Of myths, kings, and an earthquake
The Kangra Fort is shrouded in legends, and one of it goes like this: Amidst the tumultuous clash between Goddess Ambika and the demon Raktbeej, a drop of her sweat fell upon the earth, giving birth to Bhumi Chand, the progenitor of the Katoch clan. He assisted the goddess in her triumphant battle and in return was rewarded with dominion over Trigarta, the land of the three rivers, where Kangra found its place. It was this powerful Katoch dynasty that founded and shaped the imperishable Kangra Fort.
Delve deeper, and you will come across the popular Pahadi saying, "He, who holds the Kangra fort, holds the hills.” Now, this is your link to understanding the many defeats and victories that took place on the grounds of the Kangra Fort. Here’s the long story short: The fort's indomitable spirit was tested during Akbar's siege in 1615, where it stood firm against the Mughal forces. However, Jehangir, Akbar's son, ultimately subdued the fortress in 1620, a conquest that solidified his regional dominance. When the Mughal authority started waning, Raja Sansar Chand-II of the Katoch dynasty reclaimed the Kangra Fort in 1789. He battled Gurkhas and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, forming an alliance with the latter to fend off the Gurkha invasion in 1809. After Sansar Chand's death in 1828, the fort came under Maharaja Ranjit Singh's control. Later, the British took over after the Sikh War of 1846. A destructive earthquake in 1905, however, left Kangra Fort heavily damaged, marking a tragic turn in its history.
The fort's architectural genius
The Kangra Fort’s design will stun you the moment you’ll step inside. The sheer rock upon which the fort is perched affords it a commanding vantage point and lends an air of invincibility. Its battlements, meticulously crafted along the slope of the hill, offer multiple layers of defense. A moat, hewn into the very rock itself, serves as a natural barrier, connecting the waters of the Banganga and Majhi rivers and separating the fortress from the outside world. As described in vivid detail by Shah Nawaz Khan in his Ma'asir-al-Umara, the Kangra Fort emerges as a formidable stronghold, boasting 23 bastions and 7 gates, its interior circumference stretching vast distances.
The fort's layout, an intricate fusion of medieval and ancient fort architecture, bears witness to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of its creators. You will find arches, domes, and carvings of exquisite artwork adorning its weathered façade.
Though time may have weathered its walls and diminished its grandeur, the Kangra Fort remains a beacon of resilience and magnificence. Gates erected by conquerors, such as the Jahangiri Darwaza and the Ranjit Singh Darwaza, stand as monuments to triumph and conquest, while stone-carved temples dedicated to deities like Laxmi Narayan and Ambika Devi evoke an aura of divine sanctity.
From the towering watchtower to the sacred stepwell called Kapoorsagar, each corner of the Kangra Fort tells a story of this venerable bastion in the Himalayan heights.
