ref> Most of the Bungas were demolished during and after the British colonial era, often to improve the facilities for growing number of pilgrims in the 20th-century. The Ramgarhia Bunga is single surviving example of the Bunga-related historic infrastructure in [[Amritsar]],<ref name=pht1/> along with [[Akal Takht]] which originally was built as the Akal Bunga on the other side of holy tank.<ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p74"/>

[[Ramgarhia]] [[misl]] chief [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] had conquered territory as far afield as [[Delhi]], where he removed the slab from the [[Peacock throne|Takht-e-Taus]] on which the Mughal coronation ceremonies were held. He brought the slab to [[Amritsar]] and placed it in the Ramgarhia Bunga where it still lies.

==Architecture==
[[Image:Templo dorado-Amritsar-India087.JPG|200px|thumb|Bunga Ramgarhia]]
Ramgarhia Bunga consists of three flat-roofed ranges, each of two principal storeys, arranged round three sides of a courtyard and is constructed almost of small burnt bricks ([[Nanakshahi]]) set in lime and mud mortar.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030301/punjab1.htm|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> The colonnade and the triple arches are of red sandstone. The undersides of the vaults and all the walls were finished internally and externally with lime plaster and lime wash, much of it decorative with arches. Lower levels are approached by two flights of steps, one from outside and the other from within the courtyard.

==Ramgarhia misl==
{{main|Ramgarhia Misl}}
Ramgarhia misl chief [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] was a brave Sikh leader. He had redesigned<ref>https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/architecture/ram-rauni</ref> a mud fortress ''Ram Rauni'' in 1748 about a mile from [[Golden Temple]] which was used to house and keep soldiers.<ref>{{cite book|author=Parm B Singh|title=Golden Temple|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mX_XAAAAMAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Punjabi University|isbn=978-81-7380-569-1|page=23}}</ref> The place was named so in honour of fourth [[Sikh Guru]] [[Guru Ram Das|Shri Guru Ram Das Ji]], who have founded the [[Amritsar]] city. The place was later known as ''Quila Ramgarh'' due to its fortification by [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]]. The [[Ramgarhia Misl]] derives its name from this place which literally means ''Custodians of the Castle of God''.<ref>https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060330/aplus.htm#1</ref> The Quila Ramgarh has already lost its very existence and its location is adjacent to Gurudwara Sri Ramsar Sahib and Guru Ramdas Khalsa Senior Secondary School on Ramsar Road, [[Amritsar]].

Ramgarhia bunga remains a symbol of the [[Ramgarhia]] Sikh community's identity, their historic sacrifices and contribution to defending the Golden Temple over the centuries.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Pashaura Singh|author2=Norman Gerald Barrier|title=Sikh Identity: Continuity and Change|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=DIN0AAAAMAAJ| year=1999|publisher=Manohar|isbn=978-81-7304-236-2|page=264}}</ref>

==Renovation==
The original domes on the [[minarets]] were damaged and then removed in 1903 because of an earthquake. The minarets were again heavily damaged by Indian artillery fire during [[Operation Blue Star]] in 1984,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99sep16/punjab.htm|title=tribuneindia... Punjab|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nn5IDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Dr.+Hemant+Kumar+Pandey+%26+Manish+Raj+Singh+%22|title=INDIA'S MAJOR MILITARY & RESCUE OPERATIONS|last1=Pandey|first1=Hemant Kumar|last2=Singh|first2=Manish Raj|publisher=Horizon Books ( A Division of Ignited Minds Edutech P Ltd)|year=2017|isbn=978-9386369390|pages=154}}</ref> but later renovated by the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sgpc.net/bunga.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010192312/http://sgpc.net/bunga.asp|url-status=dead|title=Conservsation of Ramgarhia Bunga|archive-date=10 October 2008}}</ref> and the [[Ramgarhia]] Society Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Federation.<ref name="auto"/><ref>https://www.bhaskar.com/punjab/amritsar/news/ramgarhia-bunga-to-be-rescued-for-6-years-073113-4564397.html</ref> Later, some Babas of Kar Sewawale had done colossal damage to the heritage site by converting a portion into their abode.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081118/punjab1.htm|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> There are also plans to convert basement of bunga to Sikh museum.<ref>https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/bunga-ramgarhia-to-be-converted-into-museum/</ref>

==See also==
* [[Golden Temple]]
* [[Jallianwala Bagh]]

==Photo gallery==
<gallery>
Image:New--Plan-of-Harmandar-rp.jpg|Location of bunga in Darbar sahib complex (no. 17)
Image:Golden Temple 1880.jpg|Golden Temple in year 1880
Image: Entrance to the Golden Temple, Amritsar in 1870.jpg|Bunga visible behind Golden Temple in 1870
Image: 1880 photograph of the Golden Temple, Darbar Sahib, sacred pool and nearby buildings, Amritsar.jpg|Golden temple view from Ramgarhia bunga
Image:Harmindir_Sahib,_Amritsar,_Punjab,_India.jpg|Darbar Sahib night view
Image: Historic stone slab of Mughal throne.jpg|Slab of Mughal throne placed in Bunga<ref>https://kunalkhurana.com/amritsar-2018/</ref>
Image: Amritsar golden temple2.jpg|Bunga as seen from main entrance of Golden Temple
Image:Amritsar golden temple.jpg
Image:I (21).JPG
Image:Harmandir Sahib 2.jpg
Image:BungaTowers.jpg
Image:Golden Temple 1.jpg
Image:Goldentemple (82).JPG
Image:Bunga Ramgarhia.png
Image:View of the Golden Temple from the main entry gate.jpg
Image:Across the Pool to the Golden Temple of Amritsar by Edwin Lord Weeks.jpg
Image:Weeks Edwin The Golden Temple Amritsar 1890.jpg
Image:Golden Temple 6 (155389985).jpeg
Image:LINE of Golden Tempal.jpg
Image:Golden Temple 1194.jpg
Image:Morning at the Golden Temple, Amritsar.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100206201529/http://www.vikramasentamritsar.com/amritsar.html Ramgarhia Bunga before 1984 and now renovated bunga]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQrl4I_jJRg A Documentary on Ramgarhia Bunga]

{{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Amritsar]]
[[Category:Sikh architecture]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Amritsar]]

Ramgarhia Bunga - Revision history

Realsouravbiswas: refine layout per standard format and improved wording

imported>Yobot: Fix REFPUNCT + other minor fixes