Pun: ਫ਼ਰੀਦਕੋਟ farīdkōṭ
‘Fort of Farid’ – City/District, Punjab
From Farid, after the Sufi saint Baba Farid (Fariduddin Ganjshakar), and Skt: koṭa, ‘fort’.
Faridkot is named after Baba Farid (1173–1266 CE), a revered Sufi saint of the Chishti order. According to tradition, Baba Farid visited this area and was briefly imprisoned by a local ruler, Mokalsi. The city later adopted his name in reverence.
Historically, Faridkot was a princely state under the rule of the Sidhu-Brar Jat dynasty. It remained an important military and administrative center through the Mughal, Sikh, and British periods. The rulers of Faridkot were among the prominent Cis-Sutlej chiefs who allied with the British after the decline of the Sikh Empire.
The city is known for its architectural heritage, including the Faridkot Fort, and the Raj Mahal and Darbar Ganj palaces.
Baba Farid’s legacy is preserved at Gurdwara Tilla Baba Farid, a major pilgrimage site.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Punjab place names.
