Partition Museum, Amritsar | Timings, Entry Fee, Exhibits

Partition Museum , Amritsar Overview

The Partition Museum in Amritsar is a museum housing a collection of stories, memoirs, art and artefacts that hold the memory of the time before, during and after the partition of British India. Located at the Town Hall in Amritsar and developed by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TAACHT), the museum is a part of the newly inaugurated Heritage Street at Amritsar, which begins from the Golden Temple and ends at the Town Hall.

The exhibits at the Partition Museum include newspaper clippings, photographs as well as personal items that were donated by people who had witnessed and lived during the Partition. TAACHT aims to establish the Partition Museum as a world-class physical museum dedicated to the memories of the partition of the sub-continent in 1947. The museum is devoted primarily to the victims & survivors, and their lasting legacy.

Must Know Before You Visit Partition Museum

Note : Photography is strictly prohibited inside the premises.

Partition Museum Highlights

1. Gallery Displays

Various galleries within the museum focus on different aspects of the Partition, such as the migration, resettlement, and the human cost, providing a comprehensive overview of this tumultuous period.

2. Peace Gallery

There is a dedicated Peace Gallery that emphasizes the importance of fostering unity and harmony among communities, transcending the painful legacy of the Partition.

3. Artifacts and Memorabilia

Exhibits include a range of artifacts, photographs, and personal belongings from the time of the Partition, providing a tangible connection to the historical events.

4. Interactive Exhibits

The museum employs modern technology to create interactive exhibits, allowing visitors to engage with the history and gain a comprehensive understanding of the Partition's impact.

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History of Partition Museum

The Partition Museum was inaugurated on October 24 in 2016 by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Badal. A curtain raiser exhibition also took place at the time of the inauguration. The museum was then visited by the Honourable Finance Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, along with the Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, on November 1, 2016, which is also Punjab Day. He was accompanied by Union Ministers, including Ms Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

The organisation that worked hard to set up the Partition Museum, TAACHT, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation that works purely through donations and the support of volunteers and well-wishers. The second and final phase of the Partition Museum finally opened on 17 August in 2017.

What to See at the Partition Museum

Objects and artefacts found in the museum date back to 1947, and also include articles and documents that have been contributed by people. Rare and valuable objects found here include an antique pocket watch that formerly belonged to an innocent person who was killed in mob violence in Pakistan, fabrics that were woven by the craftsmen of that time, a traditional rope cot that was carried by a refugee across the border, many old black-and-white family snapshots and many others.

Perhaps the most famous and liked spot in the entire museum is the Gallery of Hope. Visitors are encouraged to write messages of love and peace on paper that is shaped like a leaf, and then hang them on a barbed-wire tree. The idea of the founders of this tree is to let people take part in the 'greening of the tree' and to promote love and peace between the two nations.

Few sections in the museum are exclusively dedicated to some specific families who were affected during the partition as well as famous people who migrated to the Indian side during partition. These prominent people include Milkha Singh, Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, the owner of MDH masala, Om Prakash Munjal, founder of Hero Cycles, etc. The museum also makes use of numerous different mediums to create an engaging experience for the visitors. These mediums include oral histories playing on videos, a soundscape in each gallery, letters that were written by refugees, government documents and other art installations.

Why should you visit the Partition Museum?

Even after 70 years of the partition, and the formation of India and Pakistan from the former British India; there is no monument, no destination and no venue that focuses primarily on this significant event and serves as a memory of those who survived this bloody incident. That this museum is a first-of-its-kind and serves this purpose is reason enough to visit the museum and experience it all for yourself.