It was ruled by the Hindu Shahi kings until, in the early 11th century, Mahmud of Ghazni expelled them from Nandana.

The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) was tasked by the Prime Ministers Office to rehabilitate the site with the aim of making it an international tourist destination.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had been informed of the decrepit state of the site by his wife's nephew, Shahroze Khan, who had previously heard about the state of the fort from Paul Salopek, a New York Times contributor.

In February 2021, the PM and several aides and cabinet members attended an official event celebrating the restoration of the site.

[2][3][4] Anandapala, the son of Jayapala of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, had erected the Shiva temple in Nandana.