HISTORY may have kept records of prominent invasions into Punjab but there were many which went unrecorded. From the great civilisation of Harappan and Mohenjadaro to the Mughal rulers who conquered the interior of Punjab, the region saw the rise and fall of a number of empires. Infiltration of foreign elements led to the evolution of glacis culture characterised by an assimilative spirit, resilient outlook, pugnacious temperament, independent tendency and somewhat liberal bent of mind.

The Qila Mubarak in Patiala needs retoration

Forts, palaces and havelis scattered all over Punjab, the land of five rivers, have been witness to the reign of different rulers. Unfortunately, either due to the passage of time or expansive attitude of man, these magnificent structures face extinction today.

The Bathinda fort, which has stood since the period of Raja Deb (3rd century), one of the ancestors of Vinaipal is, an endangered structure now. The first woman ruler (1236 AD) of India, Razia Sultan, was imprisoned in this fort. It was the capital of the kingdom of Jaipal (1004). Mahmud Ghazni captured the town and laid it waste by his loot, arson and plunder. Patiala ruler Maharaja Karam Singh (1813-1834) renamed it Gobindgarh in memory of the visit of Guru Gobind Singh’s to the fort. The fort is about 39 metres high and consists of 38 burjas.

Another example of a monument having deteriorated with time is that of Qila Mubarak in Patiala. When I visited the fort last year, the frescoes depicting Krishna and the 10 Sikh Gurus in Dewan-e-Khas were in a fine condition. But when I visited the fort this year in the month of January, its condition had worsened. Paintings based on Krishna’s life in the Rang Mahal and mirror work in the Sheesh Mahal had been damaged. Out of the nine rooms having beautiful paintings on the theme of Radha and Krishan, only two were intact. If restorative work is not taken up, these works — which are a unique part of Punjab’s rich heritage — will be lost for ever. The need of the hour is to bring awareness about these sites.

The Durbar Hall of Qila Mubarak has the silver chariot which was used by the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, to enter the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The hall is full of huge exquisite chandeliers from Belgium. These were collected by the Maharaja himself. The Sheesh Mahal of the Old Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala is another beautiful monument. It houses the rare medal gallery and the Rang Mahal, which need maintenance. The water tank over which a majestic bridge was erected is without water now.

The historical buildings in Patiala can generate income for the government if these are preserved and popularised as tourist attractions. The palace has the potential of being promoted as an international tourist destination as it is close to Delhi. There can be another ‘Golden Triangle’, covering Delhi, Patiala and Amritsar, which the government can develop. This triangle could offer rare glimpses of ‘relics’ associated with the Sikh Gurus. The focus should be on "Heritage Tourism." There should be a planned effort to help owners of havelis, palaces and forts to convert their buildings into heritage destinations. The Neemrana Fort on Jaipur highway is an excellent example of restoration of an old structure to its pristine glory.

Besides heritage tourism, religious tourism has a great potential in Punjab. The Golden Temple attracts a large number of devotees from all over the world. Sirhind, a great Sufi centre on the GT Road, can be a potential destination for Muslims from all over the world. A visit to Malerkotla, where there is a large Muslim population, can be a learning experience. Kapurthala has a beautiful Moorish mosque, besides beautiful palaces designed by French architects.

In Punjab, a number of fairs are held throughout the year — Divali at the Golden Temple, Hola Mohalla at Anandpur, Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib. Each of these is famous for its unique features and attract a number of domestic and international tourists. Some of these traditional fairs can be successfully marketed. The rural sports fair at Qila Raipur, the only of its kind, can be a novel experience for tourists. There are sites in Punjab where eco-tourism can be promoted. Hari Ke Pattan and Kanjhli wetlands near Kapurthala can be developed as major tourist destinations. Most of the people in Punjab would know about the Bharatpur bird sanctuary in Rajasthan but would not be aware that there are beautiful bird sanctuaries in their state.

For achieving these results, the communications and transport infrastructure in Punjab has to be upgraded. The tourism offices of the state have to be adequately equipped with information about destinations in Punjab. The condition of the Punjab tourism office in Delhi is such that the tourist will only get discouraged from visiting the state. The funds from the tourism industry should be diverted for the upkeep of the historical monuments and invested in the improvement of the infrastructure like roads and communications. A visit to Punjab should become an experience of a lifetime for those who choose to come to India for a holiday. Also as we know there are a number of Punjabis living in all major cities of India. They will be more than happy to come to Punjab during their holidays if all is well with the tourism Industry in Punjab.