✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Bahadurgarh Fort, on the Rajpura–Patiala road near Patiala, stands on the site of the old Saifabad fort, and the Patiala district portal links it to a stay by Guru Tegh Bahadur and says the present fort dates from Maharaja Karam Singh. Check before you travel: Google Maps visitors say it is now a commando training centre closed to the public, and a photograph of the gate shows a “Commando Training Centre” sign. Google Maps shows about 59 km and 1 hour 13 minutes from Chandigarh.
We include the fort because it is one of the Patiala district’s listed tourist places, but readers should know that current access looks restricted. This guide draws on the Patiala district portal, Wikipedia and Google Maps, and it separates the official history from the visitor reports, which we could not confirm with an official source.
Bahadurgarh Fort at a glance
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| What it is | A moated fort near Patiala, listed by the Patiala district portal as Qila Bahadurgarh |
| Where | NH 64, Rajpura–Patiala Road, Bahadurgarh, Patiala, Punjab 147021; plus code 9F7C+PV on Google Maps |
| From Chandigarh | About 59.0 km, roughly 1 hour 13 minutes via the Bathinda–Chandigarh highway and Rajpura–Patiala Road on Google Maps; another route is 80.4 km (1 hour 36 minutes) |
| Access | Google Maps visitor comments say the fort is used for commando training and is not open to visitors, with no photography at the main gate. A 2015 photograph shows a “Commando Training Centre” sign at the gate. We could not confirm the current position with an official source |
| Timings and fee | Google Maps shows no opening hours, and we found no official timings or fee |
| Phone | 0172 504 2958 (Google Maps listing; we have not called it) |
| Visitor rating | 4.2 on Google Maps, about 1,000 reviews (21 September 2026) |
History: Saifabad to Bahadurgarh
The district portal says the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, stayed at Saifabad during his travels. The place was originally called Saifabad, it says, and was renamed Bahadurgarh by Maharaja Amar Singh, who reinforced and renovated it, while the present fort dates back to Maharaja Karam Singh. Karam Singh, according to the same page, also built a Gurdwara on the Patiala–Rajpura road, 6 km from Patiala city.
Wikipedia gives a similar outline with differences. It says the fort was built on the site of the old Saifabad Fort, the residence of Nawab Saif ud-Din Mahmud, known as Saif Khan, and that Maharaja Karam Singh renovated it between 1837 and 1845 at a cost of about 100,000 rupees and named it after Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1837. It says the fort has two ramparts and a moat, that the site was never used as a royal residence, and that Karam Singh also built Gurdwara Sri Patshahi Nauvin Sahib Qila Bahadurgarh, parts of which remain original.
The two sources disagree on who renamed the fort, Amar Singh or Karam Singh. Wikipedia also gives a construction year of 1658 and says a tunnel links the fort to Qila Mubarak, and its description of the fort’s area is not plausible, so we do not repeat those points. Google Maps’ own summary says the fort was built in 1658 and renovated in the 1800s.
Can you visit?
- What visitors report: several Google Maps reviewers say the fort now serves as a commando training centre, that it is a high-security area, and that even photographs at the main gate were not allowed. One suggests visiting Qila Mubarak in Patiala instead. These are visitor comments, not official statements.
- What the photograph shows: the 2015 photograph above shows a red and blue sign in Punjabi over the gate reading “Commando Training Centre”, with a smaller line that appears to name Bahadurgarh, Patiala. It does not say which force runs it, and it is a decade old.
- The gurdwara: the district portal and Wikipedia mention a gurdwara built by Karam Singh; some reviewers mention a gurdwara sahib. We do not know whether it can be visited separately from the fort.
- Our advice: do not make a special trip on the strength of the district listing. Ask the Patiala district administration or the Bahadurgarh gurdwara, and do not attempt to enter restricted areas.
How to reach Bahadurgarh from Chandigarh
Google Maps shows about 59.0 km and 1 hour 13 minutes via the Bathinda–Chandigarh highway and Rajpura–Patiala Road, and 80.4 km and 1 hour 36 minutes via SH 12A and the Sirhind–Patiala road. The district portal says the nearest airport is Chandigarh and puts the railway station and bus stand at about 9 km from the fort.
Other heritage in Patiala
- Forts near Chandigarh and historical places in Chandigarh.
- Sikh heritage day trip: Fatehgarh Sahib and Virasat-e-Khalsa for more of the region’s Sikh history.
- Qila Mubarak, Patiala, the old-city fort-palace that Google Maps describes as open to the public.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Bahadurgarh Fort?
Not reliably. Google Maps visitors say it is used for commando training and closed to the public, and a 2015 photograph shows a “Commando Training Centre” sign at the gate. We could not confirm the current position with an official source, so check before you go.
Who built Bahadurgarh Fort?
The district portal says the present fort dates back to Maharaja Karam Singh, on the site of the older Saifabad, which Maharaja Amar Singh renamed and reinforced. Wikipedia says Karam Singh renovated it between 1837 and 1845.
Why is it called Bahadurgarh?
It is named after Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru, who stayed at Saifabad according to the district portal. The sources differ on whether Amar Singh or Karam Singh gave the new name.
How far is Bahadurgarh Fort from Chandigarh?
Google Maps shows about 59.0 km and roughly 1 hour 13 minutes via the Bathinda–Chandigarh highway and Rajpura–Patiala Road.
Is there an entry fee or timings?
We found no official fee or timings, and Google Maps shows no opening hours.
What is a good alternative in Patiala?
Qila Mubarak in the old city of Patiala, which Google Maps describes as open to the public.