Conceptualised in 1998, the much awaited Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex ‘Virasat-e-Khalsa’ at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab would be inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal tomorrow. The museum is conceived as a repository of the rich heritage of the Khalsa, history and culture of Punjab — so as to inspire visitors with the vision of the gurus, emphasising the eternal message of the great gurus for the whole mankind. The first phase of the complex has taken 13 years and over Rs 300 crore to complete.
The grand museum made by the Punjab government to showcase the 500-year-old Sikh heritage has been designed by US-based internationally acclaimed architect and urban planner Moshe Safdie. While the interiors of the building has been done by by Delhi-based firm Designhabit. Also, the audiovisuals have been conceived by filmmaker Bobby Bedi. The museum provides an audio-visual experience unlike anything one has seen in Indian museums.
It is worth mentioning that the year 1999 marked the Tercentenary of the Birth of the Khalsa. To commemorate this event, the Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal laid forth the outlines of a magnificent edifice to be known as Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib. The Heritage Complex is inspired by the rich natural and architectural heritage of Sri Anandpur Sahib, while also drawing heavily from Sikh and regional architecture.
Contrary to the tradition of domes which crown the sacred Sikh sites, the roofs of the Museum are concave-shaped receptors facing the sky. Sheathed in stainless steel, they reflect the sun’s light towards the gurdwara and the Fort.
At the museum, not only the visitors may be impressed by just the majestic structure over the 65-acre complex designed by world famous Israeli architect Safdie Moshe but the multi-media galleries at the complex, which bring alive Sikh history and culture, exhibit a stroke of genius.Out of the total 25 galleries, 15 are ready to greet the visitors. The rest will be made in the second phase of construction at the complex.
The experience begins at ‘Panj Pani’ —The Boat Building of the complex houses the largest hand-painted mural in the world, depicting the past and the present of Punjab, as seen in its villages and towns and cities designed by Delhi-based firm Designhabit. Says Director and Chief Designer, Amardeep Behl, "It took us almost three and half years to complete the interiors which includes paintings, murals and around 400 artist were involved in it including designers."
For the remaining galleries, visitors will be guided by the auto-trigger audio guides, available in English, Hindi and Punjabi. ‘Auto-trigger’ implies that as you walk into any gallery and the audio guide plays content specific to the area. The voiceover has been rendered by actress Divya Dutta, Surjeet Pattar and Kabir Bedi respectively. The first five galleries depict the spiritual aspects of the Panth by making use of research material, stories and technology.
