Under British rule came a new vision for Amritsar. This new era featured an exertion of European cultural imperialism marked by the tragic demolition of the lost palace by British authorities and the construction of a large gothic style clock tower in its place to dominate over Darbar Sahib and the Amritsar skyline.
Construction of the clock tower started in 1862 and work on the project would continue for over a decade until eventually completed in 1874 at a heavy cost of over
Rs. 50,000. Although a clock tower traditionally has a small base, it was decided that the lost palace and all other buildings in the area would be demolished during construction to create a large open courtyard around the new clock tower.
Looking completely out of place at Darbar Sahib the clock tower was an eye sore and much hated by the Sikhs yet it would endure towering over the Amritsar complex for over 70 years.
From our private collection is a group of images of Durbar sahib, and the Gothic clock tower during British rule in the Punjab.
