Page 38 - Lohgarh

38 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

Some historians have said that Banda Singh Bahadur captured
Mukhlisgarh Fort and renamed it Lohgarh. One historian says that Banda
11
Singh built a Fort near Mukhlisgarh village and named it Lohgarh . In
fact, there is no village known as Mukhlisgarh. We have maps drawn by
Major James Rennel (1742-1830). He is known as the father of
geography. In 1792, he published Memoirs: Maps of Countries between
Delhi and Candahar. This book refers to Moklespore (Mukhlispur) “a
place seven or eight kos from Sadhaura, near the northern hills and on
the edge of a small hill, difficult of access, on which Islam Khan, son of
Sher Khan Sur, in his day of brief authority, began to build a strong
Fortress, under the name of Pawagarh. It was left unfinished at his death,
and, fell into ruins, part of which still remains. Banda Singh restored and
extended these ruins.” 12
(See the location in the map and the pictures):
In fact there is not (nor ever was) any Fort named Mukhlisgarh.
This name was given to a palace which had been built as a holiday and
pleasure resort for the kings and senior generals and governors, etc. 13
It is about 40 kilometers away from Lohgarh and is situated on the
eastern side of Yamuna river. It is not far from the Hathni Kund barrage.
It has an area of 45 acres of land and the building of the palace covers
an area of one acre and a half. Being in the foothills and on the bank of
a river, it is a beautiful resort. The Mughal Emperors used this palace
for pleasure and hunting.
This palace has not a single feature of a Fort; hence it is wrong to
consider it as such. This area is known a Badshahi Bagh (royal garden)
and the building is also known as Rang Mahal (place for pleasure). Irvine
refers to this palace as “hunt-lodge, now called Badshahi Mahal, built
by Shah Jahan, close to Jamuna Canals”. In 2017, the Archaeological
Survey of India spent 20 million rupees to repair and renovate this
building.
Birth of Ram Rai, Rup Kaur and Guru Harkrishan Sahab ji

Guru Har Rai had spent about 13 years in the Thapal village (in the old
state of Nahan/Sirmaur, in Lohgarh zone), his children Ram Rai