Manauli Fort

Manauli Fort, also known as Quila Manuali, is a historic fortress located in the middle of the Manauli village in Mohali district, Punjab, about 11 kilometers from Mohali city and Chandigarh. Built possibly in the 17th or 18th century by the Mughals, it later became an important site in Sikh history when Banda Singh Bahadur captured it from Mughal control, marking the establishment of Sikh rule in the area.

The fort was subsequently given to Sikh warrior Sardar Kapoor Singh of the Singhpuria Misl, who governed it and encouraged Sikh settlements nearby. Architecturally, the fort features four rounded towers each approximately 35 feet high, with strategic rifle holes and elevated walls about 20 feet above the village level for defense.

Despite its rich historical significance and connection to key Sikh military victories, the fort is currently in a state of neglect and disrepair, overgrown with vegetation and lacking proper maintenance. It is owned by the descendants of Sardar Kapoor Singh but is under government protection as a heritage site. The fort remains a symbol of Punjab’s royal and military history but needs preservation efforts to avoid further decay.