WalkWithMe #1 - A Visit to Lohgarh Fort

I have always been enamored by the old forts for they remind us of two things: a) history that our forefathers created which made us what we are b) that no matter how big a structure or a personality is, time gets us all

And for this very reason, I like visiting forts and ruins of ancient structures. Even if that means scouring the earth for remnants of old structures. One such structure is Lohgarh Fort (Loh means iron and Garh means fort). Lohgarh Fort was the first ever capital of independent Khalsa Panth (sect) established by the 10th Guru of Sikhs Sri Gobind Singh Ji.

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Road to the Shrine and Fortress

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The Road Ends Here

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Sikh Religion isn't very old in India and their history can be easily traced back to late 15th Century. Towards 17th and 18th Century they had to take arms to protect the general public from the atrocities of marauding invaders. So much so that their last Guru had to sacrifice his entire family (father, mother, four sons, and lastly himself) for the sake of humanity.

The 10th Guru chose Banda Singh Bahadur, a hermit living in the Southern India as his General to continue protecting the masses from tyrant invaders of those times. This very fort that we visited was built by this chosen warrior - Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

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Statue of the Brave Warrior - Banda Singh Bahadur

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The fort lies in a secluded corner of an otherwise populous state. The land where once a sprawling structure stood tall and strong is now converted into a protected Wildlife Sanctuary. A holy shrine is built to commemorate the memory of fallen warriors who died protecting the weak and downtrodden. Even the remnants of the fort are not visible here.

Though the forest leading to different sections of the fort are intriguing to say the least. The stories that we had read while we were growing up keep coming back to you at every turn of the mountain trail that runs all along the wildlife sanctuary. Three towers have been installed at three high points of the fortress and one can actually see the whole valley down below from these high points.

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One of the many water crossings in foggy weather

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Retracing the footsteps of Sikh Warriors

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Retracing the footsteps

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We made our way through thick fog that engulfed the whole section and even though it was afternoon when we visited the area, it felt like an early morning recce in the fortress that those old warriors used to do. It was an overwhelming walk because all those men died protecting the downtrodden and they stood loyal to their faith and the 10th Guru who commanded them to fight till death but never leave the battlefield.

Soon a magnificent shrine is to be built at this location to give respects to the brave Sikh warrior who gave his all to serve humanity. I will visit again when the shrine will be built.

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The Holy Shrine - A Gurdwara

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All photographs clicked by me on 26/01/2018