Poonch Fort, situated in the heart of the town, adds glory to the historic Poonch city. It spreads across an area of 7,535 sqm and is located atop a small rising hillock. The fort has witnessed various historically and politically significant phases of the time. The foundation of this fort building in the capital of Poonch was laid by Raja Abdul Razak Khan in 1701 A.D and was built by Raja Rustam Khan in 1779. A very few people know that after his name Poonch was also known as Rustam Nagar. This splendorous architectural edifice is not only a building but also the breathing embodiment of many epochs of Poonch History.
It reminds us of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, who conquered this area in 1819 which remained under the captivation of Khalsa Darbar of Lahore till 1850. It witnessed the Golden Period of Poonch from 1850 to 1947 in which principality of Poonch, (which was earlier set up by Raja Moti Singh-the then Prime Minister of Khalsa Darbar) raised to the status of state during the reign of Raja Baldev Singh in 1901. It also witnessed as token of proud sacrifice of hundreds of martyrs of Poonch in the World Wars. The thick walls of the fort has significant secrets of history and the story of periods under the reign of Muslims Rulers, Dogra Rulers and Sikh Rulers and their cultural entity reflects from outward semblance of Fort speaking the language of different eras.