One of these hidden treasures is the old Manauli fort, which is about 15 kilometers from Chandigarh. Located in the heart of the little town of Manauli, this fort holds historical significance because it was secured by the Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur following his victory over Mughal oppression. Later, the fort was given to sardar Kapoor singh and is still owned by his family. This is one of the rare brick-built forts from a time when stone was the primary building material. Nearly every wall of the fort has the little bricks, which the locals refer to as the Sirhindi brick, hanging loose. It has four spherical towers that are between thirty and thirty-five feet high, with pointed barriers at the top and many holes which indicate the use of cannons. There are two entrances, a blooming shrubbery within, and shade provided by neem and banyan trees for guests. Many people travel to Manuali Fort, a mediaeval relic on the outskirts of the city limits, because of its lush surroundings and eerie stories.
Manauli's villagers bemoan the fact that the Punjab Archaeology Department authorities know little about the fort, even though it was made a protected monument in 2001. Only two of the four corner towers remain, and the magnificent gate that once guarded the fort's entrance has collapsed. They are, nevertheless, brittle, and it won't be long until the entire building crumbles to pieces.
Despite the exaggerated assertions made by the official archaeology department, the Manauli citadel in Punjab, which was once the epicenter of Sikh dominance, has been begging for attention. The structure monument is slowly crumbling into a pile of debris, despite the fact that the relevant authorities claimed to have periodically spent more than Rs 1 crore on its upkeep. In 2001, the Punjab government designated the fort as a protected monument, and in 2009, the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Archives Museum Punjab took control of the fort. But neglect has resulted in banyan, palm, and neem trees sprouting within the fort grounds, and a broken, dried-up fountain surrounded by wild growth has become a dump for rubbish. Broken tiles and fallen bricks indicate otherwise, despite the authorities' claims that they renovated and maintained the fort's walking area. "We use what resources we have to keep up the fort. The archaeological department's consultant and conservation engineer, Prem Chand, stated, "We are facing a staffing and financial shortage. Locals and government officials with knowledge of the situation indicated that the fort's most recent renovations occurred in 2016. The government should take a few more steps to enhance its state in order to prevent this unique historical pride, which is not well known.
