Jallianwala Bagh
The Garden That Turned a Nation
Overview
Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden and national memorial in Amritsar, Punjab, marking the site of the massacre of 13 April 1919, when British troops under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer fired on an unarmed crowd gathered for Baisakhi. Hundreds were killed, British records cite 379 dead, Indian estimates run far higher, and the atrocity became a turning point in India's freedom struggle. The garden preserves bullet-marked walls and the Martyrs' Well; the central Flame of Liberty memorial was inaugurated in 1961. It sits steps from the Golden Temple. MyTripMyTravel pairs the two on a single reflective Amritsar morning.
Jallianwala Bagh is a quiet garden that carries an enormous weight. On Baisakhi day in 1919, a peaceful crowd was trapped inside its walls when troops opened fire on Dyer's order, and the killing hardened Indian opinion against colonial rule in a way little else had.
The garden preserves the evidence plainly: bullet holes in the surviving brickwork, the narrow lane the troops blocked, and the well into which people leapt to escape the gunfire. At its centre stands the red-stone Flame of Liberty, unveiled in 1961 as a national memorial.
MyTripMyTravel places it beside the Golden Temple, minutes away, so a single morning holds both the spiritual heart of Amritsar and the moment that helped ignite the freedom movement, visited with the context it deserves rather than as a quick stop.
At a glance
Jallianwala Bagh in brief
What to see
Highlights
Bullet-marked walls
Original brickwork preserving the bullet holes from the 1919 firing.
Martyrs' Well
The Shaheedi Well into which many jumped to escape the gunfire.
Flame of Liberty
The red-stone Amar Jyot memorial at the garden's centre, unveiled in 1961.
The narrow exit
The single constricted lane the troops blocked, which turned the enclosed garden into a trap.
Martyrs' Gallery
Displays and an evening light-and-sound show recounting the events.
Visitor information
Our tips
Pair it with the Golden Temple, the two are minutes apart and speak to each other.
Visit with an escort or guide who can recount the events accurately; the site rewards context.
Stay for the evening light-and-sound show if your schedule allows.
Treat it as a place of mourning, not a photo stop.
Good to know
Jallianwala Bagh, your questions
What happened at Jallianwala Bagh?
On 13 April 1919, British Indian Army troops under General Dyer fired on an unarmed crowd gathered for Baisakhi, killing hundreds; it became a catalyst for the independence movement.
How many people died?
Official British figures recorded 379 killed and over a thousand wounded; Indian estimates place the death toll considerably higher.
Can you still see bullet marks?
Yes. Bullet holes are preserved on the surviving walls, and the Martyrs' Well is marked and enclosed.
Is there an entry fee?
No, entry is free.
How long should I allow?
About 45 to 60 minutes, ideally alongside a Golden Temple visit the same morning.
More in Amritsar
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See Jallianwala Bagh, properly.
A private, chauffeured visit with a licensed expert guide, timed for the best light and the smallest crowds. We fold Jallianwala Bagh into a wider Amritsar and North India itinerary, built entirely around you.
- Skip the queue where possible, at the right hour
- Licensed local guide who brings the story to life
- Private car and chauffeur, door to door
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