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Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, more popularly known as ‘the Lion of Punjab’ was not only a
great son of Punjab but was also among the few leading figures of
the history of that period. The deeds of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will
remain as permanent marks in the annals of sikh history.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama
is a permanent visual documentation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and it
has been conceptualized and set up by National Council of Science
Museums, an autonomous organization of the Ministry of Culture,
Government of India. The sprawling 4.5 acres of land in the historic
Rambagh Heritage Garden at the heart of the holy city of Amritsar
has been made available for developing the panorama by the
Government of Punjab, whereas the entire cost of setting up of the
panorama has been borne by the Government of India. An aesthetically
designed tall cylindrical building surrounded with green garden near
Summer Palace of Maharaja in the Rambagh Heritage Garden is now a
landmark in the city of Amritsar.
The main attraction of
the panorama is a gigantic 12 meters tall and 100 meters long
panoramic painting depicting six major battle expeditions of the
Maharaja. The battle expeditions depicted in the painting are
supplemented by large circular foreground diorama displaying
numerous mannequins of prominent warriors, soldiers, animals,
weapons and so on. A specially designed creative illumination of the
large painting and the foreground diorama, supported by battle-field
sound effects at the background enhance the level of the experience
of the viewers.
The Maharaja’s Grand
Durbar at Lahore has been recreated in the panorama hall through a
large three-dimensional dioramic presentation where Maharaja is seen
with his chiefs, nobles and also the poor and destitute. The other
landmarks in the vibrant life span of the Maharaja have been
presented through eight smaller dioramas in the ground floor halls.
Several other important anecdotes associated with Maharaja, which
have immortalized him, are also presented in the panorama building
through murals, sketches and canvas paintings. The interactive touch
screen multimedia kiosks placed in the panorama provide detailed
information of the subject to the visitors.
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