Burail Fort

Chandigarh, India

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Burail Fort, located in Sector 45 of Chandigarh, India, is a historical fort believed to date back around 900 years, originally constructed by the Raghuvanshi Rajputs and later controlled by the Mughal empire until 1712 CE.

The fort is now mostly in ruins and partially obscured by modern development, with only remnants like three bastions and fragments of the walls still visible. It holds historical significance due to its association with a cruel Mughal faujdar named Rustam Khan, who occupied the fort in the early 18th century and imposed harsh rules on newly-wed women.

Lokals appealed to Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur, who sent an army under General Baj Singh Bahadur to free the fort, leading to a fierce battle remembered by a gurdwara called Guru Shahidi Kila Sahib, built on the site to honor Sikh soldiers who died fighting the Mughals.

Despite being neglected by major heritage agencies, the fort remains a significant monument reflecting the region’s Mughal and Sikh martial history, while also blending with the modern urban village that now surrounds it.