Lodhi Fort

Lodhi Fort is one of the forts in the vicinity of Ludhiana in Punjab. Locally known as Purana Qila or Old Fort, it is a grand structure that now lies in ruins due to poor maintenance. The fort stands on a large piece of land now encroached from all sides.

What was once the gateway to Sikander Lodhi's empire and the pride of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, now lies forgotten and in ruins. Surprisingly, a large percentage of the local population is not even aware of the whereabouts of this fort. Even though the fort looks like a pretty ordinary ancient structure without invoking much interest in people, it does have a grand past.

History

The over 500-year-old Lodhi Fort was constructed by Muslim ruler Sikander Lodhi in the last decade of the 15th century at a strategic location along the banks of the Sutlej in the city of Ludhiana which itself got its name from the Lodhi dynasty and was formerly known as Ludhiana.
Even the great Maharaja Ranjit Singh was aware of the strategic as well as the historic importance of this fort which explains why it was acquired and well-maintained during his era. The fort was well kept even until the time of Britishers who frequented it as tourists.

Architecture

In spite of being turned into ruins, the place still reflects the beautiful architecture of the Mughal era which has made it a must-visit out of the places to visit in Ludhiana. Popularly known locally as Purana Qila or Old Fort, the place is surrounded by lush greenery which can be covered in around 3 hours.