Nurpur Fort Kangra : Nurpur Fort is in a city named Nurpur located in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh state. Nurpur Fort was built by the Pathania king Vasudev in the 16th century. In 1595, Paithan i.e. Pathania king Vasudev shifted his capital from Pathankot to Dhamdi. After that the Pathania kings constructed a historical fort in Dhamdi. He built this fort by carving a mountain stone. This entire fort is built on a hillock and a long distance view can be clearly seen from here.
नूरपुर का किला, कांगड़ा | Noorpur Kila in Hindi, Kangra
Nurpur Fort Kangra

This fort of Nurpur was built between 1580 and 1613 during the reign of Paithan Rajput king Raja Vasudev. Unique samples of Indian art are present at the main gate of Nurpur Fort. This fort is a confluence of Mughal and Pahari art.
History – Nurpur Fort Kangra
Nurpur city was earlier known as Dhamdi. Dhamdi was first made the capital of the Tomar kings of Delhi in the 11th century. It is believed that the Tomar rulers are descendants of Arjun of the Mahabharata period. The Tomar ruler who made Dhamdi the capital was King Jhetpal Tomar.
This fort was built in Dhamdi by King Basudev in the 16th century between 1580 and 1613. Later in 1618, Dhamdi came under the control of the Mughals. At that time, King Surajmal, son of King Basudev, was ruling here. After being defeated by the Mughals in 1618, Raja Surajmal left here and after some time he died in Chamba.
In 1620, Mughal ruler Jahangir gave Dhamdi to Raja Jagatmal, brother of Raja Surajmal Tomar and from then on he started ruling here under the Mughals. After him, Raja Roop Singh, Raja Mananghata, Raja Prithvi Singh, Raja Veer Singh and Raja Dayaghata ruled. The British had captured this place in 1859.
An interesting story is told behind how Dhamdi got the name Nurpur. You can know this story further in this article.
Architecture – Nurpur Fort Kangra
The stone paintings and artefacts in the Nurpur Fort are proof that handicrafts were widely used in the sixteenth century.

Even today, tourists are mesmerized by the architecture of Nurpur Fort, its rich history and its beauty. This fort of Nurpur is considered one of the important historical forts of India. This fort gives a feel of the glorious era gone by. Nurpur Fort is a huge fort with magnificent architecture and grandeur.
The fort is spread across a flat plateau, forming the western end of the ridge. The main attractions of the fort include the entrance gate, the main fort, the palace, the temple built in Darbar-e-Khas, the queen’s palace, many ponds and many wells. It is said that 360 wells were built inside the fort which are closed today. It is said that during the invasions, the king threw his treasures into the wells which no one has been able to find till date.
Brijraj Swami Mandir – Nurpur Fort Kangra
There is a famous temple of Lord Brijraj Swami inside the Nurpur Fort. It is said about the temple that at that time Nurpur was ruled by King Jagat Singh Ji and Jagat Singh Ji was once invited by the King of Chittor to his place. When Jagat Singh ji went to the king of Chittor, at that time at night, Jagat Singh ji heard some sound. When he reached that place following that voice, he saw that there was an idol of Lord Shri Krishna inside a temple and a woman was dancing there. Later on asking the priest he came to know that it was Meerabai herself. Then the priest told him to ask for the idol as a gift from the king while leaving. In the morning Raja Jagat Singh asked for the idol as a gift from the king of Chittor and took it and installed it in this fort of Nurpur.
Raja Jagat Singh had built the temple and installed that idol. He built the metal idol of Lord Krishna as well as Meera ji. This is the only temple where Meera ji is worshiped along with Lord Krishna. A fair is organized in the temple on the occasion of Janmashtami.
It is said that when the Mughals attacked the fort, the king took away the idol of Lord Krishna from there and kept it at a safe place. After some time, after everything became calm, God himself appeared to him in his dream and told him to remove me from here and give him a place. Then the king hastily installed him in his court. That’s why this temple is in Darbar-e-Khas.
The figures made on the walls of the base of this temple depict Krishnaleela.
Pond – Nurpur Fort Kangra
There is a pond inside the Nurpur Fort. It is said about this pond that it is a pond on which as the day progresses and the sun’s rays fall on it, the color of its water keeps changing along with the redness of the sun. But today all this is not visible.
Change of Name – Dhamri to Nurpur Fort Kangra
Earlier the name of Nurpur was Dhamdi. There is a story behind this also. It is said that Nurpur was ruled by the Paithan Rajput royal family. Then they were also called Pathania Rajputs. Mughal emperor Jahangir also ruled here for some time. After coming under the control of Jahangir, the kings here started ruling this place under the Mughals.
Jahangir’s wife Nurjahan also came here for the first time during the reign of Raja Jagat Singh who was the ruler of this place at that time, when she was very fascinated by this place and the fort. Then Norjahan decided to stay here. She wanted to expand this fort further but most of the kings of Dhamdi and the local people did not want this. He knew that once Nurjahan came here, then this place would be completely taken over by him. For this he made a plan.
Noorjahan and Nurpur – Nurpur Fort Kangra
Due to this plan, he had very intelligently prepared a psychological strategy. He wanted the Mughals to go away from Nurpur forever and there should be no damage to the fort and Nurpur. As per the wish of Nurjahan, construction work was started on the fort here. According to his plan, the king gathered most of the people who were suffering from throat disease to work. Which was called Gildal. He gathered such people and put them to work in the fort.
When Nurjahan came there and inspected the work, she found that all the people working had something different. For this reason he asked the kings there. Then the king gave them the argument that the climate of this area and the water here are such that people get this disease after staying here for a long time. Hearing this, Nurjahan and Jahangir got scared. At that very moment he decided to leave this place and made complete preparations to leave from here.
Then the local king changed the name of their place Dhamdi to Nurpur to please Jahangir and Nurjahan. This fort of Nurpur got its name in the year 1620 due to which Jahangir also left there happily without any bloodshed and without any fight.
Noori – Nurpur Fort Kangra
Noorjahan was extremely proud of her looks. According to another story, it is said that at the time when Noorjahan came here, there was a dancer in Nurpur, Noori, who used to sing very sweetly and also danced very well. People used to come from far away places to listen to him. At the same time, Noori was also very beautiful. Noor Jahan started thinking that it might happen that Jahangir would fall in love with her and make her his queen. That is why Noorjahan had cut out the tongue of that dancer Noori. After which all the singing in the palace became quiet. It is said that after this there was always silence there.
After Earthquake – Nurpur Fort Kangra
During the British rule, most of the fort was destroyed by the terrible earthquake of 1905. Today, only a few broken walls and a few roofless rooms are visible in the name of the palace of the fort. The paintings on the walls of the fort include pictures of animals, birds, human figures, pictures of kings and queens etc. depicted with great craftsmanship.
At Present – Nurpur Fort Kangra
Nurpur Fort still reminds of its glorious history and glorious past. At present this fort has turned into ruins. At present the fort is being maintained by the Central Archeology Department as today the fort is present only in the form of ruins. River Ravi also flows beside the fort.
Before 1947, this area was considered a princely state which came under the Pathania dynasty of Rajputs. It is said that the Pathania dynasty ruled here for more than 8 centuries.
Best time to visit Nurpur Fort Kangra
Although one can visit Himachal anytime of the year but the best time to visit Nurpur is in the months of October and November. At that time the beauty of Himachal Pradesh can be enjoyed. Apart from this, one can also come here during the summer season and enjoy the Nurpur Fort along with other attractions of Himachal Pradesh.
How to reach Nurpur Fort Kangra
To reach Nurpur Fort, the nearest airport is Pathankot Airport, from where Nurpur Fort can be reached. The nearest railway station is Pathankot Railway Station. Nurpur Fort can be reached by car or cab from Pathankot.
If we talk about road, its distance from Chandigarh is 44 kilometers. The distance from Dharamshala and Makdolganj to Nurpur, which is equidistant, is approximately 154 kilometers.
Nagni Mata Mandir near Nurpur Fort Kangra
Along with the attractions of the fort, the Brijraj Swami temple is prominent and at the same time, the temple of Nagni Mata is also famous here. It is said that at the place where the idol of Nagni Mata is kept, water mysteriously collects from under the ground. And people believe that if someone drinks that water, he gets cured of snake bite.
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