HISTORY OF AMRITSAR

Sri Guru Ramdass Ji (4th Sikh Guru) founded Amritsar town in approximately 1574 A.D. Before the area of the Amritsar was surrounded by huge forest and lakes. to settle, Sri Guru Ramdass Ji invited 50- traders from different sectors belongings to nearby locations like Patti and Kasur and these traders began the 32 shops inside the town these 32 shops known as Batisi hatta that still located inside the city today.

The present name of the city derived from the Amrit Sarovar structure which was started by Sri Guru Ramdass Ji. Sri Guru Arjan Dev was his successor completed the task and placed the Harmandir Sahib in the midst of the city.

Later, at the same time as Guru Arjan Dev finished the writing of Holy Granth sahib, a replica of Guru Granth Sahib was ceremonially established in Harmandir Sahib and 1st Granthi had appointed become Baba Buddha Sahib.

later the last Guru Sri Guru Gobind Sing and Baba Banda Bahadur Sikh from Nanded came here and inflicted many crushing defeats on Mughal rulers. This caused the growth of Sikh power and therefore the rise of several “jathas or bands” known as Misls. later Punjab was controlled by 12 Misls and these Misls extent their territory. 4 Misls Namely; the Ahluwalia Misl, Ramgarhia Misl, Kanhiya Misl and Bhangi Misl was controlling Amritsar and Each misl were contributed to the city of Amritsar.

Bhangi Misls had built Gobindgarh Fort Before Maharaja Ranjit Singh came here. later, They were crushed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. at the same time, part of Amritsar was controlled by the Khanhiya Misl with whom Maharaja Ranjit Singh formed a matrimonial alliance by marrying Jai Singh little one granddaughter Mahtab Kaur.
the outer area of the city was controlled by The Ahluwalia Misl and the main leader was the Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. in 1765, he defeated the Ahmad Shah Abdali (Afgani) in the Amritsar battle. the Ahluwalia Misl became the richest and main misaldars.

later the rest of Amritsar city was controlled by The Ramgarhia Misl. the Amritsar was fortified by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and bounded the wall with huge mud that is known as Fort of God that was attacked by the Mughals however it was rebuilt, Jassa Singh who renamed the location Ramgarh. Havelis, Barracks, Bungas and Forts were built as needed across the Golden Temple to be utilized by the Sikh Army, while the Misl period.

later all Misls were controlled by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and in1802 all control of Amritsar took under his hand and fortified the Gobind Garh Fort, build Ram Bagh place, the gardens of Mughal lines and covered the Harmandir Sahib with Gold on the stylish lines. he also built a big wall with 12 gates across the city of Amritsar. most effective 1 gate “The Ram Bagh Gate” standstill today.

in 1840 A.D., the British took over Amritsar, and they destroy the outer wall of the Amritsar city, renamed the garden bagh into company bagh and made Town Hall for their administration. Additionally, they build the Railway station and post office and the Saragarhi Gurdwara Memorial.

However, Khalsa College is the best example of Indo-British architecture. same designed by famous architect Ram Singh, a resident of Cheel Mandi, Amritsar. the Amritsar city is the cultural capital of Punjab today.