While the exact origins of the Kangra Fort are not known, local legends attribute its construction to Susharma Chand of the Katoch dynasty of the Rajputs.[1][2]

The earliest still existing remains inside the fort are Jain and Brahminical temples dated to c. 9-10 century A.D. The earliest recorded reference to the Kangra fort dates from the time of this fort's invasion by Mahmud Ghazni in 1009 A.D. The fort was captured by Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1337 A.D., and by his successor Firuz Shah Tughluq in 1351 A.D. respectively.[3]

Raja Dharam Chand submitted to the Mughal Ruler Akbar in 1556 and agreed to pay tribute, including, renouncing claims to the fort. But in 1620, Emperor Jahangir, killed that Katoch king, Raja Hari Chand and annexed the Kangra kingdom into the Mugha lEmpire.[4] Under the leadership of Nawab Ali Khan and aided by Raja Jagat Singh , the fort was captured in 1620 and under Mughal rule until 1783. In 1621, Jahangir visited it and ordered the slaughter of a bullock there.[5] A mosque was also built within the fort of Kangra.[6]

 Raja Sansar Chand attacking Kangra Fort, ca.1782

As the Mughal empire began to crumble, a descendant of Raja Dharam Chand, Raja Sansar Chand Bahadur II began a series of conquests of Kangra with the support of Sikh leader, Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the Kanhaiya misl. However, after the death of Mughal governor Saif Ali Khan, the fort was surrendered in 1783 by his son to the Sikh leader, Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the Kanhaiya Misl in return for safe passage. This betrayal by Jai Singh Kanhaiya led to Raja Sansar Chand soliciting the services of Sikh misaldars Maha Singh of the Sukerchakia Misl (father of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and besieged the fort. In 1786, Raja Sansar Chand gained Kangra fort by peaceful treaty with Jai Singh Kanhaiya in return for territorial concessions in the Punjab.

Sansar Chand quickly focused on expanding his kingdom and conquered the nearby kingdoms of Chamba, Mandi, Suket and Nahan. In 1805 he turned his attention to Bilaspur and the then Raja of Bilaspur called on the aid of the powerful Gurkha kingdom, who had already acquired Garhwal, Sirmour and other small hill states of Shimla. An army of 40,000 Gurkhas responded by crossing the Sutlej river and quickly captured fort after fort. In 1808, the Gorkhas struck a decisive blow and captured the fort of Pathiyar (Palampur).

By 1809, Kangra itself was under direct threat from the Gurkhas and Sansar Chand had taken refuge in the Kangra fort. Sansar Chand then turned towards Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore for aid, leading to the Nepal-Sikh war of 1809 in which the Gurkhas were defeated and forced back to the Ghaghara River. In return for his help, Maharaja Ranjit Singh took possession of the ancient fort alongside 76 villages (the fort's ancient Jagir) on Aug 24, 1809 while leaving the rest of Kangra to Sansar Chand.

 Kangra fort in 1847, by Charles Hardinge

The fort was finally taken by the British under Henry Lawrence during the First Anglo-Sikh war on 28 May 1846 after a six-week long siege.[7]

A British garrison occupied the fort until it was heavily damaged in an earthquake on 4 April 1905.