In 1834, the Sikhs named the fort as Samīr Gaṛh or Sameer Garh. Samīr was another name for Mount Kailash, a high peak in Tibet considered sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism; Gaṛh means fortress in Hindustani. However, this name did not become popular and was soon replaced again by Bala Hissar.