The Fort & It's History

Kartik Cultural Festival Nahar Singh Mahal

---

November 2nd to 7th, 1996.

The venue of the Kartik Cultural Festival is the historic fort of the king Nahar Singh at Ballabgarh. Around 1739 AD work on the construction of the Fort of Ballabgarh began under instruction of the forefathers of King Nahar Singh. It was once guarded by two gates. The four corners of the Mahal were decorated with -minars' on which were mounted large cannons.
After Nahar Singh's death in 1857, his mahal (palace) at Ballabgarh, just outside Delhi, faded into ruin and oblivion. Rediscovered and rescued by the Government of Harayana, the palace was entrusted to a well-known team of experts, under whose direction it has been restored to its oritinal, delicate bearty. In a unique joint vbenture, the district administration of Faridabad, the Ballabgarh Beartification Society, the Departments of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of the Government of Harayana, the Office of the Director General of Tourism, Government of India, local business leaders, and leading artists and arts venture of international stature.
Today only two minars can be seen. The Mahal had a Darbar-e-aam and a Rang Mahal which were decorated with a beautiful -Chhatril. This can be seen even today.
King Nahar Singh, ascended the throne in 1829 and proved to be a just ruler. In the year 1857 when the fires of the First War of Independence were flaring up in the country, he joined in the battle. With his small army he fought valiantly, following the guerrilla tactics popular in those days. But the small efforts of the King could not withstand the forces of the British. And with it, came the end of the rulers of Ballabgarh.
But times changed and today, the District Administration has succeeded in restoring the old grandeur of the Fort of Ballabgarh. Today the Mahal (fort) fascinates as an outstanding specimen of architectural design. In pattern, the Mahal is in keeping with the fineness of the Mahals of Bharatpur. It is in these grounds that Haryana Tourism and the Ballabgarh Beautification Society celebrate the Nahar Singh Mahal Kartik Cultural Festival from 2nd to 7th November 1996.