Bathinda Uncovered: The Forts, Faith and Forgotten Stories of Malwa

By Manya Bhasin

What if the streets you walk through every day could take you nearly 1,900 years into the past?
In Bathinda, history is not confined to the pages of a textbook. It stands tall in weathered brick walls, whispers through centuries-old shrines and survives in the narrow lanes of the old city.

Bringing these forgotten chapters into the spotlight, the Bathinda Heritage Walk, organised by Tawarikh-e-Punjab under the banner of Sands of Des Malwa, offers an immersive journey through the region’s rich historical and cultural landscape.
At the heart of the walk stands Qila Mubarak, Bathinda’s iconic fort, whose origins are traditionally traced to around 90–110 CE. Its imposing brick fortifications have witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, making it a striking reminder of the city’s strategic importance through the centuries.

But behind these formidable walls lies a story of power, captivity and resilience.
In 1240, Razia Sultana, the Delhi Sultanate’s first and only woman to rule as a sovereign monarch, was imprisoned in Bathinda following a rebellion involving Malik Altunia. Her association with the fort adds a dramatic chapter to its enduring legacy.
Within the fort complex, Gurudwara Qila Mubarak Sahib offers another dimension to the site’s history. Built by Maharaja Karam Singh of Patiala in 1835, the shrine reflects Bathinda’s deep-rooted Sikh heritage.

The walk then moves beyond royal history into the city’s spiritual landscape.The itinerary of the walk includes the gurudwara and tomb associated with Hajji Rattan, Hujrah Baba Farid, the Tomb of Shah Chand and the Razia Sultana Masjid. These iconic landmarks reveal layers of religious traditions, medieval architecture and shared cultural memory.
Together, these landmarks tell a story that goes beyond monuments. They reflect a region where Sikh, Sufi and Islamic influences have contributed to a rich and complex historical identity.

Designed as a guided three-to-four-hour experience, the walk encourages participants to slow down, observe architectural details and listen to stories often overlooked during conventional sightseeing.

The indicative registration fee is Rs 799 per person, with advance booking and limited seats typically offered by the organisers. The amount has to be paid in advance and is non-refundable. The walk is scheduled for November 1, Sunday at 12 PM.
As November brings a slight chill in the weather of Punjab, heritage exploration becomes an inviting way to experience the Malwa region.
Ultimately, Bathinda’s heritage walk is more than a trail through old buildings. It is an invitation to rediscover a city where every surviving wall holds a memory and every forgotten story deserves another hearing.

(The writer is an intern with The North News.)