Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort here has come a long way. From ruins in the early 17th century to a serai in 1657, sort of a mud fort in the 18th century, military bastion of the Sher-e-Punjab in 1809-12 to the Police Training College of the British and finally to the Punjab Police Academy after the Independence.

The only second such fort constructed by the only highly successful Sikh ruler, the fort beckons tourists not only from the state but also from all over the country and the world as well. An apt example of a military citadel, the credit of preserving the 200-year-old structure rightfully goes to the Punjab police as the Department of Conservation of the state and the state government had turned their backs to the conservation of the fort.

Inspite of such glorious past and present, the future of the fort may not be that bright, While the Punjab police deserves a pat on its back for protecting it from deterioration, they had but only concentrated on strengthening the outer structure from inside the fort is crumbling. Sources said due to lack of funds supplied by the state government, the PPA lacked resources for the repair work.

Nevertheless, it is a treat for those interested in old buildings, especially forts. The architecture is quite similar to one of the most impregnable citadel constructed by the Sikh in Bahudargarh Patiala. Though much smaller in size, the Phillaur fort has similar huge entrance gates and meandering paths leading to the inner residential palace. It also has moats or ditches surrounding the outer boundary.