Following the downfall of Arab rule in Sindh, the Hindu king of Kanauj took possession of Mankera followed by the Mekan.

The Abdali kings annexed Mankera and the adjoining areas and the Baloch gave way to Saddozai Pathans.

Mankera Fortress, the principal feature of the town, lies 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) to the left of the Bhakkar highway.

Next to the congregational mosque (jamia masjid) of Mankera are the ruins of a temple built during the Sikh rule, and the tomb of Nawab Surbuland Khan is just outside the main citadel.

The Sikh annexation of this area began in 1821, and was completed with the fall of Mankera in the autumn of that year.

Misr Diwan Chand besieged Mankera for twenty-two days before the Nawab surrendered the fort to the Sikhs.

Mankera is 360 km (220 mi) away from Lahore and it is located on the main Lahore-Dera Ismail Khan road.