The District derives its name from the headquarters town of Faridkot founded by Mokalsi, grandson of Raja Manj, who ruled this territory during the 13th century and built a fort here. Among the men forced to work as labourers on the construction of this fort was one Baba Farid. He was observed to possess miraculous powers which were demonstrated amongst other ways by the fact that the basket full of mud which he was given to carry floated above his head without visible support.
He was, therefore allowed to depart. The name of the place was changed to Faridkot after Baba Farid. It remained the capital during the reign of Mokalsi’s son Jairsi and Wairsi. The history of the Faridkot District pertaining to the ancient period has been traced to the Indus Valley Civilization. A few sites explored in the Moga Tehsil(Now a separate District) link it with Indus Valley Civilization sites explored in the Rupnagar District. A vast area, including the present area of Faridkot District was under the influence of Indus Valley Civilization.
