Qila Mubarak

The construction of the mighty fort took place during the reign of the Kushanas. The Kushana ruler of Northern India, Kanishka had built this fort along with Raja Dab. Qila Mubarak has acted as a witness to numerous battles and invasions that have shaken the state of Punjab for centuries. 
The Qila Mubarak was constructed between 90 and 110 AD by Raja Dab, who was the ancestor of Vena Pal. The bricks that have been used for the construction of the fort date back to the Kushana period, at the time when the emperor Kanishka ruler over the northern part of India. The primary purpose of the construction of the Qila Mubarak was to ensure that the Huns do not invade the kingdom of Emperor Kanishka. In the later years, however, different rulers of the area did various alterations to the main structure of the fort.
After King Jaipal committed suicide in the 11th century, Mahmud Ghazni captured the magnificent fort. If legends are true, Razia Sultan had jumped off from the balcony of the fortress so that she could gather her army and fight against the enemies. Later on, she was imprisoned on her defeat and dethroned at the same fort. The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, also visited Qila Mubarak in the year 1705. A Gurudwara was later on constructed within the fort to commemorate his visit. The rulers of the Patiala Dynasty also used the regal fort for residential purposes. Maharaja Ala Singh captured it in the 17th AD and renamed the fort as Fort Gobindgarh.

With the passage of time, the majestic structure of the fort has collapsed and is now in ruins. Restoration is thus, currently underway to revive the fortress and to preserve it as an important token that bears testimony to the rich Indian history.