Sultanpur Lodhi Fort (Qila Sarai)

Sultanpur Lodhi Fort, commonly known as Qila Sarai, is a historic fortified sarai located in Sultanpur Lodhi town in Kapurthala district, Punjab, India. Originally built as a rest house for travelers and later fortified, the structure features Mughal and Sikh architectural elements with high walls, bastions and arched gateways. It is notable for its association with Guru Nanak Dev Ji and as a heritage landmark in the holy town on the banks of the Kali Bein rivulet.

Visitors can expect a historic fortified enclosure with massive brick walls, bastions, arched gateways and open courtyards. The structure is partly in ruins with visible Mughal and Sikh-era architectural features. The site is located within Sultanpur Lodhi town near the Kali Bein rivulet, surrounded by religious and historic landmarks. Visitors can walk around the outer walls, explore the gateway and interior open area, view the old masonry and take photographs of the heritage architecture.

Sultanpur Lodhi was founded by Sultan Khan Lodhi in the 12th century. The Qila Sarai was originally built as a sarai (caravanserai) for travelers and traders during the medieval period, with later additions in the Mughal era. It was subsequently fortified and renovated in the 18th century under Maharaja Jassa Singh Ahluwalia of Kapurthala. The site is historically significant for its association with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who lived and worked in Sultanpur Lodhi for about 14 years as a young man.

Sultanpur Lodhi is a major Sikh pilgrimage centre associated with the early life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Qila Sarai is part of the town's heritage ensemble that reflects the region's medieval sarai culture and Sikh history. The town and its monuments, including the fort, are visited by pilgrims and heritage tourists, especially during Gurpurab celebrations and religious gatherings along the Kali Bein.