Kamlah Fort (also:Kamlahgarh orKamlah Garh, from Hindiगढ़ (Garh): "fort") is a 17th-century fort located near Kamlah village in the province ofHimachal Pradesh,[1] India west ofMandi.[2] It was probably constructed in 1625 byRaja Suraj Sen of Mandi.[3][4]
The Mandi kingdom depended on its forts for its security, and Kamlah Fort had the reputation of being the most secure repository of the reputed 360 forts of the Mandi state from the rule of Suraj Sen to that of Ishvari Sen (1788–1826).[5]MaharajaRanjit Singh attacked the fort in 1830.[1] It was destroyed in 1840 and then retaken a few years later and reconstructed byMandi Kings.[3]
Kamlah Fort (or Kamlahgarh), strategically placed near Kamlah village inMandi district,Himachal Pradesh. It was originally erected around 1625 byRaja Suraj Sen to serve as the principal stronghold of theMandi kingdom’s.[6] This fortress became the secure repository for Mandi’s treasury and armaments, earning a reputation for impregnability through the reigns of successive rulers up toIshwari Singh (1788–1826).[7]
In 1830, MaharajaRanjit Singh of theSikh Empire laid an unsuccessful siege to Kamlah, only for a combined Sikh-British force to breach its defenses a decade later in 1840. It resulted in partial destruction of its walls.[8] After theTreaty of Amritsar (October 1846) restored the fort to the Mandi rulers,[9] extensive reconstruction works were undertaken to rebuild its ramparts and internal chambers, ensuring the fort resumed its defensive and administrative roles into the late 19th century.[10][11]
The Kamlah fort was located at an elevation of 4,772 ft on the ruggedSikandar Dhar ridge. Kamlah Fort comprises six contiguous defensive enclosures Kamlah, Chauki, Chabara, Padampur,Shamsherpur, and Narsingpur.[12] It is linked by naturally steep cliffs on three sides and accessible only via a fortified eastern gateway reached by a 40‑step stone staircase carved into the hillside.The fort’s outer walls, constructed of locally quarried grey sandstone and bonded with lime mortar, a design choice that both sheds rainfall during themonsoon season.[13] Internally, chambers carved directly into the cliff face served as granaries and armories, while monsoon runoff was collected in rock‑cut cisterns, ensuring water and provisions for a garrison during prolonged sieges. The combination of narrow entrances, commanding bastions, and integrated natural defenses typifies theWestern Himalayan hill‑fort tradition, blending geology and masonry into a near‑impregnable network.[14]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)31°48′29″N76°40′25″E / 31.8081°N 76.6737°E /31.8081; 76.6737
