Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

Jallianwala Bagh is the site of one of the most consequential events of the Indian independence movement: the massacre of 13 April 1919, when General Reginald Dyer ordered British Indian troops to open fire on a peaceful crowd of unarmed Indians who had gathered for the Vaisakhi festival and a peaceful protest against the Rowlatt Act. The exits were sealed; an estimated 379 (official) to 1,000+ (unofficial) people were killed and over 1,200 wounded. The garden has been preserved as a national memorial since 1951. The bullet-pocked wall at the back is preserved with markers showing the impact points. The Martyrs' Well, into which 120 people jumped or fell trying to escape the firing, has been enclosed. The Flame of Liberty memorial, a 30-foot pylon, was added in 1961. A 2021 renovation added narrative panels, a gallery, and a sound-and-light show. The massacre directly catalysed the non-cooperation movement and was a turning point in Mahatma Gandhi's strategy. Combine with the Golden Temple (500 m walk) for a half-day Amritsar heritage circuit.