Amritsar, Aug 4, 2025: The historic clock installed atop Hall Gate in Amritsar has not ticked for several years now. This clock, a relic from the British era, was once a significant part of the city’s daily rhythm.
During the colonial period, public clocks like this were installed for the convenience of citizens, as personal watches were rare. These public timepieces helped people keep track of time in an era when such technology wasn’t widely available.
However, the mechanism inside the historic Hall Gate clock has now completely stopped working. The second and minute hands on the clock’s outer face have also gone missing, leaving only its silent face behind.
Hall Gate itself is named after Sir Henry Hall, a British official. The gate stands as a historic entrance to old Amritsar and remains a primary route leading to the sacred Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).
The now-silent clock is not only a symbol of the past but also a reminder of the urgent need to preserve heritage landmarks that once served the public in both form and function.