What was the capital city of the Sikh kingdom ruled by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early nineteenth century?

Introduction / Context:
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the founder of a powerful Sikh empire in the early nineteenth century. Questions about his capital city are common in Indian history and general knowledge exams because they test understanding of regional powers that existed just before the full expansion of British rule. Knowing the capital of his kingdom helps students visualise the political geography of North India in that period and connect it with later colonial developments.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question mentions Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his Sikh kingdom.
• We are asked specifically about the capital city of this kingdom.
• Options include several important cities in and around North India and Pakistan.
• Exactly one of these cities served as his main capital.

Concept / Approach:
This is a factual recall question based on modern Indian history. The Sikh empire built by Ranjit Singh extended over Punjab and surrounding regions. His political and administrative headquarters were at a city that was a key cultural and commercial centre of the area. Students are expected to remember that city from their history readings and match it with the options. Maps and timelines of the Sikh empire typically highlight this capital prominently.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Maharaja Ranjit Singh consolidated his power mainly in the Punjab region in the early nineteenth century. Step 2: Remember from history that he made Lahore the capital of his Sikh kingdom. Step 3: Check the given options and locate Lahore among the choices. Step 4: Confirm that the other cities, such as Patna, Fatehpur Sikri, or Islamabad, do not match the known capital of his empire. Step 5: Conclude that Lahore is the only correct and historically accurate option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Students can verify this information by consulting standard Indian history textbooks, which usually describe Lahore as the centre of Ranjit Singh's administration and court. Historical maps of the Sikh empire label Lahore as the capital, and accounts of European travellers of that time also describe the splendour of the Lahore court. This repeated reference across multiple sources confirms that Lahore, and not any other city in the options, functioned as his main capital.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Amritsar was an important religious and commercial centre for the Sikhs but not the main capital of Ranjit Singh's kingdom. Patna is in present day Bihar and is associated with other historical periods, not his rule. Fatehpur Sikri was a Mughal capital under Akbar, not a Sikh capital. Islamabad is a much later planned city that became the capital of Pakistan in the twentieth century, long after Ranjit Singh. Therefore these alternatives are incorrect for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse religious centres with political capitals, leading them to pick Amritsar instead of Lahore. Another mistake is to assume that any modern capital city in the region, such as Islamabad, must also have been a historical capital, which is not true. Mixing up different dynasties, such as the Mughals and the Sikhs, can also cause confusion between Fatehpur Sikri and Lahore. To avoid such errors, students should link each major ruler or dynasty with its specific capital city in their notes.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Lahore.