Bahadurgarh Fort in Patiala

Punjab, a land shrouded in history that dates as far back as the primordial Harappan civilization abounds in forts and fortresses, lone raconteurs of the state's glorious maritime history. Among the notable forts and citadels of Punjab, the Bhadurgarh Fort occupies a special place in history.

The 123-year-old fort is located a mere 6 km away from Patiala. The construction of the ancient fort began as early as 1658 under the patronage of Nawab Saif Khan and was completed during Maharaja Karam Singh's tenure. The fort architecture consists of two circular battlements that are encircled by a 25 feet deep and 58 feet wide moat, filled with water that serves as an initial impediment to invaders. The crenellated outer wall stands 110 km apart from the robust inner wall. The imposing walls stand tall at a height of 29 feet.

The beautifully planned citadel is currently under the jurisdiction of the Punjabi police force and serves as their training academy. The towering and majestic fort took eight years to be completed and incurred a net expenditure of one million rupees in Indian currency. The perimeter of the fort nearly covers a distance of 1 1/13 miles.

Bhadurgarh Fort, a tribute from the late Maharaja Karam Singh to the revered Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur during the halcyon days of Saif Khan's reign. According to legend, the venerable Guru had foretold the existence of a fort in that very spot. To commemorate his visit the maharaja had built two beautiful and gurdwaras, one located within and the other outside the temple premises.

A visit to Bhadurgarh Fort is imperative for an understanding of the military history of the gallant Sikh warriors.