History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Ram Tirth Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Amritsar – a holy city revered by both Hindus and Sikhs, is an epicentre of rich heritage and cultural values that India is proud of. It houses a number of religious places, which are historically significant, as they find mention in the epic Ramayana. Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal is a temple panorama complex, which serves as an important historical monument of the community of Valmikis. It is popularly known as the Ram Tirath due to its association with the Ramayana.
The Bhgwan Valmiki Sthal, located in the city dates back to the period of Ramayana as Great Sage Valmiki’s hermitage. The place is popular for its ancient tank and many temples around its vicinity. A hut marks the site where Mata Sita gave birth to twin sons - Luv and Kush. The complex till date has Rishi Valmiki’s hut, where the great sage used to live and the holy well with stairs where Mata Sita used to take her bath.
The site is also an important pilgrimage sites for the Bedis of Punjab, as their great folk of the community such as Guru Nanak Dev, the founder Prophet of Sikhism trace their descent from Kush and the Sodhi community who trace their descent from Luv. Famous folk of the community include Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Prophet of Sikhism.
Popular belief of Ram Tirth, Amritsar, Punjab
It is the place which is believed to be the hermitage of Sage Valmiki, who gave shelter to Mata Sita, when she was abandoned by her husband after a series of events following victory in Lanka. The religious place is also the birthplace of Luv and Kush, the twin sons of Lord Rama. Along with this, the great epic Ramayana, is also said to be written from here, by the sage himself. It is also believed that the fight between Lord Ram Chandra's forces and Luv and Kush also took place at the Ram Tirth, during the Ashwamedha Yagna.
The foundation stone of Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Asthan was laid down in 2016 and the project was designed by Department of Architecture from the University of Guru Nanak Dev. The historic site, which has mentions in the Ramayana as well as the Mahabharata, was renovated with a whooping budget of ₹200 Crores.
Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal is managed and maintained by the Valmiki Tirath Development Board.
Architecture of Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal
The Sthal is maintained as a protected historical site for Lord Rama’s believers. It houses the Sage’s hut, Mata Sita’s well in preserved states. It has an 8-foot-tall idol of Sage Valmiki which weighs 800-kg and is gold-plated. It is housed in the main section of the temple, which is considered as Valmiki Ashram and also serves as the major attraction of the place. The temple interiors are lavishly decorated as a royal residence for the Sage.
The exteriors have a typical Hindu shikhar style of architecture, with scriptures engraved beautifully on walls, pillars and corridors. The Main shrine is located inside a large pond, which is connected through bridges across the complex.
The complex has enormous entrance portals at the ends, a sacred pond, circumambulation with a bridge, a large devotee hall with capacity of around five thousand worshippers, a Sanskrit library acquainted with all kinds of literature available in Sanskrit along with a museum.
Festivals celebrated at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal
Valmiki Jayanti is the main festival of the religious place of worship. It is adorned with lavish decorations and a sequence of events that hosts a cultural extravaganza to the number of devotees who flock the temple.
A four day fair is observed in the religious place since times immemorial. It is held here starting on the full moon night in November and includes festivities with great religious fervour and spirit.
How to reach Bhagwan Valmiki Ashram Tirath Sthal, Ram Tirath, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Bhagwan Valmiki Ashram Tirath Sthal, Ram Tirath is the main attraction of Amritsar Punjab and located in heart of city. Thus it is easily accessible by public or private vehicle from Railway Station and Airport. Amritsar being one of the major pilgrimage and tourist center along with important district and city of Punjab, it is very well connected with all major cities of Punjab via road, rail and air network. Thousands of tourist across the world visits here throughout the year which makes Amritsar more convenient in terms of travel, accommodation and other services. Amritsar has major railway junction from where you can get train to almost all region of India. Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport is the located at just 11 km from Amritsar from where you can find flight to almost every region of world. Amritsar is located at 140 km from Ludhiyana, 226 km from Chandigarh, 300 km from Shimla, 450 km from Delhi, 276 km from Vaishnodevi, 82 km from Jalandhar, 235 km from Patiala and 189 km from Bhatinda.
