The Shaheed Smarak in Ambala Cantonment, built in memory of the martyrs of the First War of Independence of 1857, will open to the general public on 15 November 2026. Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij announced on Friday in Chandigarh that entry to the memorial will be completely free for the first month. This decision has been taken on the directions of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The memorial was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 5 November as part of the Haryana Day celebrations.
Minister Anil Vij said that in the first month, only 500 people per day will be allowed to visit the memorial. It will remain open from 9 AM to 3 PM. Even during the free-entry period, booking a ticket will be compulsory. Tickets can be booked online through the website ambalawarmemorial.com, and tickets will also be available at the memorial complex. Vij said this arrangement has been made so that crowds remain controlled and every visitor can see the memorial comfortably.
The memorial has been built on about 22 acres at a cost of nearly Rs 800 crore. It is dedicated to the martyrs of the first freedom struggle of 1857. The revolt began in Ambala on 10 May 1857, even before Meerut. More than 700 martyrs’ names are written in golden letters inside the memorial complex. It has 23 galleries that present different aspects of the 1857 revolt through digital presentations, interactive displays, 360-degree projection and laser and sound shows. At the inauguration ceremony, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the dream of a developed India is possible only because of the sacrifices of the martyrs. He said the freedom struggle of 1857 began from Ambala and shook the foundations of the British Empire, and that the memorial will become a centre of inspiration and patriotism for the youth of the country. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and members of the Haryana cabinet were also present at the ceremony.
To make it easy to reach the memorial, the state government will also start a special tourist bus service in Ambala. The bus will first go to the Shaheed Smarak, then to the Science Centre, Bank Square and Subhash Park, and finally to Sadar Bazaar. The state government has also directed that school students in Haryana be taken to see the memorial, so that the young generation learns about the struggle of 1857 and Ambala’s role in it. The memorial has been described as a memorial of national importance.
Next Action: Amit Shah inaugurates the memorial — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/amit-shah-inaugurates-ambala-shaheed-smarak-1857-memorial/
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