Najibudaulahs Fort

Najib ud-Daula's Fort in Najibabad (celebrated across western Uttar Pradesh and the Rohilkhand region as the formidable 18th century stone and-brick fortress built in 1755 by the vital Rohilla chieftain and Mughal Grand Vizier Nawab Najib ud-Daula, later famously known as 'Sultana Daku Ka Qila' for serving as the legendary Robin Hood style hideout of the folk outlaw Sultana Daku in the 1920s), situated 90 km northwest of Moradabad in Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh, is one of northern India's most imposing, mythologically dramatic, and strategically significant military citadel ruins.

Constructed in 1755 out of massive kiln baked red lakhauri bricks and lime mortar across a vast square perimeter defended by towering corner bastions and deep defensive moats, this military bastion served as the administrative capital and military stronghold of the Rohilla Afghan confederacy during the turbulent era of the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).

It's the home of towering thirty foot battlement walls perforated with musket loops and cannon embrasures, massive semicircular corner watchtowers offering sweeping views of the Terai foothills and lush sugarcane countryside, an elaborate labyrinth of subterranean escape tunnels (Bawalis and secret underground passages rumored to connect to the Shivalik hills and Kotdwara), the historic inner ruins of the Nawab's royal court (Diwan e-Khas) and military armory, the folklore legend of bandit hero Sultana Daku and his gang who outmaneuvered British police from these ramparts, and a dramatically evocative atmosphere where centuries of Afghan warrior grit and jungle bandit lore merge in the Rohilkhand breeze.

It represents a rich Rohilla Afghan military architecture, 18th century Panipat battlefield history, and popular Indian folklore sanctuary where Najib ud-Daula's statecraft, lakhauri brick engineering, subterranean tunnels, and Sultana Daku legends unite in the Moradabad Bijnor circuit.

Located in Najibabad town along the Moradabad Haridwar Highway (NH 34), it sits just 90 km from Moradabad Junction Railway Station (MB), 2 km from Najibabad Junction Railway Station (NBD), 55 km from Haridwar, and 180 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, easily accessible by express trains, state transport buses, and private cabs.

The 1755 Rohilla Afghan Citadel of Najib ud-Daula

Nawab Najib ud-Daula founded the town of Najibabad in 1754 and erected this mighty fortress as a northern barrier against Maratha expeditions.

The fort played a central logistical role in supporting the Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Durrani leading up to the historic 1761 Panipat clash.

Truth is, standing atop the crumbling red brick corner bastion at sunset while cool winds blow from the Himalayas is exhilarating.

The Legend of Sultana Daku & Hidden Underground Mazes

Sultana Daku's Lair: In the early 20th century, the notorious folk bandit Sultana Daku used the abandoned fort ruins as an impregnable jungle stronghold.

Secret Tunnels: British colonial accounts recorded intricate underground vaults and escape tunnels used by rebels to evade capture.

Nawab's Tomb & Neighboring Ghausgarh Legacy

Najib ud-Daula's Tomb: The elegant white marble and red stone mausoleum of Nawab Najib ud-Daula is located nearby in the heart of Najibabad town.

Gateway to Garhwal: Located at the base of the Shivalik hills, the fort works as a historic stepping stone toward Kotdwara and Lansdowne in Uttarakhand.

After exploring Najib ud-Daula's Fort, visit the famous Moradabad brass emporiums, tour the Rampur Raza Library, or take a scenic drive to the foothills of Lansdowne and Haridwar.