Virasat-e-Khalsa is conceived as a repository of the rich heritage of the Khalsa its history and culture of the Punjab so as to inspire visitors with the vision of the Gurus, emphasizing the eternal message of the great gurus for the whole mankind.
Towards the end of the fifteenth century, in the Punjab region of Northern India, Guru Nanak Dev founded a faith rooted in the core values of universalism, liberalism, and humanism. The nine Gurus who followed Him built upon and consolidated His teachings, thereby establishing Sikhism not only as a belief system but also as a way of life.
Two hundred years later, in 1699, on the occasion of Baisakhi, the Tenth Guru Gobind Singh formally founded the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib, establishing a social order committed to peace, equality and justice for all. Today, on the same site, stands the majestic Gurdwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib.
Virasat-e-Khalsa
"The museum was built considering that 4,000 people will visit it every day and the staff was employed accordingly. However, the number remains nearly double to it and many a times nearly 25,000 visitors visited the museum on a single day," Karamjit Singh Sra, chief executive officer, Anandpur Sahib Foundation, said.
He said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and ambassadors of many countries were among the dignitaries who had visited the museum and Prince Charles with his wife Camila Parker came here during its construction in 2006.
He said it was perhaps the only such museum in the world which displayed religious exhibits without asking the visitors to follow any religious norms while entering and that might be one of the reasons behind such a big footfall.
He said 14 more galleries would be constructed in the second phase for which Anandpur Sahib Foundation had allocated a budget of Rs 70 crore.
The museum was thrown open to public on November 27, 2011. It has not only become the main tourist attraction but also helped in boosting economy of the town. While the rents of shops in the area have increased manifold during the last couple of years, the annual business of banks has crossed over Rs 500 crore attracting various banks to open their branches in the town.
The income of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib has registered an annual increase of `15 crore since its opening and the shopkeepers and banks in town have seen a boom in their business. The annual rent of land auctioned by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to set up vends near Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib has increased to Rs 3.5 crore from Rs 75 lakh during the last three years
The year 1999 marked the Tercentenary of the Birth of the Khalsa. To commemorate this event, the Chief Minister of Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal laid forth the outlines of a magnificient edifice to be known as Virasat – e – Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib.
The Heritage Complex is inspired by the rich natural and architectural heritage of Sri Anandpur Sahib, while also drawing heavily from Sikh and regional architecture. Contrary to the tradition of domes which crown the sacred Sikh sites, the roofs of the Museum are concave-shaped receptors facing the sky. Sheathed in stainless steel, they reflect the sun’s light towards the Gurdwara and the Fort.
Virasat-e-Khalsa, a world class museum built in Anandpur Sahib to depict Punjab culture and history of Sikhism, has proved to be a boon for the town, which is otherwise considered to be a backward area.
Virasat-e-Khalsa is open all days (except Monday) from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM without any entry fee.