The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation (ASHF) is a non-profit, non-government, charitable Trust.
Road and Bridge Building
May 2, 2017
ROAD BUILDING The Foundation has undertaken some rural road building works to connect different habitations in the Lodhipur village area adjoining Sri Anandpur Sahib. So far approximately 2.5 kms of unpaved roads have been laid by leveling land and clearing undergrowth which had made the village roads unserviceable. This is an ongoing project on the request of the village panchayat of Lodhipur. BRIDGE BUILDING On the request of the village panchayat of Lodhipur through a resolution, the Foundation is undertaking to build a causeway over the Charan Ganga channel to allow passage of traffic between different habitations of the village who have to wade through the water in low tide to connect on both sides of the channel. This is an ongoing project.
Read moreBaisakhi – 2017
April 13, 2017
To commemorate the 350th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji (1667-2017). The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation founded by Sodhi Vikram Singh of Anandpur Sahib organized the 3rd edition of ‘Khalsa Games’ on 12 and 13th April 2017.
Read moreHola Mohalla -2017
March 10, 2017
The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation organised the 4th edition of the popular Sodhi Kishan Singh Memorial Polo Cup at Sri Anandpur Sahib during the Holla Mohalla celebration on 10,11th and 12th March 2017.
Read moreTraining cum workshop on Rural Tourism
February 7, 2017
Training cum workshop on Rural Tourism Organized by Punjab Heritage & Tourism Promotion Board under IDIPT in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 7th Feburary 2017.
Read moreWater Conservation
January 30, 2017
A Water Conservation project through the installation of Check Dams to conserve water for drinking and agriculture purposes and assist backward communities in the hill tracts adjoining Sri Anandpur Sahib.
Read moreHawaii Polo Tour 2016
August 21, 2016
Vikram Singh Sodhi led his team Anandpur Sahib Blues to Hawaii for the 7th Edition of the annual Hawaii Polo Team (USA) Vs India, International Polo series. This prestigious tournament is played annually and is the most important fixture on the Hawaii Polo Calendar with a record crowd of 4000 spectators cheering both sides. The 2016 series was tied 1-1 with both teams winning one tournament each. This international sporting competition provides an excellent forum to inform Americans about the rich traditions and history of India. Forming an important bridge between the two different cultures. With American teams visiting India on return tours, the sporting tradition lives on…..
Read moreChicago Oak Brook Polo Tour 2016
August 7, 2016
The second edition of the new sporting rivalry established in 2015 was played from 1-7 August 2016 with the Anandpur Sahib Blues Polo Team visiting the historic Oak Brook Polo Cup for the International Day Polo Cup (which was last played by the British polo team led by Prince Charles of the UK). The International match was enthusiastically watched by the NRI community of the greater Chicago area and streamed live into millions of homes by Chukker TV. Please watch a video showing the annual Oak Brook Polo activities including the India fixture. Oak Brook Polo Club which was the premier center of Polo in the world in its hey day, has prompted its revival by reestablishing a series with Indian Polo. Since it was India where modern polo was founded and spread all around the globe during the British raj. Latest Videos: Chicago Oak Brook Polo Tour 2016
Read moreISRC – Warwick University, UK
June 11, 2016
Keynote Speaker: Sodhi Vikram Singh, Chairman and Managing Trustee of the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation was invited as the Key Note Speaker at the International Sikh Research Conference 2016 at the University of Warwick , UK on 11th June 2016. Many speakers from all over the world presented papers relevant to their areas of Study. Details of the conference and speakers are available at the www.sikhconference.co.uk website. The Foundation has become active in international forums and promotes a better understanding of the historical role and significance of Sri Anandpur Sahib to the Sikh faith. Gallery :
Read moreBaisakhi – Khalsa Games 2016
April 13, 2016
Baisakhi – Khalsa Games 2016 To commemorate 317 years (1699-2016) of the formation of the Khalsa Panth. The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation founded by Sodhi Vikram Singh of Anandpur Sahib (committed to promote Sri Anandpur Sahib as a global tourist destination, by drawing attention to its culture, history and heroic traditions), organized the second edition of the popular ‘Khalsa Games’ from 12 to 13th April 2015. This sporting event has become an annual sporting festival that is being celebrated with its culmination on Baisakhi day. Since it was on Baisakhi of 1699, that Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had declared the formation of the Khalsa Panth (the pure), an army of soldier saints to combat tyranny and oppression against humanity in any form. The Foundation aims to further strengthen the sporting traditions of the Punjab through participation in the ‘Khalsa Games’. This will be another step in the Foundations objective to strive for a ‘drug free Punjab’ and to encourage the youth of the Punjab to reestablish Punjab as the premier sporting state in the union of India. In addition to traditional sports like Kabaddi and Gatka-Sikh Martial Art the organizers introduced Whushu a Chinese martial arts tradition to create…
Read moreAll India IPSC Equestrian Championship
April 9, 2016
All India IPSC Equestrian Championship Chief Guest : 09 April, 2016 Punjab Public School, Nabha, Punjab. Sodhi Vikram Singh, Chairman and Managing Trustee, an International Polo Player was invited as Chief Guest on 9th June 2016 for the All India IPSC Equestrian Championship being held a the PPS Nabha. Mr Sodhi congratulated the organisers on the high level of horse riding skills displayed by the students from different schools, with PPS Nabha winning the challenge shield. He advised the students to focus on excelling in sports and to be the future champions of the world.
Read moreFlood Control Project
April 1, 2016
The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation has undertaken a flood control project to be called ‘Sodhi Kishan Singh- Lodhipur Flood Control Project’ to honor the erstwhile Purani Sarkar of Sri Anandpur Sahib. Sodhi Kishan Singh had undertaken development projects in the area including the town planning of Sri Anandpur Sahib on modern lines, with street paving with cobbled stones, street lighting, separate mohallas by trade, drainage systems, waste management in the late 1800’s by forming the first municipality in undivided Punjab. For this flood control project a 1.2 km embankment some 15 feet high has been created with crate walls in suitable locations. The work started on Baisakhi 13 April 2016 has survived the monsoon flooding (please see photos attached) and given relief from the flood waters of the Satluj river to the habitations of Lodhipur and adjoining villages.
Read moreHola Mohalla -2016
March 24, 2016
The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation organised the 3rd edition of the popular Sodhi Kishan Singh Memorial Polo Cup at Sri Anandpur Sahib during the Holla Mohalla clebration from 21,22,23 March 2016. International teams from Hawaii Polo Club (USA) and Gillcrest Homes (UK) played a round robin series of matches against the Royal Punjab Polo Team, which narrowly won the tournament 9-10 in the dying minutes of the final game before a record crowd of lustily cheering spectators at the SGS Khalsa School ground in Sri Anandpur Sahib. The 5 day celebration of the colorful and spectacular Holla Mohalla festival which pays host to over 2-3 million visitors culminated in the traditional Mohalla procession by the Nihang dals and the daring display of medieval martial arts, showcased by the ‘Guru ki ladli fauj’ or beloved army of the Guru.
Read moreIndia heritage tourism conclave
February 12, 2016
5th India Heritage Tourism Conclave Making Incredible India Swachh – Sundar – Sashakt Bharat Date : 12th February, 2016 Venue : SMS Convention Centre, Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan Sodhi Vikram Singh, Managing Trustee Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation was invited to share his vision on the promotion of Sri Anandpur Sahib as a Global Tourist Destination. He was designated as eminent speaker for this most prestigious conference hosted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Attended by leaders of the Travel Industry and presided over by the Union Minister of Tourism Dr Mahesh Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Shrimati Vasundhara Raje Scindia and other senior dignitaries of the Tourism ministry.
Read moreTTJ Jury Choice awards
January 27, 2016
TTJ Jury Choice awards for Excellence n Innovation in Travel Date : 27th January 2016 Time : 6:30 pm Venue : Grand Greens, The Grand New Delhi, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. TTJ Jury Choice awards for Niche in Heritage Tourism Promotion was awarded to the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation for the exemplary work that the foundation has been doing to promote the holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib as a Global Tourist Destination. These awards were presented at a glittering ceremony attended by the doyens of the Travel industry in a manner and style that could be called the OSCARS of the Indian Travel Trade.
Read moreADTOI conference
December 27, 2015
Sodhi Vikram Singh, Managing Trustee- Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation was invited as keynote speaker, to give a presentation to the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (the National Body of Domestic Tour Operators). He stressed on Sri Anandpur Sahib as a potential global tourist destination of the future on account of its history, heritage, festivals and pollution free environment. The presentation was well received by an enthusiastic audience at the general body meeting held at the India Habitat Center, New Delhi.
Read moreRural tourism workshop – Amritsar
December 1, 2015
Sodhi Vikram Singh, Managing Trustee, Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation, was invited as a speaker to share his vision on how rural tourism could benefit the entire ecosystem of a rural community through sustained efforts. The Foundation is promoting Sri Anandpur Sahib as a global tourist destination. Concept of Rural Tourism workshop: It was decided that tourism growth potential can be harnessed as a strategy for rural development. The development of a strong platform around the concept of rural tourism is definitely useful for a country like India, where almost 70% of the population resides in its 6.41 lakh villages as per census of India-2011. Across the world the trends of industrialization and development have had an urban centric approach. Alongside, the stresses of urban lifestyles have led to a “counter-urbanization” syndrome. At the same time this trend of urbanization has led to falling income levels, lesser job opportunities in the rural areas leading to an urbanization syndrome in the rural areas. Rural Tourism is one of the few activities which can provide a solution to these problems. Besides, there are other factors which are shifting the trend towards rural tourism like increasing levels of awareness, growing interest in heritage and…
Read moreRome – Exhibition cum Conference to Honor role of Sikh Soldiers in World War I
November 15, 2015
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION A tribute to the courage and the sacrifice of all the Indian Sikh Soldiers who fought in WW-1. Venue: Biblioteca Angelica, Piazza di S. Agostino 8, 00186 – Rome, Italy Dates: 15 November – 3 December 2015 Exhibition and Conference Partners International Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), United Kingdom Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA), in collaboration with The British Library (BL), Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation, Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente (ISMEO), Anād Foundation with the Patronage of Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo The Indian Embassy in Italy. On Saturday 21th November 2015 from 3,00 p.m. onwards, a Round Table conference on the history, art and faith of the Sikhs was held. The Speakers and their topics were as follows: Claudio Landi (Journalist of Parliament), Vikram Singh Sodhi (Managing Trustee, Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation), ‘Anandpur Sahib and its role in the Sikh martial tradition’ (in English). Marinella Zannotti, (Architect), ‘Two dreamers for Chandigarh: Neck Chand and Le Corbusier’ (in Italian with English summary). Tiziana Lorenzetti, (President of the International Institute of South Asian Studies), The Golden Temple ( in Italian with English summary). The round table was concluded on the high…
Read morePolo tour to chicago
August 16, 2015
A new sporting rivalry was established in 2015 with the Anandpur Sahib Blues Polo Team visiting the historic Oak Brook Polo Cup for the International Day Polo Cup (which was last played by the British polo team led by Prince Charles of the UK). The International match was enthusiastically watched by the NRI community of the greater Chicago area and streamed live into millions of homes by Chukker TV. Oak Brook Polo Club which was the premier center of Polo in the world in its hey day, has prompted its revival by reestablishing a series with Indian Polo. Since it was India where modern polo was founded and spread all around the globe during the British raj.
Read morePolo tour to Hawaii
August 9, 2015
Vikram Singh Sodhi led his team Anandpur Sahib Blues to Hawaii for the 6th Edition of the annual Hawaii Polo Team (USA) Vs India, International Polo series. This prestigious tournament is played annually and is the most important fixture on the Hawaii Polo Calendar with a record crowd of 4000 spectators cheering both sides. The 2015 series was tied 1-1 with both teams winning one tournament each. This international sporting competition provides an excellent forum to inform Americans about the rich traditions and history of India. Forming an important bridge between the two different cultures. With American teams visiting India on return tours, the sporting tradition lives on…..
Read moreBaisakhi -2015
April 14, 2015
To commemorate 316 years (1699-2015) of the formation of the Khalsa Panth. The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation founded by Sodhi Vikram Singh of Anandpur Sahib (committed to promote Sri Anandpur Sahib as a global tourist destination, by drawing attention to its culture, history & heroic traditions), organized the ‘Khalsa Games’ from 11to 13th April 2015. This will become an annual sporting festival to be celebrated with its culmination on Baisakhi. Since it was on Baisakhi of 1699, that Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had declared the formation of the Khalsa Panth (the pure), an army of soldier saints to combat tyranny & oppression. The Foundation aims to further strengthen the sporting traditions of the Punjab through participation in the ‘Khalsa Games’. This will be another step in the Foundations objective to strive for a ‘drug free Punjab’ & to encourage the youth of the Punjab to reestablish Punjab as the premier sporting state in the union of India. In addition to traditional sports like wrestling & kabadi the organizers will strive to constantly introduce new sporting events to create healthy sporting competitions during this festival.
Read moreHolla Mohalla – 2015
March 9, 2015
Sodhi Vikram Singh, Managing Trustee of the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation, himself a polo player of international repute, has decided to introduce the sport of horse polo to the annual Holla Mohalla Festival at Sri Anandpur Sahib in collaboration with the Delhi Polo & Riding Club. This will serve to highlight the tradition of horsemanship & bring an international flavour to the vibrant festivities of colour, spirituality and dynamism. The spectacular four-day arena polo tournament was scheduled from 2-6 March 2015 at Sodhi Gurbachan Singh (SGS) Khalsa Senior Secondary School ground, Anandpur Sahib. The Holla Mohalla Festival was established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Guru of the Sikhs) on 22nd February, 1701. It was meant to be a kind of sports day to determine the military preparedness of the Khalsa Pant (or holy warriors) to fight tyranny & establish a just social order in India. To this day it is celebrated by the Nihang Dals or Holy Warriors who claim their descent from the original regiments of the Guru. The Nihangs still live by the code of warriors of that era. They practice the old martial arts & horsemanship, showcasing their daring skills in sword fighting, tent pegging, archery…
Read morePanel Discussion in London on “Relevance of Anandpur Sahib to the Sikh Faith”
September 7, 2014
In order to discuss the relevance of Anandpur Sahib and preservation of the rich heritage associated with it, a panel discussion was held at the Nehru Center in London. Presentations were made by Vikram Singh Sodhi (Managing Trustee, Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation), Gurinder Singh Mann (Sikh Scholar, Lester UK) & Ms. Astrid Harrison (An internationally renowned photographer). The panel discussion was moderated by well known London based journalist Ms. Nabanita Sircar.
Read moreExhibition at San Jose Gurudwara, California, USA
August 17, 2014
The exhibition was attended by thousands of visitors from all over the world and was aimed at exposing them to the holy city of Anandpur Sahib.
Read moreExhibition at Glen Cove Gurudwara, Long Island, USA
August 10, 2014
Glen Cove Gurudwara, Long Island, New York (USA) As one of its initiatives the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation organised an exhibition titled ‘Holla Mohalla – An Enduring Celebration -3’. It was held from 10th of August 2014 at the Glen Cove Gurdwara, Long Island, New York (USA). This art exhibition highlights the universal appeal of the Sikh tradition and was aimed at exposing the visitors to the holy city of Anandpur Sahib.
Read moreExhibition at Virasat e Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
July 3, 2014
Virasat-e-Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab In order to further showcase the works of the two South Indian artists, Suresh Muthukulam and Photographer Cop Shiva, the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation in association with Virasat e Khalsa organised the exhibition titled ‘Holla Mohalla – An Enduring Celebration -2’. It was the first ever exhibition to be held at the exhibition hall of the Virasat – e – Khalsa from 03-20 July 2014 at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. During this period over 100,000 visitors visited the exhibition. The exhibition was inaugurated at 6.00pm on 3rd July 2014 by Chief Guest Shri Sohan Singh Thandal, Minister of Tourism and Culture. It was also attended by Patron Shri Vivek Mohan Mittal & other leading dignitaries and invited guests from Anandpur Sahib, Chandigarh & Delhi.
Read morePolo Tournament
March 14, 2014
The first edition of the Sodhi Kishan Singh Memorial Polo Cup was organized by Vikram Singh Sodhi, a well known International Polo player & the Managing Trustee of Anandpur Sahib Foundation. The arena polo tournament was held on the 14, 15, 16 and 17 March, 2014 at SGS Khalsa Senior Secondary School.
Read moreLuxury Tents at Holla Mohalla
March 12, 2014
The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation organized luxury tented camps during the first edition of the Sodhi Kishan Singh Memorial Polo Cup held during the Holla Mohalla Festival 2014. The camp was erected on the banks of the canal from where one could see the Naina Devi temple on the peak of the adjacent Shivalik mountain ranges. It lent a charming and salubrious ambience for the guests who were entertained with traditional folk music every evening. Visits to the Nihang camps and the Virasat-e-Khalsa gave a first-hand experience of ‘Punjab’-the land of five rivers and where the five elements seemingly come together in harmony, which could probably be the secret behind a race that is known for its irrepressible spirit, valour, enterprise and social warmth.
Read moreExhibition at India Habitat Center, Delhi
February 21, 2014
Visual Art Gallery, Indian Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi As one of its initiatives the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation is working on an Art Residency program, where we will be highlighting the holy town of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab as a global tourist destination, through the arts. The Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation in association with Gallery Dravidam organised an exhibition titled ‘Holla Mohalla – An Enduring Celebration -1’. It was held from 21st to 24th of February 2014 at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Smt. Gursharan Kaur, wife of the then Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh. In March 2013, under the auspices of the Anandpur Sahib Heritage Foundation and Gallery Dravidam, artist Suresh Muthukulam from Kerala, and photographer Cop Shiva from Karnataka were invited to attend the Holla Mohalla in order to present this vibrant festival. This art exhibition highlights the universal appeal of the Sikh tradition and the festival of Holla Mohalla seen through the eyes of two South Indian artists. Through such events we hope to spread the message of national integration. This event will be a curtain raiser to future art events…
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