Maha Raja Ranjit Singh's Statue, Amritsar, Punjab India

As a gesture of tribute to the gallant soldiers, Punjab Government is in the process of establishing a War Museum of International standard at Ludhiana, consisting of History Gallery, War Heroes Gallery, Uniforms Gallery, Air Force and Navy Gallery, Signal and Medical Corps Gallery, Kargil Gallery and a Audio Visual Theatre.

This International level War Museum, located on GT Road, Ludhiana – Amritsar Highway (NH-1), about 5 KM from Ludhiana Railway Station, near Hotel Amaltas, was instituted in 1999 on a 4 acres plot with a few bare essentials, today stands strong. At the very entrance stands a huge statue of maharaja Ranjit singh sitting proud and magnificent on a throne. Towards the right and left of the statue one can find tanks, apec car, anti-aircraft gun, car scout and an old sukhoi fighter aircraft, along with a massive model of the ins vikrant. Walking up several steps one is lead into the entrance hall, where on the right is a line of portraits of Punjabis, who have been awarded the Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra. On the left is a line of portraits of generals, admirals, and air chief marshals belonging to Punjab. Besides this, the museum comprises several galleries. Many of these are still awaiting material to be displayed.

A huge gallery displays various uniforms of the British era Indian army; air force and navy. They also depict the different stripes, medals and ranks worn by the officials. Another gallery displays portraits and busts of Punjab’s army men who had fought and got laurels in the three wars in 1948,‘65, and ‘71. The six busts that stand in the gallery are of officers who had received Victoria Cross. Yet another attraction of this museum is the light and sound show, which, through the effects of light and sound, depicts war of independence and the role of Punjabis in it. A sonnet lumiere (Light & Sound Show) on permanent basis has been installed at the War Museum to perpetuate the memory of those brave sons of the motherland, who have sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle of India with an aim to create sense of patriotism and nationalism among the people of Punjab, especially younger generation.

A statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh sitting on a throne lies at the entrance. Towards the right and left of the statue, tanks, anti-aircraft gun, an apec car, car scout, an old Sukhoi fighter aircraft and a model of INS Vikrant are displayed. Inside the hall, the Portraits of Punjabis who won Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra are displayed on the right side and on the left side are the portraits of Admirals, Generals and Air Chief Marshals belonging to Punjab.

The Uniforms of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy of British period are displayed at the Uniforms Gallery. The different Medals, Stripes, and Ranks worn by the officials at that time are also displayed here.

Popularly known as the Lion of Panjab (Sher-E-Punjab), Maharaja Ranjit Singh was not only the greatest man of his time in Panjab but is also among the few leading figures of the history of that period. Because of his extraordinary qualities as a fighter, conqueror and an empire-builder, he is often compared with the following great personalities.