Lohgarh Fort- Sikh State Capital, established by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, is spread in almost 7000 acres and is situated in the old state of Nahan, now in District Yamuna nagar of Haryana and District Sirmour of Himanchal Pradesh. The fort Lohgarh is in the revenue estates of Lohgarh (HP), Haripur (HP), Jhil (HP), Mehtawali (HP), Palori (HP), Sukron (HP),Maharonwala (HP), Bhagwanpur Nathauri(Haryana), Dhanaura (Haryana), Nagli (Haryana) and Mohindinpur (Haryana). The circumference of the fort about 30 kms.. Archeological evidence and engineering formulas (time and motion study) depicts that, it took almost 70 to 80 years for making fortifications in such a huge area. This make it the largest fort in the world.(Picture of survey Map).

Need for Lohgarh fort araised, just after martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib . The fifth Sikh Guru, was arrested under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and was asked to convert to Islam. He refused, was tortured and executed in 1606 CE. Guru Hargobind, was the sixth of the Sikh gurus. He was eleven years old when he became Guru on 30 May 1606, after the execution of his father, Guru Arjan, by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Guru Hargobind was imprisioned by Emperor Jahangir in the Fort of Gwalior (jail for political prisioners) for six year. After his release from imprisionment along with 101 Hindu Raja(most historian narrate that 52 Hindu Rajas were released), he came back to Amritsar. He is remembered for initiating a military tradition (Phiri and Miri ) within Sikhism to resist Islamic persecution and protecting the freedom of religion. Guru Hargobind Sahib, constructed Lohgarh fort at Amritsar, for the defense of the city. The battle of Amritsar between the Guru Hargobind Sahib and Mukhlis Khan was fort in may 1629, in which Mukhlis Khan who was Mansabdar of Lahore, was killed. Guru Hargobind Sahib also established Akal-Takhat . On March 29, 1626 a secret meeting was held at Amritsar , in which Raja of Nahan, Raja Of Garwal , Raja of Bilaspur and Raja of Hindur participated in the meeting along with Guru Hargobind Sahib. These Rajas were also imprisioned with Guru Sahib in the Fort Of Gwalior.

After this meeting the Guru Hargobind planned to shift to Bilaspur and establish a town over there.Baba Gurditta ji was assigned the duty of establishing the of the forts at Kiratpur Sahib. Although the Raja of Bilaspur offer these lands free of cost for establishment of town and forts , but Guru Hargobind paid the land’s cost to Raja and Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara and Bhai Makan Shah Lubana was assigned this duty to pay the land cost on the behalf of Guru Sahib. According Fort Logharh was established at Anandpur Sahib.

Staying of Guru Har Rai Sahib, seventh Guru from 1645 to 1658 in the hills of Sirmour , alongwith 2200 armed Calvary Sikhs. In total 17 years of his Guruship tenure, he spent 13 years, in the hills of Sirmour (Khushwant Singh book- a history of Sikhs-page 64). The historians simply narrates that Guru Har Rai Sahib, stayed in the hills of Sirmour, but what he did in 13 years is unknown. Such a long stay of Guru Har Rai Sahib, in this area is attributed to starting of secret mission i.e. building of Fort Lohgarh. The Raja of Nahan and the Sikh Guru’s had strong cordial socio-political relationships in 16th and 17th century. Hill chiefs of Nahan, silently remained against the oppression of Mughals. They render beneath supported, to the sikh gurus , for their struggle against Mughals .

Guru Hari Rai Sahib himself started survey for the construction of Fort Lohgarh and a battle field , which shall be appropriate to deal with mammoth army of mughals . The site choosen had large natural fortifications , work was done on plugging the weak points. In ancient times, dense forest was called as Vang durgh and hills/mountains were called Parvh Durgh. In case of Lohgarh and its battle field both the concept of van durg and Parvh Durgh applicable over here. The geographical location is such that this place had dense forest on the north and south , having wide of 14 km in cumulative. The elevated ridge (1200 to 1900 feet above sea level) from village Udhamgarh ( near Kala Amb) to Kalaser (called Dabar hill ) was chosen as battle field and exact centre point of the ridge was made fort Lohgarh. This area had advantages to sikh army and Mughals army failed to understand the preparation made by sikh warrior in 1710. There is no doubt the Mughal army outnumbered Sikh army , but it took 4 years to capture this place. The suitation became so graved for mughal army that emperor Bhahdur Shah came himself to command Mughal forces. This was first time in history when sikh force under Baba Banda Singh Bahadur compelled emperor to reach on land of Punjab to suppress the revolt.

This area is rich in flaura and Fauna . Carnivorous animals ,like tigers and leopards were present in ample number . Tigers existinguished during the time of British era and leopards still exist. So this became a suitable place for this secret mission, as human fear of wild animals, did not allow them to enter in the jungles and sikhs got an opportunity to make preparartion for warfare.

During the survey of Lohgarh Fort ruminants and the area in its vicinity, some astonishing facts came out. As per the local folklore, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara (1580-1680) , constructed about 55 wells in the vicinity of fort Lohgarh. These wells are found at village Thaska (near suda peer), Mirzapur, Todarpur (all villages of sub-tehsil sadhuara), Buddi, Bhattuwala, Sunderpur, Gatterwali, Bahadurpur, Lohgarh, Alisherpur Majra, (all villages of tehsil Bilaspur), Taharpur, Banh-santhur, Darpur, (all villages of tehsil chhachhrauli), in District Yamuna Nagar.These wells are made of dressed stones and Nanak Sahib bricks and are about 150 feet deep. It is very difficult to construct wells in this area as the aquifers are rocky. Even today drilling machines find it difficult to installed tube-wells in this area. The revenue record of 1852, reveals that this area was a dense forest and no population prevailed in this area, even upto 1852. The Britishers after making first land consolidation, settled population in this area. Presence of these archeological structures related to Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara near Lohgarh Fort, clearly indicates that Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara contributed to construction of Lohgarh Fort around 1645 to 1675. Moreover Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara, was a rich trader and had good relationships with Mughals, as he used to pay heavy taxes. His movement in the vicinity of Lohgarh, therefore never came under the suspicious radar of Mughals and he continued to supply construction material, arms, horses and food items to the men, indulged in the construction of the Fort Lohgarh.

Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara was a rich trader of Delhi. He was owner of four villages in Delhi named as Malcha, Raisana, Baharkamba & Narela. He was a Sikh trader and a contractor and supplier for the Mughal Army and supplied them with saddles, lime, stone ,bridles(rakabs) and reins. He also traded in cotton, lime powder(chuna). He had four trading tanda of India each tanda having more than 50000 Bulk carts, 1 lacs armed men for protection and management of tanda. He used to trade in one of the India particularly import and export goods from central Asia to India. (Trade route map is appendix 2). His father Nayak Thakur was one of the main suppliers of Mughal Army, during the resign of Akbar.

Sikh Gurus Sahibian and radical Bhagati movement saints have given great importance to Tandas, Banjara and Naiks in Guru Granth Sahib. These nomenculature of Banjara Culture has used to explain the Gurmat and to achieve salvation of true Lord .This clear show that the Banjaras were very close to Sikh Gurus and radical Bhagati movements Saints. Bhagat Kabir Sahib narrates :-

Bhagat Ravi Das Sahib also used nomenclature of Banjaras and Tandas to achieve salvation of God.

Guru Nanak Sahib teaches Banjara about the true lord and call banjara as friend

Similarly the Guru Amar das Sahib , Guru Ram das Sahib and Guru Arjun Sahib have given the reference of banjaras in many stanzas of Guru Granth Sahib.

Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara is a real hero in Sikh history, although the historians have failed to justify his the contributions and scarifies for the Sikhism. In case a merit list amoung the Sikhs are prepared for there contribution for Sikhism and Gurmat , the name of Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara shall be on one position. He is well known for his heroic action, as after martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, at Chadani Chowk, Delhi in 1675, he along with thousands of men, including his 4 sons, attacked Mughal Army and gave the head of Guru Sahib to Bhai Jagjivan Singh and took the trunk of Guru Sahib to his village Raisan in Delhi, where he cremate the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Presently Gurudwara Rakabgunj stands at this place. It worthwhile to mention here that the age of Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara was 95 years old , when this incidence took place and he died after five years after the martyrdom of GuruTegh Bahadur ji ,ie in 1680 , at his palace in delhi , at village Malcha.

The family of Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara was associated with sixth Sikh Guru to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, in the struggle against the Mughals for removing oppression. Bhai Vanjara and his brother Bhai Gurdas was close associate of Guru Har Rai Sahib, Guru Har Krishan and Guru Tegh Bahadur. Later on after his death his sons Bhai Hema, Bhai Naghaiya (latter on becomes Jawahar Singh), Bhai Haria and his daughter Bibi Seeto, later on becomes Basant Kaur ,the family remain closed associate of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, the tenth Sikh Guru. Bhai Hema, Bhai Naghaiya and Bhai Haria embraced martyrdom, fighting against Mughals along with Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib in 1700-1704. Latter on Bhai Agraj Singh and Bhai Faraj Singh, who were among the main generals of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and were also incharge at the battle of Lohgarh and Sadhaura. Both of them were martyrdom on 09-06-1716, along with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Delhi.

Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara had family and business relationships with Bhai Makhan Shah Labana (1619-1674), who was an international trader, and used to travel whole of the world. He had fleet of ships and was dealing through marines. Bhai lakhi Shah Vanjara, who was based at Delhi, use to coordinate the business activities at Delhi, of Bhai Makhan Shah Labana. (reference found in book Mahal Sikh Bhai Makhan Shah Labana 1940, written by Baba Harnam Singh and Diwan Singh Mehram page 27).

Baba Makhan Shah Labana family has been associated with Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Nanak Sahib visited his ancestor town Mutton Martand, Kashmir. Guru Ji stayed at the house of Bhai Bana Ji , great grand father of Bhai Makhan Shah Labana. Later Guru Har Gobind Sahib also visited Kashmir along with Emperor Jahangir. The Sixth Guru also visited the house of Bhai Makhan Shah Labana, who’s reference is found in bhatt vahis.

“The cavalcade of Bhai Makhan Shah who was the Sikh of Guru, was going to Kashmir. The Satguru joined him there. After pilgrimage of Mutton Martand along with Bhai Dasa and Bhai Aru Ram, he reached the place of Bhai Makhan Shah at Mota Tanda. Bhai Dasa, father of Bhai Makhan Shah breathed his last there.”

After death of Guru Har Krishan Sahib, Bhai Makhan Shah Labana discovered next Guru and finally Guru Tegh Bahadur as next Guru in 1665. He use to collect dasvandh from Sikhs living in Kabul to Dhaka. Since he was a rich trader and as discussed earlier, was having relationship with Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara and funds were required for construction of Lohgarh, therefore these rich traders played a significant role in construction of Lohgarh, by providing funds and suppling required material .

There are other Sikh Tandas also involved in the construction of fort Lohgarh, a place in national park of Kalesar is associated with Sukhchain Singh Tanda. This place is exactly in the center of Lohgarh and Pounta Sahib. Many Archeological evidences are found at this place such as Atta chakki, Kohlu, Nanak Sahi breaks etc. this place was used for storing basic immunities ,arms ,etc. for Sikh army.

Bhangeshwari Tanda played and important role in the history of Sikh Gurus upto Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Rao Bhulla was the owner of this Tanda, who embraced martyrdom in 13-04-1634, fighting against Mughals along with the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib. His sons Bhai Lathiya Bhangeshwari, contributed to construction of Lohgarh by supplying arms horses construction material and basic immunities. This Tanda also collected dasvandh for construction of Lohgarh. Bhangeshwari Tanda was also given the duty by Guru Gobind Singh to take Banda Singh Bahadur to Punjab on 5 Oct. 1708. Guru Gobind Singh Ji proffered Baba Banda Singh blue flag (Symbol of Sikh sovereignty). The Guru also handed him some hukam namas addressed to prominent Sikhs, asking them to give Banda Singh complete support.

Bhai Lathiya had 8 sons, out of which six became the main general of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Baghu Banjara, latter becomes Bhai Bhagwant Singh, Bhai Baz Singh, Bhai Krur Singh, Bhai Ram Singh, Bhai Sham Singh. Who along with Banda Singh Bahadur fort against Mughals and helped him in establishing Lohgarh as Sikh state capital. All of the above embraced martyrdom along with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Delhi in 09-06-1716. One of his son Bhai Santa Singh embraced martyrdom fighting along with Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Chamkaur Sahib on 08-12-1705. One of his son Bhai Sukha Singh embraced martyrdom at Lohgarh in 1710 fighting against Mughals.

Even the grandson of Bhai Lathiya and sons of Bhai Baz Singh were not left behind, Bhai Nihar Singh, Bhai Sher Singh and Albela Singh embraced martyrdom along with Banda Singh Bahadur at Delhi 09-06-1716. (Family tree of Bhai Roa Bhulla and Bhai Mani Singh is Appendix 4)

Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib (1621-75), attained Guruship in 1664. Nothing is known, what Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji did from 1644 to 1664. Man with extraordinary war skills, at the age of 15 his father Guru Hargobind Sahib after seeing his skills as warrior, in the battle at Amritsar, changed his named from Tyagmal to Tegh Bahadur. (Tegh refers to sword and Bahadur means brave), remained quiet for 20 years i.e. 1644-1664, when whole of the India was burning in the atrocities of Mughals. This theory is not correct and does no justify the corrector of grate man, who lead his life for the nation, religion of others and fighting against atrocities made by the Mughals against non Muslims. There are many places associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib in district Yamuna Nagar.Guru Tegh Bahadur visited village Sudhal, Jhiwerheri and Buria. Gurudwara are standing marking memorial of his visit. It is clear inference that Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was also indulged in making in construction of Lohgarh Fort along with his predecessor, Guru Har Rai Sahib. Moreover Guru Tegh Bahadur ji visited many Hindu Rajas in India, who were not having cordial relationships with Mughals, the Guru Sahib even visited Raja of Assam who always remained hostile to Mughals. The reason of the visits to these Rajas, was to unite the country against the foreign rules. His very near associates like Bhai Lakhi Shah Banjara, Pir Budhu Shah and Bhai Makhan Shah Labana were already participating in construction of Lohgarh, therefore the role of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is very much evident in the construction of Lohgarh. ( pictures of gurdwara attached with).

Pir Budhu Shah of Sadhaura played the significant of role in construction of Fort Lohgarh and he remained close associate of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji. His two sons fort along with Banda Singh Bahadur his two sons named Sayyad Shah Hussain and Sayyad Mohammad Baksh against the Mughals at Lohgarh and Sadhaura.

Sayed Badr-ud-Din, popularly known as Pir Budhu Shah, belonged to a celebrated Sayed family of Sadhaura, in the district of Yamuna Nagar. His ancestry can be traced to Sayed Shah Nizam-ud-Din whose descendant he was in the seventh generation.

The ancestors of Pir Budhu Shah were said to have migrated to Sadhaura from Samana (Distt. Patiala). A whole mohalla belonged to the Sayeds. For this reason, it came to be known as Mohalla Samania which was mispronounced by the residents of Sadhaura as Mohalla Swanian.

The town of Sadhaura is believed to be over three thousand year old. The original name of the place is said to be ‘Sadhu Rah’ or Pathway of saints, which in course of time came to be called Sadhaura. Sadhaura in ancient times was of great importance for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage. In medieval period it became great importance of Muslim pilgrimage. In Dec, 1709, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur captured it and made it of great importance for Sikh in present times. However, Sadhaura is a neglected place from development point of view. Notified Municipal Committee Sadhaura in 1897, is now a Gram Panchayat.
Sayed Badr-ud-Din was subsequently popularly known as Budhu Shah, was born on 13th June 1647 at Sadhaura in a well to do Sayed Family which enjoyed a jagir from the Mogul rulers and was held in considerable esteem by the people of the place.

However, due to saintly nature of Badr-ud-Din, the people of Sadhaura use to call him Budhu- a simpleton.

Pir Budhu Shah sought the company of the renowned saint, Bhikan Shah, who was residing at the village Thaska, near Karnal. Bikhan Shah is the same faqir, who had once performed Sajda in the reverse direction to Guru Gobind Singh, when he was only a few days old. On being questioned by his followers he had explained that, he had done so because a new spiritual power was rising in the person of Guru Gobind Singh. He had also gone on a pilgrimage to Patna Sahib to see the child Gobind. It was Bhikan Shah, who had initiated Budhu Shah into the preaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sayed Khan, Brother in law of Pir Budhu Shah, who was a prominent general under Emperor Aurangzeb. At the age of 18, Badr-ud-Din was married to Nasiran. Nasiran was a noble lady and devoted wife.

They were blessed with four sons, namely Sayed Ashraf, Sayed Mohammed Shah, Sayed Mohammed Baka and Sayed Shah Hussain. Three of their sons sacrificed their lives in the service on the battle of Bhangani.

Macauliffe says: “Budhu Shah remained with the Guru for some time and developed great affection and esteem for the great preacher.”

Pir Budhu Shah acknowledged the spiritual supremacy of the Guru and became his ‘disciple’. Though he did not renounce his own faith, yet his spiritual subordination to Guru Gobind Singh was complete.

Pir Budhu Shah was actually keen to stay with Guru, but some of his followers were anxious to return home. On his way back, one of his followers pointed out to the Pir that he, being a Sayed, had reposed his faith in a Hindu. The Pir explained that it was not correct to think that way. In reality God is one. All human beings are equal and that he saw the image of God in the person of Guru Gobind Singh.

Shortly after his return to Sadhaura, five hundred Pathans whose services had been dispensed eith by Emperor Aurangzeb arrived at the place. They approached Pir Budhu Shah through their leaders and narrated their tales of woe. “For no fault of ours Emperor Aurangzeb has dismissed us and has ordered that nobody should employ us.” He took them to Paonta Sahib to arrange for their employment. Guru Gobind Singh agreed to employ them.

The rising strength of Guru Gobind Singh in the Shivalik foothills, which he had made the centre of his activities after the execution of his father, was an eyesore to the hill rajas. The Guru had built three garhis or small fortresses at Paonta Sahib, Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib. He, on his part, wished to enlist the support of the hill rajas in his campaign against Mogul tyranny. The hill rajas had, however, serious misgivings about the mission of the Guru and spared no effort to discredit and disrupt his work. According to Professor Indu Bhushan Banerji “The Guru was becoming a menace to Raja Bhimchand (of Kahlur) and the integrity of his state was in danger.” Raja Bhim Chand prepared a plan which was to be implemented after the marriage of his son with the daughter of Raja Fateh Chand of Srinagar (Tehri Garhwal). In fact Bhim Chand invited Guru Sahib to the wedding, which he refused on account of his strained relations with the Raja. Instead, the Guru sent Diwan Nand Chand to Srinagar with rich presents. The marriage indirectly provided an opportunity for the hill chiefs to confer together for concerted action against Guru Gobind Singh. Some indications of the hostile attitude of the hill rajas against him could already be discerned when the presents sent by him were refused, and five hundred horsemen were sent by Raja Bhim Chand to intercept Nand Chand on his way back to Paonta Sahib from Srinagar. At the wedding itself Raja Fateh Chand and Raja Bhim Chand formed an alliance and decided to invade Paonta Sahib.

As this critical juncture the Pathans recently employed by Guru Gobind Singh on the recommendation of Pir Budhu Shah proved traitors. Nijabat Khan, Hayat Khan and Bhikam Khan came to the Guru and asked for themselves and their followers leave to depart for their home. The clever pretext for this unwarranted behavior was given to be the necessity to visit their homes on account to certain births, deaths and marriages, failing which they might be declared outcast by their kinsmen. Guru Gobind Singh exhorted them to stick to their duties and no bring bad name to their profession and their race. But all offers and admonitions failed to change their mind. The Pathans entered the services of Fateh Chand on account of tempting offers made to them. Only Kale Khan remained with the Guru along with his one hundred followers.

In the hour of peril Guru Gobind Singh wrote a letter to Pir Budhu Shah saying:-
“The Pathans who were recommended for employment by you receive their pay from us. At the time of need for fighting, they have deserted us; perhaps they felt afraid of the immense forces of the hill rajas. The cowards have joined our enemies. It is a pity you got such untrustworthy soldiers appointed.”

Pir Budhu Shah decided to join Guru Gobind Singh with relations and followers. He felt it his duty to atone for the faithlessness of the Pathans who had dishonored him in the eyes of the Guru whom he held in the highest esteem.

The Udassies and the Pathans had deserted Guru Gobind Singh and his position was really precarious. Pir Budhu Shah came with his relations and followers to support the cause of the Guru and plunged into the battle without delay. Pir Budhu Shah, his relations and disciples fought with great courage and succeeded in slaying a large number of the enemy.

Like an enlightened person, Pir Budhu Shah did not allow his feelings to be affected by the casualties in the battle of Bhangani.

The battle of Bhangani was a great landmark in the career of Guru Gobind Singh. The timely assistance of Pir Budhu Shah had literally turned the scales in his favour. His defeat at Bhangani would have resulted in very grave consequences. He would have lost the very base of his operations in the shivalik range and any reverses at that stage would have certainly driven him out of the area.

The Guru’s prestige was greatly increased as a result of his victory at Bhangani and he was looked upon as the champion of the down-trodden and semi-independent chiefs. He acquired a commanding influence over the petty chiefs and was able to carve out an independent principality for himself in the Shivalik foothills.

After their ignominious defeat in the battle of Bhangani, the hill chiefs convened a meeting to find out the reason for the resounding victory of the Guru against them. They were all at a loss to explain how their vastly numerous and celebrated soldiers could be defeated by a handful of untrained ascetics and low caste soldiers. Some attributed it to the spiritual power of the tenth Guru and some questioned the loyalty of the army of the hill chiefs. Raja Fateh Chand, however, disclosed the secret that Sayed Badr-ud-Din, alias Budhu Shah, had come to the rescue of the Guru along with his relations and followers. Thus the hill chiefs had to fight on two fronts.

All of them unanimously agreed to lodge a complaint in the Delhi Durbar against Pir Budhu Shah.

Sayed Khan was one of the prominent generals of Aurangzeb and enjoyed considerable influence at the Delhi Durbar. He was PIr Budhu Shah’s brother in law and the brother of Pir’s wife, Nasiran. This letter somehow fell into his hands. He sent away the bearer of the letter saying the Emperor would look into the matter. Sayed Khan thus tried to save Pir Budhu Shah from such conspiracies against him.

Though history is silent about Guru Gobind Singh’s visits to Sadhaura, yet tradition has it that the Guru visited Sadhaura more than once. Of course, Guru Sahib’s love and affection for Pir Budhu Shah was largely responsible for his visits to the town. From Sadhaura Guru Sahib proceeded to Laharpur, where he is said to have stayed for thirteen days at the request of Raja Medini Parkash of Nahan.

The defeat of the hill chiefs and helplessness of the royal army against the rising power of Guru Gobind Singh had been viewed with great concern by Emperor Aurangzeb. In an open durbar he had called upon his generals to volunteer themselves to crush the new movement. Sayed Khan offered his services to march against Guru Gobind Singh. It is, however, well known that that very Sayed Khan became an admirer of Guru Gobind Singh on meeting him. Mohammad Usman Khan, the Governor of Sadhaura also came to receive Sayed Khan. On finding himself unwilling to fight against Guru Sahib, Sayed Khan asked Usman Khan to accompany his troops to Sirhind to join Nawab Wazir Khan. This was done to enable the Governor of Sirhind to get necessary reinforcement in case the war against the Guru might be prolonged.

Mohammad Usman Khan later took part in the battle of Chamkaur. He knew that the two sons of Guru Gobind Singh had been killed in the battle. On leaving the fortress Guru Sahib faced great danger on the following day. Usman Khan joined Wazir Khan at Sirhind alongwith his troops. At Sirhind, the younger sons of the Guru, Sahibzadas Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, along with his mother were arrested on account of the treachery of his servant, Gangu. Usman Khan waited there to see the younger sons of Guru Sahib brutally murdered. After their martyrdom, he returned to Sadhaura. There he announced with great elation that the royal troops had destroyed all the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Anandpur, where he had built a strong fort for his defence, had also been taken away from him. All his followers had deserted him and he was wandering in the jungles all alone. Pir Budhu Shah felt greatly agitated on hearing this news. He felt deeply moved over the death of Guru Sahib’s sons. He had not grieved half as much on the death of his own two sons. Pir Budhu Shah longed to meet Guru Sahib to remove his own anxiety and concern.

To allay the deep anxiety and concern of Pir Budhu Shah, Guru Sahib came to Sadhaura again.

Meantime a messenger arrived with an order from Usman Khan, in which it was stated that it had been reliably learnt that Guru Gobind Singh had come to see Pir Budhu Shah and he was ordered to hand over the Guru to Usman Khan.

While the city was in deep slumber, Guru Gobind Singh escaped from Sadhaura under the cover of darkness. Professor Kartar Singh in his life ‘Life of Guru Gobind Singh’ has recorded that on arrival at Dina, Bhai Kaula offered him white clothes which the Guru accepted and discarded the blue garments then worn by him.

Before the arrival of Usman Khan at Sadhaura, some of the followers of the Pir had informed him about his intentions. The Pir, in consultation with his wife, arranged to send the families of two of his sons to Nahan along with his youngest son. Raja Medini Parkash was also devotee of the Guru. In addition, the area was covered with thick jungles and offered good opportunities for hiding. It is reported that Pir Budhu Shah was arrested by Usman Khan and was taken to an unknown place in the jungle. He was killed there in a brutal manner by cutting away the various parts of his body, while the Pir is said to have gone into an ecstasy. This happened on the 21st March in A.D. 1704. According to another version he was burnt alive, a common punishment for apostasy is Islam.

Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, stayed at Pounta Sahib from 1685 to 1689. Pounta Sahib is only 10 Km from north east boundary of fort Lohgarh. The reason of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s such a long stay can be attributed to construction of Fort Lohgarh. Guru Sahib also monitored the training of Gurilla fighters in the Fort Lohgarh.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the town of Pounta Sahib in 1685 A.D. Its original name was Paontika. “Paon” in Hindi means feet and “tika” in Hindi means became stable. He lived here for 4 year as he never stayed so long at any place in his entire life.

The Battle of Bhangani was fought between Guru Gobind Singh’s army and the combined forces of many Rajas of the Sivalik Hills (pahari rajas), on 18 September 1688, at Bhangani near Paonta Sahib. It was the first battle fought by Guru Gobind Singh, at the age of 25.

The battle of Bhangani lasted for a day; some historians argue that it lasted for 8 to 9 hours. Guru Gobind Singh won the battle. The Guru, though victorious, did not occupy the territory of defeated hill chiefs., since the Guru’s victory is not substantiated by any territorial annexations, on seeing, Guruji’s clear intentions not to harm anyone anyway, he extended his hand of friendship with Guruji after accepting his mistake. Guruji forgave him and good relation developed between them after understanding with Bhim Chand soon after the battle Guruji left for Anandpur in Nov. 1988 and settle here thereafter.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the last thrust to Lohgarh and made people aware regarding the big war against oppression. He even visited many places , which are near battle field of lohgarh, in district YamunaNagar.
After leaving YamunaNagar, in 1688 Guru Gobind Singh ji constructed five forts at Anandpur Sahib, and one the fort was named as Lohgarh. Factory for making of arms was set at Lohgarh and these arms were transported to Lohgarh YamunaNagar, by Sikh tandas.