Phillaur, a small town in Ludhiana District was originally named 'Phulnagar' in the honour of 'Sanghera Jat Phul'. This hamlet served as a vital perimeter site and controlled the most frequent ferry at Satluj.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, noting the merit of this vicinity ordained here a strong force under the pilot age of Governor Mohkam Chand. This army was stationed at Phillaur for 4 years from 1808 to 1812. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh was overpowered by British at Ludhiana and they took over the Lodhi Fort, as a countermeasure he established this strong fort at Phillaur. It is chronicled that the fort at Phillaur was designed by Dewan Mokham Chand and the "Project Fort" was taken up and executed by an Italian architect. This fort, changing hands from Sikh Rule to British Governance, is now engaged by Punjab Police Academy. Today, a police training centre and the Finger Print Bureau are operational in Phillaur Fort.