Ramgarhia Bunga

Ramgarhia Bunga (Bunga means "mansion"), is a three-storeyed marvel of Sikh architecture located in the vicinity of Shri Darbar Sahib Amritsar. Ramgarhia bunga, a pre-Ranjit Singh structure built by Sikh warrior and Ramgarhia misl chief Jassa Singh Ramgarhia in 1755, is the only surviving example of Bunga architecture typology. It was constructed to fortifying the area to protect the holy complex from outside invasion.

Bunga structure

Ramgarhia Bunga consists of three flat-roofed ranges, each of two principal storeys, arranged round three sides of a courtyard and is constructed almost of small burnt bricks (Nanakshahi) set in lime and mud mortar.^[1] The colonnade and the triple arches are of red sandstone. The undersides of the vaults and all the walls were finished internally and externally with lime plaster and lime wash, much of it decorative with arches. Lower levels are approached by two flights of steps, one from outside and the other from within the courtyard.

History

During the reign of the Muslim Mughal Emperors, The Golden Temple was damaged many times, but each time it was rebuilt by the Sikhs. Sardars of the 12 Misls decided that some of the Khalsa leaders must be housed inside it for its protection against their enemies. Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia had conquered territory as far afield as Delhi, where he removed the slab from the throne on which the Mughal coronation ceremonies were held. He brought the slab to Amritsar and placed it in the Ramgarhia Bunga where it still.

Renovation

The original domes on the minarets were damaged and then removed in 1903 because of an earthquake. The minarets were again heavily damaged by Indian artillery fire during Operation Blue Star in 1984,^[2] ^[3]but later renovated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee^[4] and the Ramgarhia Society Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Federation.^[5] Later, some Babas of Kar Sewawale had done colossal damage to the heritage site by converting a portion into their abode.^[6]