Fort History

Situated in the Dharampur Tehsil of Mandi District of HP, Kamlah fort had the reputation of being the most secure repository of the reputed 360 forts of the Mandi state. Kamlah garh was one of the most celebrated fort in the hill states to the extent that independence of the state mandi often depended on the impregnability of its chief fort Kamlah. The fort is approx 100 km from district headquarter and regular bus service is available from Mandi, Dharampur, Sarkaghat and Hamirpur, to reach there. It is situated at a height of 4500 feets MSL. On the top of the fort is situated the famous temple of Baba Kamlahiya ji. There are approx 1000 stairs from the road leading to the temple.

Kamlahgarh was founded in AD 1625 when Raja Hari Sen was ruling the state of Mandi. His son Suraj Sen ascended the throne in 1637 and strongly fortified Kamlah. It became famous for its strength all over the hills. The fort is built upon the hill, which is part of Sikandar Dhar. There is a proverb on the expanse of Sikandar Dhar: “Sikandar Dhar-na aar na paar” means Sikandar Dhar has immeasurable span. It has earned its name from Sikandar Lodhi (1489-1517) who attacked Mandi in the times of Raja Dilawar Sen (1472-1499) and established his camp here.

Kamlahgarh fort remained a repository of all the wealth of Mandi state from the reign of Suraj Sen (1637) to that of Ishwari Sen (1824). During the reign of Shamsher Sen (1727-1750), who was of weak intellect and had fallen into bad habits, an Afghan, Nawab Adina Beg, who was the Governor of Jalandhar, made an entry into Guler in 1745-46, intending to invade Mandi but soon retired on finding that Kamlahgarh was too strong to be stormed. Such was the strength of this fort. Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra during the rule of Raja Ishwar Sen (1788-1826) tried to capture Kamlahgarh and won over two generals, Murli and Manaku, looking after the safety of Kamlahgarh. Due to the loyalty of a soldier Bhagu, he could not conquer it. Hutchison and Ph Vogel write in the ‘History of the Punjab Hill States’: “Kamlahgarh alone was saved from falling into Sansar Chand’s hands, though he made various efforts to obtain possession of it.”