Jamrud Fort The Jamrud Fort is located at the entrance to the Khyber Pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Pakistan . In October 1836 , Jamrud was conquered from the Khyberis by the Sikhs . Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa ( 1791 - 1837 ) , the well - known Sikh general , proposed to build a big fort at Jamrud . The proposal was opposed ; nevertheless the foundation of the fort that has survived was laid by General Hari Singh Nalwa on 6 Poh 1893 Sambat ( 18 December 1836 ) and the construction was completed in 54 days " Jamrud . . . noted for its fort built with 10 feet ( 3 m ) thick walls c . 1836 by the Sikh Hari Singh Nalwa , one of Ranjit Singh ' s generals , was originally named Fatehgarh to commemorate the Sikh victory over the disunited tribes . " Early in 1837 , Maharaja Ranjit Singh ' s ( 1790 - 1839 ) grandson Prince Nau Nihal Singh was to be married . Hari Singh Nalwa sent his forces to Lahore for this historic celebration . At this time , Mr Fast , an Englishman , previously in the service of the British India Government , passed through Jamrud on his way to Kabul . En route he encountered Mohammad Akbar Khan , son of Dost Mohammad Khan . When Akbar Khan learnt that the fort at Jamrud was unprotected , he decided to attack . The battle between the Afghans and the Sikhs was fought on 30 April 1837 . Heavy casualties were suffered on both sides . Ultimately the Afghans retired towards the hills , which showed that the day remained with the Sikhs . The loss suffered in this battle by the Sikhs was indeed heavy . Hari Singh Nalwa had sent out an appeal for help to the Maharaja to dispatch reinforcements from Lahore post haste , however his letter was not forwarded to the Maharaja by the Dogra chiefs . Reinforcements could not reach in time and Nalwa laid down his life in the battlefield . It was a great victory for Maharaja Ranjit Singh indeed , for Jamrud and Peshawar continued as a part of the Sikh empire . In 1837 , the fort was captured from Afghan ruler Dost Mohammad Khan by the invading Sikhs of Punjab led by Ranjit Singh . During the Battle of Jamrud , Sikh Commander Hari Singh Nalwa was killed but the fort was defended by the Sikhs . The Soldiers of Ranjit Singh Empire defended the whole region vehemently until its downfall during British regime . The invasion of Khyber and foundation of Sikh Empire was the result of atrocities of Afghans during Sher Shah ' s time and Ranjit Singh ' s Empire included Muslim commanders and soldiers from Punjab as well who were mercilessly slaughtered during Sher Shah ' s time When Sikh army was concentrated at Lahore in the celebration of Maharajas grand son , the inside information was passed by the Dogra brothers Gulab and Dahain Singh to the Afgan king Dost Mahammed , who laid the siege of the fort Where about eight hundred Sikh troops were inside the fort with their commander Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa . The siege was laid with approximately twenty to twenty five thousand Afghans troops on 23 April 1837 , With this highly imbalance of troops , the Afghans force was forced to lift the siege and siks troops extended their presence right up to Kyber Pass . The Kalsa Sarkar wazir Jawahar Singh , Sardar , nominated General Sardar Gurmukh Singh Lamba , recipient of IZAZI - E - SARDARI ( Highest Military Award ) as military cum political commander to safe guard the extended kingdom and the fort of Jamrud . Samadhi of Sardar Hari Singh made wich still exist in the fort .