Bathinda. The Gobindgarh Fort here is one of the 30 monuments and archaeological sites of national importance looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Punjab. The fort has been losing its grandeur to the vagaries of nature due to maintenance owing to funds constraints.

Built during the early centuries of the Christian era the fort has 32 small and four large bastions placed at its corners. As it was established as a military fort rather than as a residential palace, many of the forts of Rajasthan and south India overshadow this fort in beauty. It is said that Raja Dab, an ancestor of celebrated Veena Pal, built the fort. It is believed that Rao Bhatti established the modern town of Bathinda in the Lakhi jungle area in the third century and it was captured from him by the Braras.

The region witnessed massive inflow of invaders from northwest in several successive waves between 1500 B.C. and 800 B.C. The main turning point in the history of Bathinda came in 1004 A.D. when Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni besieged the fort after King Jaipal had committed suicide. The fort was situated en route from northwest to the economically rich Ganga valley.

The fort then fell to Mohammad Ghori in 1189. But after only 13 months Prithvi Raj Chauhan managed to regain its possession in 1191 after a fierce battle. It was here on this fort that Razia Sultan, the daughter of Iltutmish and the first woman to assume the throne of Delhi, was first imprisoned on her defeat and dethroned by the then Governor of Bathinda, Ikhiyar-Uddin-Mohammad Altunia. In 1754 AD the fort was conquered by Phulkia chief Ala Singh, which remained under the rulers of Patiala till the merger of the princely states. Guru Gobind Singh had also visited this fort.