KONARK WAR MUSEUM.
As I am a retired Air Force officer and I was staying at the guest house of 59 Medium Regiment, located right across the road from the Memorial, we just walked across there, so I am unaware of the procedure. However, as the Konark War Memorial is located in Jodhpur Military Station, all civilians desirous of visiting the memorial are advised to check the procedure for entry prior to visiting the Konark War Memorial.
A memorial where tanks, guns and aircraft are displayed dispersed over a very large and well-maintained area. Each equipment has a plaque giving brief details about the equipment. Very inspiring and well done.
The black top road leads you up to the heart of the memorial. You can either see the war equipment first and then go to the memorial proper or the other way around.
If you want to see the memorial and all the items on display, it may take an hour plus and involve a lot of walking. So be mentally prepared. Avoid hotter parts of the day for the visit.
Konark War Museum is one of the best war museums seen by me.
Its plan, layout and execution have been done very imaginatively and artistically and aesthetically.
As you approach the memorial, you see a beautiful and grand sight of artistically engraved pillars and the statues of war hero awardees who made the supreme sacrifice, all arranged in a semi-circular pattern, further up, stairs climb through an enclosure where engraved plaques describe various battles fought by the Konark Corps and the nominal role of gallantry awardees who made supreme sacrifice in all those battles.
Climb further up, and there is the Grand Memorial Pillar topped with Ashok Lion embalm dedicated to the fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland.
The Grand Memorial Pillar is enclosed by circularly arranged, red sandstone pillars with a stone lamp post of stone jali . Each pillar represents a unit under the command of the Corps that participated in various wars.
Behind this is the great 108-foot-tall tricolour falg post.
This sight is emotionally overwhelming.
On the left is Desert Corps Prerana Sthal. Engraved plaques mounted on red sandstone slabs give brief descriptions of six battles of outstanding bravery, Courage and sacrifice fought by the corps. These are: Raid at Chachro, the Battle of Khinsar, the Battle of Parbat Ali, the Battle of Lungewala, the Battle of Gadra City and lastly the Battle of Islangarh.
After reading these descriptions, you feel the name "Prerna Stahal", a 'place to inspire', is very apt.
Visiting the Konark Memorial was indeed a memorable and moving experience.
Just a couple of observations.
The statues of the Heroes were all covered with thick covers. The desire of the unit to save these statues from the ravages of very harsh desert weather is understandable; however, it denies the visitors who come to pay their homage to fallen warriors a glimpse of their appearance. The cover of the statues could at least be removed in the early morning and late evening hours when the weather conditions are not so harsh.
The approach to the tanks, guns and other equipment on display is either not there or not clearly visible. We had to go cross-country through rough ground. Not a pleasant experience. A properly marked approach path should connect all the items on display.
At the Konark War Memorial.
To commemorate the 'valour, courage and sacrifice of the desert corps warriors' as part of Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations, a major upgradation was undertaken at the existing war memorial estd on 26 Feb 05.
A 'Prerana Sthal' has been dedicated to commemorate victory in six major battles fought during 1971 ops, along the western front in Rajasthan and Gujarat Theatres.
To signify the might of indian armed forces and motivate future generations, a total of nine military equipment, including two Marut aircraft, are on display, suitably merging with the landscape.
A 'Pakistani Sherman tank' captured during 1971 ops has been placed at the entrance of the war memorial with lowered barrel saluting the valour and supremacy of the indian armed forces. To enhance the aesthetics, an environmental park has been created, merged with natural surroundings, encompassing six new waterfalls & fountains, with over three acres of lush green cover and plantation of more than five hundred trees and bougainvillaea with white flowers signifying eternal peace to the fallen heroes.
On the occasion of Swarnim Vijay Varsh and 36th raising day of the corps, the upgraded Konark War Memorial has been dedicated to Jodhpur Military Station
by
GOC and all ranks of 12 Corps
on
26 Feb 22
Sword in line 24x7 x 12
Sunset at the Konark War Memorial.
Captured Pakistani Sherman Tank with lowered turret on display at Konark War Memorial
Sunset at the Konark War Memorial.
Sunset at the Konark War Memorial.
As you approach the memorial, you see a beautiful and grand sight of artistically engraved pillars and the statues of war hero awardees who made the supreme sacrifice, all arranged in a semi-circular pattern, further up, stairs climb through an enclosure where engraved plaques describe various battles fought by the Konark Corps and the nominal role of gallantry wardees who made supreme sacrife in all those battles.
Climb further up, and there is the Grand memorial pillar topped with Ashok Lion embalm dedicated to the fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland.
This is enclosed by circularly arranged, red sandstone pillars. Each pillar represents a unit under the command of the Corps that participated in various wars. Behind this is the great 108-foot-tall tricolour post.
Konark War Memorial.
Dedicated to the fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland
Grand memorial pillar topped with Ashok Lion embalm dedicated to the fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland.
This is enclosed by circularly arranged, red sandstone pillars . Each pillar represents a unit under the command of the Corps.
This sight is emotionally overwhelming.
View of Uned Bhavan from the Konark War Memorial.
At Konark War Memorial.
108 ft flag pole has been dedicated to the Konark War Memorial by the President's Flag Foundation of India in the presence of GOC Konark Corps on the occasion of Vijay Diwas (16 Dec 2022)
Desert Corps Prerana Sthal. Engraved plaques mounted on red sandstone slabs give brief descriptions of six battles of outstanding bravery, Courage and sacrifice fought by the corps. Raid at Chachro, Battle of Khinsar, Battle of Parbat Ali, Battle of Lungewala, Battle of Gadra City and lastly the Battle of Islangarh. After reading these descriptions, you feel the name "Prerna Stahal", a place to inspire, is very apt.
An enclosure where engraved plaques describe various battles fought by the Konark Corps and the nominal role of gallantry wardees who made supreme sacrifice in all those battles.
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