Chandigarh, July 22 – Kurukshetra is set to become a major centre for spiritual tourism in Haryana. Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini has approved the formation of a high-level monitoring committee for the construction of a Guru Ravidas Museum and Bhawan on 5 acres and a Sikh Museum on 3 acres at Umri in Kurukshetra.
Sharing information in this regard, Heritage and Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma said that the Department of Archaeology and Museums, in collaboration with the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), will jointly oversee the development of both museums. The committee will be headed by the Principal Secretary, Heritage and Tourism Department and will include the Director, Archaeology and Museums, Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra, OSD to Chief Minister, Dr. Prabhleen Singh, Deputy Director, Archaeology and Museum Department, Dr. Banani Bhattacharya, Executive Engineer, HSVP Ambala, subject experts, and Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department.
Dr. Arvind Sharma said that Haryana is set to establish the country’s first immersive spiritual and tourism site in Kurukshetra based on the inclusive and egalitarian teachings of Guru Ravidas. He said that a grand statue of Guru Ravidas will be installed in this museum, around which an open-air theater will be built for discourses, exhibitions and community programmes. A modern auditorium is also planned for cultural events, seminars, lectures, and community gatherings. It will also feature a serene and spiritually uplifting space for meditation, a Guru Ravidas Library and Research Centre, a Gurbani Hall, a museum, and digital galleries that promote universal messages of love, humility, and peace, he added.
He further said that, similarly the Sikh Museum will reflect the vision, teachings, and contributions of the Sikh Gurus. This museum will serve as a national and international cultural centre for celebrating Sikh heritage, promoting education, research, and tourism. Special emphasis will be given to key moments in Sikh history, the Guru periods, and their association with Haryana. Authentic and verified historical information from the time of Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh and beyond will be documented and presented with academic accuracy and cultural sensitivity. He said that traditional and contemporary mediums like murals, dioramas, digital art, holography, laser shows and interactive installations would be promoted to effectively narrate the historical stories to the visitors.
