Ferozepur Fort reopens to public: A walk through time

Constructed between 1835 and 1839, the fort initially served the British East India Company until 1858, then under the British Crown’s rule in India from 1858 to 1947, and has been used by the Indian Army since Independence.

On June 1, the Indian Army’s Golden Arrow Division opened a portion (40 per cent) of the nearly 186-year-old Ferozepur fort to the public for the first time. Entering the fort feels like reminiscing about a forgotten era that carries stories of valour, a crushed rebellion and a fallen empire where the sun would never set.

The fort was opened to promote “border tourism” and to “showcase the rich legacy” of this border district amid much fanfare.

Brigadier Bikram Singh, Station Commander, Golden Arrow Division, and President of the Cantonment Board, told The Indian Express, “The fort opens to the public on Sundays only, but the response has been overwhelming, with a large number of tourists pouring in and people from far-off places calling us to know more about it. So, buoyed by the response, we are planning to open the fort to the public for a few more days.”

The portion opened to the public has been kept in its original condition — raw and rustic.

“This initiative aligns perfectly with the Indian Army’s dedication to promote border tourism and preserve the nation’s rich heritage,” Maj Gen Manral emphasised.

The now-open 40 per cent of the fort was used by the Army till 2008, and the remaining 60 per cent is still under the Army and remains closed to civilians. However, even the access to 40 per cent speaks volumes about the bygone era.

“Ferozepur is a sleepy town, and the fort speaks of a bygone era. I think school heads should encourage students, especially history students, to visit the fort. I was born and brought up in Ferozepur, so when the Army declared the fort open to the public, I was thrilled by the opportunity to discover the rich history of our small town,” said Amritpal Singh, a Ferozepur resident.

Davinder Pal Singh Jang, former member of the Ferozepur Zila Parishad, said, “The building may not be as grand as several other forts have, but it has architecture far ahead of its time. One must visit this fort to promote border tourism. This initiative is highly appreciated.”

A legacy cast in stone

The Ferozepur fort was designed in the trans-Italian military architectural style under the supervision of General Sir Henry Lawrance, who served as the first Governor of Ferozepur. Its formation came after the death of Lachhman Kaur, the wife of Dhanna Singh, the last ruler of the region, who died in 1808 without a legal heir. After she died in 1835, the East India Company annexed the region under the Doctrine of Lapse, and subsequently, the fort was formally established.
The architectural brilliance of the fort still stuns visitors. Built in three defensive layers — a star-shaped outer wall, a hexagonal mid-layer and a rectangular core — the layout speaks volumes about its military purpose. At each corner of the hexagon stood a bunker — only one intact now. This surviving bunker is equipped with 16 loopholes, including three for wider-range attacks, serving as a vantage point for deadly attacks.

Above the bunker stands a preserved yet restricted residence, believed to be once used by Sir Henry Lawrance and subsequent commanders. Though still off-limits for security reasons, its silhouette reminds colonial presence and administrative control. Both these sites are, however, not open to the public.
A hall that does not echo

The newly accessible area begins at the gate leading visitors to the Darbar Hall. Time has certainly worn its face, dust carpets its stone floor and rust clings to exposed iron, but the structure remains robust, bearing a testament to the Victorian engineering. Built in Gothic style in 1840, the Darbar Hall once hosted military officers and dignitaries. Designed with astonishing acoustics, it allows a speaker at one corner to be heard clearly by all — even the last man at the opposite end of the hall — without a modern sound system and without echo to create distortion.
Nearby is an old hall, once used for manufacturing and storing armaments, and part of the same formidable arsenal that defined the fort’s importance during the 19th century.

Forgotten wells and whispering trees

Of the 85 wells that once quenched the thirst of soldiers and horses, only Well No. 85 with a 70-foot-deep shaft is located in the public area surrounded by babool (Acacia nilotic or Indian Gum Arabic), jamun (black plum or Java plum or Indian blackberry) and bargad (banyan) trees. The newly opened section needs repair. The Indian Army has committed to gradual restoration based on public interest and response.
Education and preservation

As part of this initiative, Army Public School in Ferozepur has adopted the fort to promote research and heritage awareness. Two students from the school led guided tours during the inauguration, a powerful gesture symbolising how the next generation is being entrusted with carrying forward the legacy of history.

The 7-km radius of the fort includes several historical landmarks like Saragarhi Gurdwara, Hussaniwala Border, where the daily retreat ceremony takes place, and the National Martyrs’ Memorial, where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were cremated. Also, Turi Bazaar, a secret hideout of Bhagat Singh.

Captions: The entrance of Ferozepur Fort; the Darbar Hall; inside the bunker at the fort. Gurmeet Singh

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