Tilla Jogian is known as Hindu pilgrimage centre for at least 2000 years.The complex is said to have been established in 1st century BCE.The Kanphata jogi, an ascetic order noted for its members' ear piercings, was founded by Guru Gorakhnath, and was centred at TIlla Jogian.

Tilla Jogian attracted the founder of Sikh faith, Guru Nanak who meditated here for 40 days in the early 1500s. The Mughal Emperor Akbar visited the "Shrine of Balnath," an influential and widely venerated yogi. The shine was noted by his chronicler Abul Fazal to be "so old" that its origins had become obscure and that Akbar expressed marvel at the site's old age. The 17th century emperor, Jahangir, also visited the temple complex.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the late 19th century commemorated the visit of Guru Nanak with the construction of a small monument to mark the exact spot at which Guru Nanak is said to have usually meditated.

During the British Raj, the local deputy commissioner built a bungalow at the site, having been attracted to the site for its cooler weather. The site was considered the most important pilgrimage site for jogis in Punjab prior to the Partition of British India in 1947. Immediately prior to Partition, an annual festival took place on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, during which communal meals were served to all attendees.