The land of five waters gave the world its first cities, its saints and its songs. Broken by every empire that crossed it, it is still ours to remember, and to make whole again.

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PUNJAB WIKIਪੰਜਾਬپنجابMuseum
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Englishਪੰਜਾਬੀپنجابی

Land & Ages

The LandRivers, doabs, Harappa and the first cities, seasons, numbersAgesEight ages of the Punjab, from the Soan to todayTimelineEvery dated event on one lineAtlasEvery place on one map, age by agePlacesCities, ancient sites, temples, mosques and gurdwaras, battlefieldsLanguage & scriptsPunjabi, its dialects, Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi

People & Faiths

PeopleSaints and teachers, poets and singers, rulers, rebels, the people of both PunjabsPeople of the landJats, Rajputs, Arains, Khatris, Dalit communities and more, across every faithFaithsHindu traditions, Islam and the Sufis, Sikhi, and the Punjab's other faiths

Kingdoms & Struggles

Kingdoms & WarsWho ruled the Punjab, the Kingdom of Lahore, and the battles fought over itWho ruled the PunjabEvery ruling power, 518 BCE to todayWars & BattlesFrom the Hydaspes to BasantarStruggles & Partitions1849, 1919, 1947, 1966, 1984, 2020

Culture & Museum

CulturePoets, qisse, songs, music, dance, festivals, foodMuseumSculpture, coins, manuscripts, painting, arms, buildings, and where to see themChronicles & ProphecyThe poetry of the old chroniclesAboutWhat this atlas is, its sources, and every word explainedHelp maintain this siteCorrections, pictures, sources and new entries
Punjab WikiMuseumFrom the world's museums
From the world's museums · 183

Pottery, metalwork, woodwork and jewellery

Multan tiles and pottery, inlay, metalwork, enamel, woodwork and jewellery.

Explore the collectionA map, a timeline and a web of the people, places and battles the objects show

Stone and the first cities

600,000 BP – 1900 BCE · 1
Jar with Four IbexJar with Four Ibexc. 2800–2500 BCE · Pakistan, probably Quetta, Indus Valley CivilizationCleveland Museum of Art ↗

Vedas, Alexander and Gandhara

1900 BCE – 1000 · 12
EarringEarring1st century-2nd century · Taxila© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Ewer with Spout in the Form of an Elephant with a MahutEwer with Spout in the Form of an Elephant with a Mahut1–100 CE · Afghanistan, Gandhara, probably Taxila or environs, early KushanCleveland Museum of Art ↗Carved ReliefCarved Relief2nd century to 5th century · Gandhara© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗PendantPendant3rd century-4th century · Taxila© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Toilet box lidToilet box lid3rd century-4th century · Gandhara© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Reliquary BoxReliquary Box200–400 CE · Pakistan, Gandhara, probably Swat, late Kushan periodCleveland Museum of Art ↗Reliquary BoxReliquary Box200–400 CE · Pakistan, Gandhara, probably Swat, late Kushan periodCleveland Museum of Art ↗Reliquary Box (lid)Reliquary Box (lid)200–400 CE · Pakistan, Gandhara, probably Swat, late Kushan periodCleveland Museum of Art ↗Stamped Tile with Crouching AsceticsStamped Tile with Crouching Ascetics4th/6th century · KashmirArt Institute of Chicago ↗Female HeadFemale Head4th/6th century · GandharaArt Institute of Chicago ↗Painted Bowl with Fish and Lotus DesignPainted Bowl with Fish and Lotus Design5th century · GandharaArt Institute of Chicago ↗Painted Bowl with Faunal and Floral DesignPainted Bowl with Faunal and Floral Design5th century · GandharaArt Institute of Chicago ↗

Gurus and Mughals

1469 – 1708 · 68
Tilework, Pakistan, Multan, 16th century AD, glazed earthenware - Linden-MuseumTilework, Pakistan, Multan, 16th century AD, glazed earthenware - Linden-MuseumWikimedia Commons · Daderot ↗Bronze Ablution vessel, 1580-1600 CE, LahoreBronze Ablution vessel, 1580-1600 CE, LahoreV&A, London · photo SpeakingArch (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1630 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1640 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, LahoreTile, Lahore1641-1645 · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, LahoreTile, Lahoreca. 1640-1650 · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, LahoreTile, Lahore17th century · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, LahoreTile, Lahore2nd quarter of 17th century · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, LahoreTile, Lahoremid 17th century · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, LahoreTile, Lahoreca. 1650 · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)second quarter of the 17th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)mid 17th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)second quarter of the 17th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, LahoreTile, Lahoresecond quarter of the 17th century · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)ca. 1650 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)2nd quarter of 17th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗

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Misls and Afghans

1708 – 1799 · 4
Tile, Punjab (India)Tile, Punjab (India)early 18th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Armlet of bazubandArmlet of bazuband1700s-1800s · India, Punjab, 18th-19th CenturyCleveland Museum of Art ↗WristletWristlet18th Century · India, Punjab (?)Cleveland Museum of Art ↗Tile, MultanTile, Multan18th century · Multan© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗

The Kingdom of Lahore

1799 – 1849 · 2
One of Two plaquesOne of Two plaquesca. 1840 · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Punjab Campaign Medal 1848-1849 (7th September 1846-14th March 1849) Medal awarded to…Punjab Campaign Medal 1848-1849 (7th September 1846-14th March 1849) Medal awarded to…Wikimedia Commons · William Wyon · CC BY ↗

Colonial Punjab

1849 – 1947 · 37
BoxBox19th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗NecklaceNecklace1800s · India, PunjabCleveland Museum of Art ↗Box and coverBox and coverca. 1850 · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Pen box and coverPen box and cover19th century · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗VaseVase19th century · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Pen boxPen boxc.1850 · Lahore© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗A folding Qur’an standA folding Qur’an stand19th century · Jammu-KashmirArt Institute of Chicago ↗Dogra Silver Earrings, circa 19th century CE, Museum of Kangra Art DharamshalaDogra Silver Earrings, circa 19th century CE, Museum of Kangra Art DharamshalaMuseum of Kangra Art, Dharamshala · photo SpeakingArch (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗EarringEarring19th century · Chamba© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗EarringEarring19th century · Chamba© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗BraceletsBracelets19th century · Punjab© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗EarringEarring19th century · Punjab© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Head Ornament PairHead Ornament Pair19th century · Punjab© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Knife and sheathKnife and sheath19th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Haar, 19th CenturyHaar, 19th CenturyMuseum of Kangra Art, Dharamshala · photo Brahmavadini (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗BroochBroochc.1866 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗BroochBroochc.1866 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗PendantPendantc.1866 · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Fragment, Punjab (Pakistan)Fragment, Punjab (Pakistan)ca. 1855-1879 · Punjab (Pakistan)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, MultanTile, Multan1877 · Multan© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, MultanTile, Multan1877 · Multan© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗CasketCasketca. 1880 · Sialkot© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile panelTile panelc. 1880 · Multan© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, MultanTile, Multanca. 1880 · Multan© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Border tileBorder tileca. 1880 · Multan© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Tile, MultanTile, Multanca. 1880 · Multan© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Writing boxWriting boxca. 1881-1882 · Chiniot© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗BoxBoxlate 19th century · Hoshiarpur© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Address casketAddress casketc.1899 · Amritsar© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Jeweled Necklace and PendantJeweled Necklace and Pendantbefore 1916 · India, Delhi in the PunjabCleveland Museum of Art ↗Necklace and PendantNecklace and Pendantbefore 1916 · India, Delhi in the PunjabCleveland Museum of Art ↗CrownCrown20th century · Himachal Pradesh© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Nose ringNose ring20th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Nose ringNose ring20th century · Punjab (India)© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗NecklaceNecklace20th century · Himachal Pradesh© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗NecklaceNecklace20th century · Himachal Pradesh© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗

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Through the ages

59
Glazed mosque tile from Multan - Ashmolean EAX-2517Glazed mosque tile from Multan - Ashmolean EAX-2517Ashmolean Museum, Oxford · photo Marsupium (Wikimedia Commons) ↗Saraiki Waseb's Blue Pottry Work on Mosaic and Tiles in Bahawalpur Museum Photo By…Saraiki Waseb's Blue Pottry Work on Mosaic and Tiles in Bahawalpur Museum Photo By…Wikimedia Commons · Saeed Akhtar Sial · CC BY-SA ↗Carving on Bronze Plates in Blue Pottery of Saraiki Waseb in Bahawalpur Museum Photo By…Carving on Bronze Plates in Blue Pottery of Saraiki Waseb in Bahawalpur Museum Photo By…Wikimedia Commons · Saeed Akhtar Sial · CC BY-SA ↗Jewellery in the Museum of Islamic Art, DohaJewellery in the Museum of Islamic Art, DohaWikimedia Commons · Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA ↗* Caption box printed on mount measures 36 x 79 mm.* Caption box printed on mount measures 36 x 79 mm.Wikimedia Commons · Scan by NYPL ↗Armring, armband, smycke, bracelet, jewelleryArmring, armband, smycke, bracelet, jewelleryPakistan Pakistan Пакистан Paquistão Пакистан Pakistanas Pakistan Pakistāna PakiMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗Set of Silver buttons, Dogra Jewellery, Museum of Kangra Art, DharamshalaSet of Silver buttons, Dogra Jewellery, Museum of Kangra Art, DharamshalaMuseum of Kangra Art, Dharamshala · photo SpeakingArch (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗NecklaceNecklaceChamba© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗Chamba Necklace, Himachal State Museum, ShimlaChamba Necklace, Himachal State Museum, ShimlaWikimedia Commons · SpeakingArch · CC BY-SA ↗EarringEarringPunjab© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗EarringEarringPunjab© Victoria and Albert Museum, London ↗TearingTearingIndien India Индия Intia Índia Индия Indija Indija Indija Inde India India IndijMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗TearingTearingIndien India Индия Intia Índia Индия Indija Indija Indija Inde India India IndijMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗TearingTearingIndien India Индия Intia Índia Индия Indija Indija Indija Inde India India IndijMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗Tåring, tärningTåring, tärningIndien India Индия Intia Índia Индия Indija Indija Indija Inde India India IndijMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗Tåring, tärningTåring, tärningIndien India Индия Intia Índia Индия Indija Indija Indija Inde India India IndijMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗Another variant of Silver Roundel depicting king and his attendants mounted on the…Another variant of Silver Roundel depicting king and his attendants mounted on the…British Museum, London · photo SpeakingArch (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗Hippostratos was an Indo-Greek king who ruled central and north-western Punjab and…Hippostratos was an Indo-Greek king who ruled central and north-western Punjab and…National Museum, New Delhi · photo SpeakingArch (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗India, Punjab - Wristlet - 1916.267 - Cleveland Museum of ArtIndia, Punjab - Wristlet - 1916.267 - Cleveland Museum of ArtWikimedia Commons ↗Native Office, Punjab Irregular CavalryNative Office, Punjab Irregular CavalryWikimedia Commons · The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles ↗Silver Roundel depicting an enthroned goddess holding a bunch of grapes, probably HaritiSilver Roundel depicting an enthroned goddess holding a bunch of grapes, probably HaritiBritish Museum, London · photo SpeakingArch (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗Folio, Punjab Hills, BahuFolio, Punjab Hills, BahuThe Met, New York · photo Wikimedia Commons (Wikimedia Commons) ↗North India, Punjab Hills, KangraNorth India, Punjab Hills, KangraThe Met, New York · photo Wikimedia Commons (Wikimedia Commons) ↗This box is a "pandan," a container for "betel"- thin slices of the nut of the areca…This box is a "pandan," a container for "betel"- thin slices of the nut of the areca…Walters Art Museum, Baltimore · photo Abu'l-Kharid Nur al-Hasan Khan (Indian) Indian (Wikimedia Commons) ↗HukkáHukkáPatrně Paňdžáb, Indie IndieNáprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures (via Europeana) · CC BY ↗Snuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuSnuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuPakistan Pakistan Пакистан Paquistão Пакистан Pakistanas Pakistan Pakistāna PakiMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗Snuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuSnuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuPakistan Pakistan Пакистан Paquistão Пакистан Pakistanas Pakistan Pakistāna PakiMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗Snuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuSnuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuPakistan Pakistan Пакистан Paquistão Пакистан Pakistanas Pakistan Pakistāna PakiMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗Snuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuSnuff bottle, snuff box, bala khuPakistan Pakistan Пакистан Paquistão Пакистан Pakistanas Pakistan Pakistāna PakiMuseum of Ethnography (via Europeana) ↗This casket in bronze represents the great variety of reliquary casketsThis casket in bronze represents the great variety of reliquary casketsWikimedia Commons ↗Male torso carved from red jasper, Bronze Age, Harappa, Indus Valley CivilisationMale torso carved from red jasper, Bronze Age, Harappa, Indus Valley CivilisationNational Museum, New Delhi · photo Gary Todd (Wikimedia Commons) ↗Pottery that is more than 4000 years oldPottery that is more than 4000 years oldWikimedia Commons · Ranjith Kumar Inbasekaran · CC BY-SA ↗Pottery urns from Harappa (Cemetery H period, cPottery urns from Harappa (Cemetery H period, cNational Museum, New Delhi · photo Avantiputra7 (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗Pitara Box in the Textiles GalleryPitara Box in the Textiles GalleryNational Museum, New Delhi · photo Nomu420 (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗Perforated jar in the National Museum, New DelhiPerforated jar in the National Museum, New DelhiNational Museum, New Delhi · photo Nomu420 (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗Pottery, National Museum, New DelhiPottery, National Museum, New DelhiNational Museum, New Delhi · photo Yann (talk) (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA ↗

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Search the museums' full collections

V&A ↗ · British Museum ↗ · The Met ↗ · Cleveland ↗ · Wellcome Collection ↗ · Wikimedia Commons ↗ · Ashmolean ↗ · Royal Collection ↗ · Pitt Rivers ↗

Shown here are the objects whose pictures museums have released openly. Far more are in their collections, and in museums with no open search, such as the Lahore Museum. Searching for "Punjab".

Pictures from the collections of Art Institute of Chicago, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum (via Europeana), Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba, 65 more, found automatically: public domain or openly licensed, except the V&A's, shown for non-commercial use with the museum's credit. Titles and dates are the museums' own; each card names its museum and any licence. Updated 2026-10-26.

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