Lyallpur Museum
Lyallpur Museum Faisalabad is a heritage museum based on the city’s old and original name (Lyallpur). It showcases the city’s rich history and culture through various exhibits, including archaeological findings, relics of the Rajput era, and pottery works. It has two floors; the first floor is where you’ll find old maps, geology, and agricultural information. The second floor has paintings, some antiques, and photographs of well-known people. A map of old Lyallpur is also present in its heritage Museum. Despite having enormous potential in this city, it has, in less than a century since its founding, lost its identity, market, and ultimately its name (Lyallpur). Many people donated their collection of antique artifacts related to the history and culture of Lyallpur. It also preserves the history and culture of the different parts of Sandal Bar. Lyllapur Museum is one of the well-known museums in Pakistan.
History of Lyallpur Museum
Following a suggestion from Dr. M. Aamer Sarfraz, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, established it in 2011. The District Coordination Officer (DCO) at the time, Saeed Iqbal Wahlah (late), assisted M. Aamer Sarfraz in creating the proposal for the Lyallpur Museum. The DCO Mr. Naseem Sadiq made the Museum functional in 2013.
Attractions at Lyallpur Museum
The Museum is a popular tourist destination that offers visitors a glimpse of the history of Faisalabad. It contains displays of ancient sculptures, artifacts, and paintings depicting Punjab’s cultural heritage.
Galleries
Faisalabad Heritage Museum has ten galleries that display Faisalabad’s ancient and contemporary history and culture. Here, all the galleries are listed with brief descriptions to learn more about them.
1. Orientation Gallery
After entering through the main door, you will see the first gallery of Lyallpur Museum. A wall known as Gumti tells Lyallpur’s historical and cultural story from the Stone Age to the historic building. This gallery shows a sequence of maps, including those of the world, Pakistan, Punjab, and Faisalabad’s division, district, and towns.
2. Sandal Bar Gallery
This gallery displays the necessary geological samples of the rocks related to Sandal Bar. Sandal Bar was a region between the River Ravi and Chenab made of forests and mountains. This gallery’s important subjects include representations of Doabs and Bars and imagery views of the Rivers Ravi and Chenab, which is why it is called the Sandal Bar Gallery. It emphasizes the region’s historical significance through the village’s culture, mud toys, and a model of a mud mosque. Many stuff displays of Flora and Fana related to Sandal Bar are also present here. It is a must-see museum for kids to learn about geography, culture, and flora.
3. Regional Heritage Archaeological Gallery
This gallery features artifacts from the Shorkot Mound, Buddhist Gandhara Art, and artifacts from the world-famous Indus Valley Civilization. It also contains an antique “Kachawa,” once used for a profitable trade. It also displays photographs of 78 archaeological sites and monuments that the Punjab Survey documented between 1994 and 1995. Ancient ceramics, beads, coins, and Chiniot carving models are all kept for display.
4. Muslim to Sikh Period Gallery
A lovely model of the SULTAN BAHU Tomb and the architectural components of historic buildings with stunning designs are on display in the Museum’s fourth gallery. Mughal period manuscripts, metal objects, Papier Mache creations, lacquer work on wood, and various war tools from the British and Sikh eras are also on display. Mughal Calligraphy, holy books, and letters written in multiple languages are also here.
5. Chenab Colony Gallery
This gallery uses a large map to illustrate the Lower Chenab Colony, Railway, and Canal System built during the British era. This gallery contains images of the Chiniot Railway Bridge. It was known as “Pakka Marri” before Lyallpur. The English government established Chenab Colony on four acres. This gallery has a model and a map of the lower Chenab colony that illustrate the colony’s early development. A portrait of Sir James Lyall, who founded the Lyallpur, is also hanging on the wall.
6. Lyallpur Gallery
This gallery features historical maps, land contracts, housing construction phases, Lyallpur development phases, planning, notifications, documents, and early Lyallpur settlements that date back to the British era. Along with historical depictions of various castes and dresses, Faisalabad maps from the British period are also present.
7. Thought and Act Gallery
This gallery features images of historical buildings built during the British era. It also displays the paintings of chosen Sandal Bar personalities under four categories: Religion, Resistance, Development, and Creativity. The most notable are Guru Nanak, Goswami Ganesh Dutt, Sufi Barkat Ali, Arfa Kareem, Hazrat Sultan Bahu, Wazeer Ali Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Dr. Abdul Salam, Ahmad Khan Kharal Shaheed, Sir Ganga Ram, Bhagat Singh, and Dulla Bhatti.
8. Social Beauty Gallery
This gallery chronicles the history of various traditional professions and tools of the blacksmith, goldsmith, and potter. Photographs of prominent people connected to Sandal Bar from different occupations are also on display. This gallery includes a corner dedicated to Bhagat Singh and old dresses, kitchenware, and a replica of the Qaisari Gate Model, created in honor of Queen Victoria.
9. Textile Gallery
Without mentioning the textile sector, Faisalabad’s introduction is incomplete. This gallery features a variety of handmade, traditional textile objects to illustrate ancient textile industry traditions, textile tools like the spinning wheel, carding gin, manual rolling machine, small carpet-making model, Khadi, and samples of woven fabrics.
10. Pakistan Movement Gallery
This gallery features images of the Pakistan Movement’s leaders. The focal point of this gallery is Arfa Kareem’s collections. In this gallery is a replica of the Arches of Independence from the All India Muslim League office in Montgomery Bazar Lyallpur, which Quaid-e-Azam visited in 1942.
Lyallpur City Model
Lyallpur was a planned city built during the British Colonial era. With a clock tower in the middle, it has eight bazaars. The heritage museum of Old Lyallpur also has a model of the area. This model attracts the attention of all visitors.
Horse Train Model
The entrance area of Lyallpur Museum in Faisalabad features a model of the Ghora train, or horse train, which is a popular attraction for visitors. One hundred fifteen years ago, the HorseTrain traveled between Gangapur and Bachiana before introducing engines in the sub-continent. This historic horse train ride dates back 115 years and has benefited many individuals. People continued to move between homes on a commercial basis by horse train on the track. The horse train stopped running after nearly a century of operation.
Parking Area
Although there is proper parking space outside the Museum, there is a lot of confusion and mismanagement happening inside the premises. The small parking spaces can become full within minutes, especially during peak hours. People usually park their vehicles illegally here and there because most visitors are unaware of this problem.
Lyallpur Museum Ticket Price
There is no entrance fee. The Lyallpur Museum is a non-profit organization established to preserve and educate visitors about the rich history of Faisalabad. Over 50,000 people visit the Lyallpur Museum annually, making it a popular destination for heritage lovers.
Lyallpur Museum Timings
The Museum is open from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM every day except Fridays. Friday timings are from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The best time to visit is early in the day because fewer people are there. The Museum is next to a library. If you are traveling to Faisalabad, you should not miss this location.
Location of Faisalabad Museum
Near the district courts and in front of the Faisalabad District Council, on University Road, is the Lyallpur Museum. The University of Agriculture (Faisalabad) Main Campus and Katchehry Bazaar are the locations from where you can access parking. Lyallpur Museum is accessible via public transportation as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Lyallpur museum famous?
It is famous because it explains Lyallpur’s ancient history and culture, which people almost forgot before its establishment. Today, the Museum houses a collection of artifacts related to local culture, including paintings and textiles.
Who built the Lyallpur museum?
Several generations of civil servants designed, built, and developed the Lyallpur Museum. Some of these well-known individuals, active and retired, are from or have ties to Lyallpur/Faisalabad. However, Dr. M Aamer Sarfaraz is the person who sent the proposal to the Chief Minister of Punjab for its construction and importance.
Conclusion
The Lyallpur Heritage Museum is a must-visit for any history buff. It’s a reminder of how Faisalabad used to be a major city. This Museum is also going through a journey of rediscovery and is a place where nothing indigenous gets lost. You’ll find various artifacts concerning the City of Lyallpur. It is one of the most visited places in Faislabad. So if you plan a trip to Faisalabad Museum, bring your kids with you.