Mural of Guru Hargobind seated atop the original Akal Bunga (later known as the Akal Takht), from Gurdwara Baba Atal

Mural of Guru Hargobind seated atop the original Akal Bunga (later known as the Akal Takht), from Gurdwara Baba Atal.

The frescoes of Gurdwara Baba Atal are believed to have been originally painted around the mid-to-late-19th century (though photographer and author Satpal Danish, whom wrote a book on the frescoes, claims they were originally created during Sikh-rule), using Indian red, ochre and other earth colours with gold accents. However, almost all were repainted in a 1971 "renovation" in a very garish manner using artificial colouring and synthetic paint. Many of these frescoes have been destroyed, defaced, or deteriorated through neglect and harmful "renovations" since they were documented in photographs, especially on the ground floor during "kar seva" (renovations) in the 1990's.