View of Amritsar - 1825

Watercolour of Amritsar in Punjab, by an anonymous artist in c. 1825. Inscribed on the front in Persian characters: 'Naqshah i qil'ah i Gobindgarh ya'ni Amritsar' (Picture of the fortress of Gobindgarh that is Amritsar); on the back in English: 'The Fort of Gobindgarh, 18 Coss from LaInscribed on the front in Persian characters: 'Naqshah i shahr i Amritsar' (Picture of the city of Amritsar); on the back in English: 'The City of Amritsar.'

Amritsar was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Ram Das and is the centre of the Sikh religion. The Fort of Gobindgarh, in the south west corner of the city, was built in memory of the last Sikh guru, Gobind Singh. It was built by Ranjit Singh in 1805-9, the ruler who is also responsible for constructing the city walls. Amritsar means 'Pool of Nectar' which refers to the sacred tank that surrounds the Golden Temple, located in the old part of the city. This is a view of the Fort from a distance and is drawn in the Delhi style.

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