[1][2] Harkishan Garh Fort was erected under the supervision of Governor Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa in 1822–23, subsequent to the Sikh annexation of Kashmir and Hazara.

[3] Initially, the fort was built to consolidate the Sikh control over the region and to serve as a launchpad for further expansion.

[3] From 1849 to 1853, the fort also functioned as the district headquarters for the British administration, until Major James Abbott moved it to Abbottabad.

[3] Both entities have reportedly maintained their presence in the fort, with modifications allegedly made in contravention of the Antiquities Act.

[3] The municipal administration, tasked with conserving historical sites, is also reported to have built an overhead water tank on the fort's western section.