Lodhi Fort (Purana Qila) 500-Year-Old Fort In Ludhiana Punjab
Lodhi Fort (Purana Qila) 500-Year-Old Fort In Ludhiana Punjab: As I told you in the previous article on Noormahal, I used to get amazed seeing these forts in my childhood.
- Distance From Phagwara Is Approx. 38Km Via NH44
- Distance From Jalandhar Is Approx. 60Km Via NH44
- Google Map: Lodhi Fort
So today we will talk about Lodhi Fort. My maternal grandmother’s house is in Ludhiana and I often go there. Lodhi Fort is one of the forts around Ludhiana in Punjab. Locally known as Purana Qila or Old Fort, it is an imposing structure that now lies in ruins due to poor maintenance. This fort is encroached upon by the local people from all sides.
What was once the gateway to Sikandar Lodhi’s empire and the pride of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, is now forgotten and in ruins. Surprisingly, a large part of the local population does not even know about the whereabouts of this fort. Even though the fort looks like a very simple ancient structure without much interest from the people, it has a grand past.
Ludhiana was recognized by the name of the historic Lodhi Fort, due to lack of maintenance, the bushes reached the buildings today.
It is said that there is a tunnel under the fort which goes to Phillaur Fort through the Sutlej river. It is said that this tunnel was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and it was used in emergencies during the war.
Present Condition Of Lodhi Fort
The saga of Ludhiana city begins with the construction of the Lodhi Fort. Ludhiana is now known all over the world, but the Lodhi Fort, which is more than five centuries old, is losing its existence.
Its outer walls were made of small bricks three feet wide, which are now crumbling. The chambers built inside it have been ruined. The gate is also broken and huge grass has grown inside. Not only this, people with a (drug, or alcohol, …) addiction use it as a drug den.
Many stories of the rule of the Mughals, the brutality of the British rule, and the rebellion of 1857 are related to this fort. The work of this 541-year-old fort was done in the year 1481 by Jarnail Yusuf Khan and Nihang Khan of Sultan Sikandar Khan Lodhi.
It was constructed near the Sutlej river and the city started settling around it. Earlier the city was called Lodhiana and later Ludhiana.
When the British started ruling India, the Punjab Police was formed. The first police office of Ludhiana was built in this fort. Later the training center was converted into Phillaur fort. The British have also been using the fort as a military cantonment.
During the First War of Independence of 1857, the rebels captured this fort i.e. the British cantonment by killing a large number of British. The flag of the independent state was hoisted.
Even after the end of British rule, this fort has helped in making the city an industry hub. The first yarn testing lab was built in the fort. However, it was later discontinued. and after that, the government ITI center related to the industry was running here.
There Is A Secret Passage Under The Fort:
It is said that there is a tunnel under this fort that goes to the fort of Phillaur passing through the Sutlej river. Although no one confirms this. It is said that this tunnel was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and it was used in emergencies during the war.
Qila Mohalla Built Around The Fort:
Lodhi Fort was built on about 5.6 acres of land. When the administration did not take care of the fort, then a large part of the fort has been captured, due to which the fort is no longer visible. A neighborhood has been built around the fort, which was named ‘Qila Mohalla’.
Ruined Fort
Sikandar Lodhi’s cantonment, later the British cantonment, this fort remained a cantonment for a long time even after the country became independent.
The Sikh Regiment stood here for a long time. But as soon as the Sikh regiment left this fort, no one took care of it and this heritage became ruins.
Now only the remains of the fort remain. The administration has not even put up any signboard anywhere in the fort.
How To Reach:
It is located 200 metres off the Hukam Singh Road by the Shivpuri Road in Qila Mohalla. Distance from Pakhowal road to Purana Qila is about 9 to 10 km and it can take nearly 30 minutes in usual traffic.
