Have you ever visited Leh or Gulmarg or Lansdown or Delhi’s India Gate? If yes, then you would surely have seen the war memorials built there. And would have certainly felt a surge of joy and pride in your chest. Everybody does get similar feelings. But, then there are people like IAS officer Divyanshu Patel, presently posted as Municipal Commissioner, Moradabad who develop patriotic fervour so much that they decide to build a war memorial themselves. That’s the story how Trishul – country’s most modern tri-service War Memorial and Museum came up in Moradabad. It is also the first war museum built outside cantonments. Mr Patel spoke to Indian Masterminds recently on how his dream project was built brick by brick.
Please click on this link to watch his full video…
“I called up my colleagues in Moradabad Nagar Palika from Leh itself. Can’t we have a similar war museum in Moradabad too? Even if it’s a two-room structure”, he asked. His team replied in affirmative for they knew that Mr Patel wouldn’t take a no for an answer.
Then he visited Gulmarg and saw another war museum there. The idea became firmer. On his return to Moradabad, he discussed the idea with his senior, Mr Anjaneya Kumar Singh, Moradabad Divisional Commissioner. The duo spoke to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. And then the dream grew bigger and bigger.
The museum houses almost all types of guns, gun carriages, tanks, fighter planes, naval ships, submarines, helicopters, paratroopers – most of them the real things donated by the armed forces and some are mere replicas built under supervision of armed personnel.
Trishul museum is a modern tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of India’s armed forces. Developed by the Moradabad Municipal Corporation at a cost of approximately Rs 25 crore, the museum has become a symbol of national pride.
Located in Buddhi Vihar, the museum showcases India’s military history from the 1947 Independence era through major conflicts, including the Kargil War, and anti-terror operations like Pulwama. Its design draws inspiration from battlefield bunkers and barracks, creating an immersive environment that honours soldiers’ valour.
Visitors can explore real and scaled military artifacts, including tanks, a MiG-27 fighter jet, models of INS Vikrant, artillery pieces, and equipment from DRDO and the Defence Ministry. Interactive displays, digital exhibits, photographs, narratives of war heroes, and possibly drone theaters or simulation games bring stories of courage to life. The site also includes memorials like the Kargil Vijay Smarak and Captain Vijayant Thapar’s tribute.
The museum serves as an educational hub for students, families, and patriots, fostering respect for the armed forces. As one of India’s notable recent war museums, it stands as a living chronicle of triumphs, sacrifices, and technological prowess, inspiring future generations to remember the defenders of the nation. Moradabad War Museum serves as a source of inspiration for the younger generation, instilling in them a deep sense of nationalism and respect for the country’s brave soldiers.
