Kapurthala is a city in the state of Punjab in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala district. It was the capital of Kapurthala State, a princely state of British India. The city's aesthetic mix with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic architecture speaks of its princely past. It is also known as the city of palaces and gardens. According to the 2011 census, Kapurthala is the least populated city in India.
The city of Kapurthala was founded by Kotak Rajputs. From the 11th century to 1772, Kapurthala was under the control of several Muslim rulers, who served as feudatories under the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.
In 1772, Kapurthala was taken by Muslim leaders and incorporated into the Kapurthala state by the Ahluwalia Sikh rulers. The Kapurthala flag has a two-tone background, with insignia and motos that read "pro rege et patria" (in Latin), which means "For king and country."
Kapurthala town has several buildings and landmarks related to local history such as Sainik School (formerly Jagatjit Palace), Shalimar Bagh (Gardens), District Court Buildings, Moorish Mosque, Panch Mandir ("Five Temples "), clock tower, State Gurudwara, Kanjli. Wetlands, 15,000 capacity Guru Nanak Hockey Stadium, Jagjit Club and NJSA Government College. The city also has the first climate theater in the country.
