Page 39 - Lohgarh

Lohgarh : The Largest Fort of the World w 39

(24-2-1646), Rup Kaur 9-4-1649) and Guru Harkishan (20-7-1652) must
have been born here. 14
In 1657 Guru Har Rai visited Keeratpur, Goindval, Sialkot and
Kashmir, etc. he spent the next two years at Keeratpur where he
breathed his last in 1661. Guru Harkishan could not visit Thapal or
Lohgarh because he remained Guru only for three years. Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib founded the town of Chakk Nanaki (now a part of a
Greater Anandpur Sahib) in 1665. He spent about four years (1666 to
1670) in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and Assam and preached his
mission in these areas. During this time Lakhi Rai Vanjara and his sons
monitored the construction of Lohgarh Fort.
Guru Tegh Bahadur embraced martyrdom in 1675. Guru Gobind
Singh spent 10 years (up to 1685) at Chakk Nanaki. He visited Nahan in
April 1685 and founded the town of Paonta Sahib. He spent the next
three years and a half at Paonta. During this period he gave the last
touches to the Lohgarh Fort. Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara had died in 1680
but his sons remained with the Guru. They were a part of the Guru’s
army and they participated in all the battles of the Guru.
In November 1688, Guru Gobind Singh returned to Chakk Nanaki
and began the work of construction of five Forts at Chakk Nanaki
(Fatehgarh), Anandpur Sahib (Anandgarh), Sahota (Lohgarh), Tirgarh
(Tirgarh) and Agamgarh (Holgarh/ Agamgarh).

Endnotes

1. The rulers of the Nahan or Sirmaur State had good relations with the
Sikhs right from the time of Guru Hargobind (1590-1644). According to a
tradition this State was established by Sobha Rawal (Subans Parkash) in
1095. The city of Nahan (which eventually became capital) was founded
by Karam Parkash (ruler 1616-1630). Karam Parkash was an admirer of
Guru Hargobind. He friended the Guru sometimes after 1619, when he
came to know that the Guru had got 52 Hindu rulers, princes and ministers
States released from Gwalior Fort prison. There royal prisoners were
mostly from hill and Rajputana. In October 1621, the Guru had defeated