Punjab Government, in 2010, launched an ambitious project of setting up a heritage village in Amritsar to take people back to their roots. Nearly four years after, the distance to the rural environs has not decreased.
Aimed at showcasing the traditional Punjabi rustic life, its colourful culture and lip-smacking cuisine, the project was conceptualised over a decade back. The project’s work started in 2010, and it was announced that the same would be operational by the next year.As year after year gone by, the the State Government’s promise to make the ‘heritage village’ operative “by the next year” too went on to miss its deadlines after deadlines.Set up on the historic Grand Trunk (GT) Road in the area provided by Amritsar’s Guru Nanak Dev University, the heritage village is still “under construction”, which was to initially become operative by 2011.
Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the GNDU to set up this village in a bid to attract more and more tourist to the holy city of Amritsar which is known for the Golden Temple.Notable, more than one lakh visitors come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple on weekdays, not only from across India, but also across the world.The State Tourism department, realising the tourism potential of the State, and Amritsar in particular decided to create Punjab’s village-like environ in the outskirts of the holy city to give the tourists first-hand experience of the village life, its culture and handicrafts.
“Right from various artisans indulged in creating their crafts, villager sin their daily household chores, the heritage village would have all what any Punjab village has...the lanes of houses, a baraat ghar (community hall), daak ghar (post office), akhaara (wrestling ring), chaupal (community place), among other things,” a senior tourism official, who did not wish to be named, told The Pioneer.
Going back to the history and to bring people back to their roots, the Punjab Government has tried to bring alive Punjab of the 1950s.“Tourists would see live how carpenters make those intricate carvings on the tables, how a paranda — famous hair accessory in Punjab — is weaved beautifully, how a potter is delicately giving shape to his earthenware. A mini mela (village fair) would also be in progress on side, where artists would be performing giddha or bhangra. At the same time, the delicious Punjabi cuisine would be prepared which the tourists can savour,” added the official.
“Punjab’s villages have an ancient tradition. It has a “khera”, which is like a first house dedicated to God with no idol inside, and a “Gugga Marri”, which is a snake shrine. These have importance of their own in the villages and also to the villagers, and these shrines used to be built first before the setting up of a new village. So we have kept the tradition here too,” he added.
Right from sarson da saag and makki di roti, to gur da halwa preparing in the rural kitches, people can also enjoy the tonga ride, besides the peengh, while others can enjoy kabaddi, gulli-danda etc in a separate playground.Punjab’s famous artefacts including Punjabi jutties, parandis, phulkaris, cay toys, durries, besides musical instruments, agricultural implements and shawls (lohis) among many such other things would also be prepared there by craftsmen, and people can also buy these.
Considering the fact that people have all appreciation for Punjabi culture and village life, the Tourism board is banking on tapping the tourists flocking the holy city for staying at least three nights in Amritsar.“This is not a lived-in village, but arrangements have been made for those who want to stay here. Nearly 20 rooms are being constructed for staying purpose,” said the official.
He said: “The location of the village is another added point for this heritage village as most of the tourists visiting Amritsar is for Golden Temple and Attari-Wagah border, and this lies between them. People can stay here for some time or spend a night here while going to witness the retreat ceremony at border or visiting golden temple,” said the official.At the same time, he added that the village is almost ready and “we are in the process of giving final touches to the minute specifications as we don’t want to start this just like that with so many work still going on…we want to make it perfectly complete before opening its door for the tourists”.