LUDHIANA: A great attraction to tourists and devotees
LUDHIANA – Located on the banks of the River Satluj, Ludhiana is one of those rare cities in India which holds a perfect contrast between the old cultural heritage and the enamoured present-day modernity. It is the largest city in the state of Punjab where the people have done a good job of retaining its old world charm along with keeping its spirituality intact. This city proves alluring by the display of its magnificent ancient buildings, the elegant Gurudwaras and the sacred shrines.
The city attracts tourists in great numbers in form of devotees of various religions and Gods. Gurudwara Charankanwal Sahib Machhiwara is one of the most prominent Gurudwaras for the Sikh community as it is believed that its constructed on the same spot where Guru Govind Singh rested while fighting against the massive Mughal force. A religious fair is held every year in the Gurudwara in the memory of Guru Govind Singh. Gurudwara Manji Sahid, also known as Alamgir Sahib, is another Gurudwara which believed to be the resident of their tenth guru for a short period of time. It is believed that it is the same place where he shot an arrow in the ground and a spring of water appeared, known as Tirsar. Another holy place for the Sikhs is the Rara Sahib Gurudwara which is visited by devotees when they feel the need of some peace and solace from their daily problems.
A magnificent temple of Lord Shiva, known as Shiva Sangliwala Temple, located in the Old Ludhiana is believed to be 400 years old and is visited by hindus in huge numbers during the time of Shivratri to offer the holy water of River Ganges to the idol of Lord Shiva.
Lodhi Fort, Rural Museum and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum are a few places one must visit to know in depth about the cultural and political history of the city. Lodhi Fort, built by the famous Muslim ruler, Sikander Lodhi around 500 years old as a military castle to stop intruders from entering the city. Albeit in ruins, it is visited by a lot of tourists who adore the Fort and its great architecture. Rural Museum, inaugurated by Khushwant Singh, the great writer, in the year 1974 depicts the rural life of the Punjabis who are the main residents of the city and showcase their culture in the form of household equipments used during the ancient time like coins, musical instruments, pottery, jewellery, handicrafts, etc. The Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum was constructed by the Punjab Government in the year 1999 in the memory of the war martyrs who fought different battles for our country. This museum has 12 different galleries covering various topics of history and army. Every evening, a light and sound show is conducted in the lawn outside the building, narrating the story of war heroes and their prominent roles in the war.
