Martyrs Well — Attraction in Punjab

The Martyrs' Well, located at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, is a poignant and historic symbol commemorating one of the darkest and most tragic episodes in India's struggle for independence. It serves as a grim reminder of the horrific events that unfolded on April 13, 1919, during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, when British colonial troops under Brigadier General Reginald Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of Indian civilians.

Jallianwala Bagh was a public garden enclosed by high walls with only narrow entrances, located near the Golden Temple in Amritsar. On that day, thousands of people had assembled at the Bagh to celebrate the Sikh festival of Baisakhi and were also protesting non-violently against the repressive Rowlatt Act imposed by the British government, which allowed imprisonment without trial. Without any warning or order to disperse, General Dyer ordered his soldiers to fire indiscriminately into the crowd for about ten minutes, firing 1,650 rounds of ammunition.

As the gunfire rained down, many trapped inside the enclosed space tried to escape but found themselves blocked by soldiers at the narrow exits. In a desperate attempt to save their lives, several people jumped into the well inside the garden, which is now known as the Martyrs' Well. Tragically, many drowned or were injured in the fall. According to the memorial plaque, about 120 bodies were recovered from the well, making it a grim site of sacrifice and loss.

Today, the Martyrs' Well is preserved as a protected monument within the Jallianwala Bagh memorial complex. It stands surrounded by a beautifully maintained garden, offering visitors a solemn and reflective space to remember the victims. The well has been covered with a transparent barrier to preserve its sanctity, and informational plaques provide historical context about the massacre and the people who perished trying to escape the bullets.

The walls of the garden still bear the bullet marks inflicted during the shooting, and the narrow entrance through which General Dyer’s troops entered remains unchanged, helping visitors imagine the scene of panic and helplessness endured by the victims. The Jallianwala Bagh complex also includes a memorial designed by American architect Benjamin Polk, inaugurated in 1961, which honors the martyrs with the eternal flame called "Amar Jyoti" symbolizing their undying spirit.

The massacre had profound consequences, becoming a turning point in India’s independence movement. It galvanized the Indian population and leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, who called for a nationwide non-cooperation movement against British rule. The Martyrs' Well remains a testament to the sacrifices made by ordinary citizens for the freedom of India and stands as a symbol of courage, resistance, and the quest for justice.

Visitors to the Martyrs’ Well are often moved by the tragic yet heroic stories encapsulated by the site. It serves as an important reminder of the brutal realities of colonial oppression but also of the indomitable human spirit that refuses to yield. The well and the memorial ensure that the legacy of those who lost their lives in Jallianwala Bagh is preserved for future generations, fostering reflection on the cost of freedom and the importance of peaceful resistance.

In essence, the Martyrs' Well at Jallianwala Bagh is not only a historic landmark but also a powerful symbol of sacrifice and resilience in India's journey to...

It’s emotions that pour out of the martyr’s well at the Jallianwala Bagh — a remembrance of the British era massacre. “We won’t allow losing its identity with this intensive makeover,” say kins of those who lost their lives on Baisakhi 1919, as the government takes up renovation of the site.

Stories associated with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre are still fresh in ‘our’ minds — these were the emotional outbursts of a handful of local octogenarians who daily visit the 6.5-acre garden site, where on April 13, 1919, Colonel Reginald Edward Harry Dyer of the occupying British forces opened fire on a peaceful congregation on the occasion of the Punjabi New Year.

Located in the vicinity of Golden Temple complex the massacre ignited the first spark of the Indian freedom movement.

Gazing at the ongoing reconstruction through pale eyes, octogenarian Madan Lal Taneja said: “We have lost many of our near and dear ones in this well. They jumped into the well not for saving their lives but for country’s dignity.”

Taneja’s uncle fell into the well after a stampede as General Dyer’s armed soldiers marched in and opened fire on the peaceful congregation of men, women and children without any alarm and blocking the only exit.

Taneja, who spent his entire life in the holy city of Amritsar in Punjab, said the martyr’s well is a remembrance of that stark reality.

His friend Lala Amarnath, a regular visitor to the Jallianwala Bagh, said the brick-lined well should be restored in its original style and the structure should never be altered.

Over a century-old the well stands testimony to the brutal killings of innocent and reminds the younger generation of the supreme sacrifices made during the freedom movement.

This place is saturated with the blood of thousands of Indian patriots who were martyred for their non-violent struggle to free India from British domination.

The number of deaths due to the shooting, stampede and suffocation is still disputed.

British Prime Minister David Cameron paid respect at the Jallianwala Bagh on February 20, 2013.

Authorities say the renovation and restoration of the Jallianwala Bagh began under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India.

A must...

Visiting Jallianwala Bagh was not just a historical visit, it was an emotional awakening. As I walked through the narrow passage, I could feel the weight of what had happened here. One single exit. No way out. Hundreds of innocent lives trapped, and mercilessly gunned down under General Dyer’s cold-blooded orders.

When I reached the well that well, my heart broke. This wasn’t just stone and water. It was a sacred tomb. So many people, in desperation, leapt into its depths, trying to escape bullets. Mothers, children, elders… choosing to jump rather than be shot. I stood there frozen, and then I cried. Tears flowed for lives that never got justice, for voices that were never heard. The well holds their last breath. You can feel it.

I sat at the Amar Jyoti, in silence, offering my prayers. It felt like the very ground still echoed with their final screams and hopes.

The gallery and museum are beautifully preserved, telling stories not just of pain, but of resilience, unity, and the spirit of a people who rose from the ashes. Jallianwala Bagh is not just a place, it’s a pulse of India’s freedom, still beating through grief,...