FORTS
Lahore Fort :
The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila is citadel of the city of Lahore.The Lahore Fort is one of the greatest fort built by the Mughals in South Asia. The Fort was originally built by Malik Ayaz, later it was altered by the famous architect who created the Taj Mahal, and finally it was rebuilt by the Great Akbar, lending itself to its own distinct character, history, and flavor.
The massive doors, and great walls of Lahore Fort, include the Diwan-e-Azam, a grand throne room with a marble pavilion, and a majestic court designed for public audiences. In addition Sheesh Mahal, the Naulakha, and Moti Masjid also located within the fort speak eloquently of days gone by, a time when architecture and design was created with unparalleled detail for the pleasure of great emperors, royalty, princes, and princesses. Intricate patterns of inlaid precious stones, carvings, mosaic tiles, and murals are displayed against backgrounds of rough tiles designed with such quality, that today, they are as beautiful as the day they were created and placed.
Getting There
Lahore Fort is located in the city of Lahore. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Walled City near Badshahi Mosque. The location is accessible by road within the city.
The massive doors, and great walls of Lahore Fort, include the Diwan-e-Azam, a grand throne room with a marble pavilion, and a majestic court designed for public audiences. In addition Sheesh Mahal, the Naulakha, and Moti Masjid also located within the fort speak eloquently of days gone by, a time when architecture and design was created with unparalleled detail for the pleasure of great emperors, royalty, princes, and princesses. Intricate patterns of inlaid precious stones, carvings, mosaic tiles, and murals are displayed against backgrounds of rough tiles designed with such quality, that today, they are as beautiful as the day they were created and placed.
Getting There
Lahore Fort is located in the city of Lahore. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Walled City near Badshahi Mosque. The location is accessible by road within the city.
Rohtas Fort :
Rohtas Fort is one of the most imposing historical monuments which represents the Pathan period of architecture style in Pakistan. The Rohtas fort lies sprawling upon a low rocky hill to the north of Jhelum in a bend of the river Ghan (mostly spelled as Kahan). The gigantic fort is founded on steep rocks jutting into the river Kahan, its ramparts protected on the west and north sides by the river and by high hills on its east and south. It was never taken by assault and survives intact to the present day. The main fortifications consist of the massive walls, which extended for more than 4km; they are lined with bastions and pierced by monumental gateways.
Getting There
Rohtas Fort is located in Jhelum District of Punjab near the small town of Deena.The main access to the fort is from G.T road from Islamabad or Lahore. The fort is approachable from the main highway if one turns right at Deena, which is a railway station as well as one of the busiest bus stops also about 100 km. from Islamabad. It is, however, difficult to reach Rohtas Fort during the rainy season as there is no bridge on the river Ghaan.
Getting There
Rohtas Fort is located in Jhelum District of Punjab near the small town of Deena.The main access to the fort is from G.T road from Islamabad or Lahore. The fort is approachable from the main highway if one turns right at Deena, which is a railway station as well as one of the busiest bus stops also about 100 km. from Islamabad. It is, however, difficult to reach Rohtas Fort during the rainy season as there is no bridge on the river Ghaan.
Derawar Fort:
On the edge of the desert, 100 km from Bahawalpur stands the majestic Derawar Fort. It is the largest and the most superlatively preserved fort of Cholistan. The powerful fort towers over the surrounding semi desert and is visible from miles around. It is a square fort measuring 672 feet in length on each side, with a gate on its southern side approached by means of a winding ramp. Most of the bastions show geometric designs made by burnt bricks. A number of buildings in the fort provided quarters for Nawab’s army. The retiring quarters of the royal family still stand deserted inside the fort.
Four shrines of pious Muslims are located near Derawar Fort. The Derawar Mosque, having 3 domes and 4 minarets, is an exact replica of Moti Masjid at Red Fort Delhi, and was built in 1844 A.D.
Getting There
Derawar Fort is located in the cholistan desert about 100 Km from Bahwalpur. Derawar can be termed as the Gateway of Cholistan. Trips to other forts can be arranged from here in the form of Camel Safaris or jeep Safaries.
Four shrines of pious Muslims are located near Derawar Fort. The Derawar Mosque, having 3 domes and 4 minarets, is an exact replica of Moti Masjid at Red Fort Delhi, and was built in 1844 A.D.
Getting There
Derawar Fort is located in the cholistan desert about 100 Km from Bahwalpur. Derawar can be termed as the Gateway of Cholistan. Trips to other forts can be arranged from here in the form of Camel Safaris or jeep Safaries.
Multan Fort:
Multan Fort was built on a mound separating it form the city by the old bed of river Ravi. There is no Fort now as it was destroyed by the British Garrison which was stationed ,there for a long time, but the entire site is known as the Fort .The walls of the fort were built by Murad Baksh, the son of the Shah Jahan, when he was the viceroy of Multan in the early 17th, century. The Fort site now looks as a part of the city, because instead of the river it is now separated by a road which looks more like a bazaar and remains crowded throughout the day.
The Fort stands on the highest part of the mound on which the town is built, It is an ancient structure formed by a hexagonal wall from forty to seventy feet high, the longest side of which faces the north-west and extends for 600 yards, and which isolates it from the town. Within the fort, and on a very considerable elevation, stands the citadel, in itself of very great strength. The walls are flanked by thirty towers, and enclose numerous houses, mosques, a Hindu temple of high antiquity, and a khan’ s palace the beauty of which was severely damaged by the bettering it got from the guns of Ranjeet Sing in 1818.
The Fort stands on the highest part of the mound on which the town is built, It is an ancient structure formed by a hexagonal wall from forty to seventy feet high, the longest side of which faces the north-west and extends for 600 yards, and which isolates it from the town. Within the fort, and on a very considerable elevation, stands the citadel, in itself of very great strength. The walls are flanked by thirty towers, and enclose numerous houses, mosques, a Hindu temple of high antiquity, and a khan’ s palace the beauty of which was severely damaged by the bettering it got from the guns of Ranjeet Sing in 1818.
Rawat Fort:
Gakkhars, a fiercely independent tribe of the Potohar Plateau built the Rawat fort, in early 16th century. The grave of a Gakkhar Chief, Sultan Sarang Khan is located inside the fort. He died in 1546 AD fighting against the forces of Sher Shah Suri. If one dares to climb the broken steps inside the tomb, one may get a panoramic view of the plateau and the Mankiala Stupa.
Getting There
Rawat Fort can be reached from the G.T Road. It is located 17 km east of Rawalpindi, on the Grand Trunk (G.T) Road leading to Lahore.
Getting There
Rawat Fort can be reached from the G.T Road. It is located 17 km east of Rawalpindi, on the Grand Trunk (G.T) Road leading to Lahore.
Other Cholistan Forts :
Islamgarh Fort
Islamgarh Fort is located deep in Cholistan near the Indian border at a distance of 150 km from Derawar Fort. The fort itself is an impressive square building of brick work with high sloping roofs strengthened by bastions. The fort was built by Rawal Bhim Singh in 1608 A.D. The fort has been in a state of neglect and disrepair for over a century.The fortification walls are l0 to 12 feet thick.
Mirgarh Fort
Mirgarh Fort was founded by Noor Muhammad Khan, in l799 AD, was completed in 3 years. A Persian inscription seen at the gates of the fort in 1872 recorded that he was a disciple of the Gillani Makhdooms of Uch. The fort is built of burnt- bricks, is square, measuring 92 feet on each side, and possess 7 bastions, standing 39 feet in height. The distance between MirGarh Fort and Fort Abbas city is 21 km.
Jamgarh Fort
This beautiful burnt-brick fort stands in the desert with much of its original appearance, 9 km away from MirGarh Fort. It was built in 1788 A.D., by Jam Khan Maroofani. It’s square in plan, measuring 114 feet on each side. Its walls survive to a height of 28 feet and are strengthened by circular bastions at the corners. An arched entrance, nearly 9 feet wide, was provided through the eastern wall.
Mojgarh Fort
The Moj Garh fort was founded by Muhammad Maroof Khan Kehrani, in 1743 A.D. This square fort decorated with glazed tiles and surmounted by a single dome stands about 400 yards south of the fort. The fort is at a distance of 32 km from Marot Fort
At present the fort is in ruins. The outer burnt-brick facing and the interior facing of the fortification wall has collapsed at several places exposing the mud brick core. The fort is almost square in plan measuring 325, 312, and 238 feet on the southern, western and northern sides respectively. The walls are strengthened with a series of semi circular bastions.
Khangarh Fort
This fort was built by Nawab Muhammad Bahawal Khan 11 in 1783 A.D. It is square in plan with semi-circular bastions at each corner and an entrance on the east side. The fort measures 128 feet on each side. The walls and bastions, which are built of mud-bricks with a burnt-brick facing, have fallen down leaving only piles of burnt bricks and signs of old walls, telling the tale of the lost grandeur. It is 70 km away from Derawar Fort.
Khairgarh Fort
Built in 1775 A.D. with mud and burnt bricks, it is square in plan, measuring 170 feet on the inner side between octagonal bastions, and is at a distance of 70 km from Derawar Fort.
The mud- brick fortification walls are 8 feet thick on top and stand 24 feet high, including a 5 feet high parapet above. On the inner side, the bastions have a circular vaulted chamber, 19 feet in diameter, which provides access to the top.
Nawankot Fort
Nawan Kot Fort still retains some of its original features and is located 45 km away from Derawar Fort. Built of mud-bricks with 4 corner towers, it measures 156 feet externally between the bastions. The doorway on the north side is 10 feet wide and is flanked by guard rooms built with burnt bricks.
Bijnot Fort
Bijnot (Winjhrot) is structurally an impressive fort. It was originally built by Raja Winjha or Bija Bhatia in 757 A.D. At present the fort is in ruins but still depicts most of its original features. It is at a distance of 45 km from Nawan Kot Fort and is built of blocks of limestone set in locally available lime mortar. The outer fortification is almost square with an overall length of 300 feet on each side. On the northern side, there is an eleven feet wide entrance, above which three rooms are built. The walls survive to the height of 21 feet, excluding the about 7 feet of the parapet wall on it.
Islamgarh Fort is located deep in Cholistan near the Indian border at a distance of 150 km from Derawar Fort. The fort itself is an impressive square building of brick work with high sloping roofs strengthened by bastions. The fort was built by Rawal Bhim Singh in 1608 A.D. The fort has been in a state of neglect and disrepair for over a century.The fortification walls are l0 to 12 feet thick.
Mirgarh Fort
Mirgarh Fort was founded by Noor Muhammad Khan, in l799 AD, was completed in 3 years. A Persian inscription seen at the gates of the fort in 1872 recorded that he was a disciple of the Gillani Makhdooms of Uch. The fort is built of burnt- bricks, is square, measuring 92 feet on each side, and possess 7 bastions, standing 39 feet in height. The distance between MirGarh Fort and Fort Abbas city is 21 km.
Jamgarh Fort
This beautiful burnt-brick fort stands in the desert with much of its original appearance, 9 km away from MirGarh Fort. It was built in 1788 A.D., by Jam Khan Maroofani. It’s square in plan, measuring 114 feet on each side. Its walls survive to a height of 28 feet and are strengthened by circular bastions at the corners. An arched entrance, nearly 9 feet wide, was provided through the eastern wall.
Mojgarh Fort
The Moj Garh fort was founded by Muhammad Maroof Khan Kehrani, in 1743 A.D. This square fort decorated with glazed tiles and surmounted by a single dome stands about 400 yards south of the fort. The fort is at a distance of 32 km from Marot Fort
At present the fort is in ruins. The outer burnt-brick facing and the interior facing of the fortification wall has collapsed at several places exposing the mud brick core. The fort is almost square in plan measuring 325, 312, and 238 feet on the southern, western and northern sides respectively. The walls are strengthened with a series of semi circular bastions.
Khangarh Fort
This fort was built by Nawab Muhammad Bahawal Khan 11 in 1783 A.D. It is square in plan with semi-circular bastions at each corner and an entrance on the east side. The fort measures 128 feet on each side. The walls and bastions, which are built of mud-bricks with a burnt-brick facing, have fallen down leaving only piles of burnt bricks and signs of old walls, telling the tale of the lost grandeur. It is 70 km away from Derawar Fort.
Khairgarh Fort
Built in 1775 A.D. with mud and burnt bricks, it is square in plan, measuring 170 feet on the inner side between octagonal bastions, and is at a distance of 70 km from Derawar Fort.
The mud- brick fortification walls are 8 feet thick on top and stand 24 feet high, including a 5 feet high parapet above. On the inner side, the bastions have a circular vaulted chamber, 19 feet in diameter, which provides access to the top.
Nawankot Fort
Nawan Kot Fort still retains some of its original features and is located 45 km away from Derawar Fort. Built of mud-bricks with 4 corner towers, it measures 156 feet externally between the bastions. The doorway on the north side is 10 feet wide and is flanked by guard rooms built with burnt bricks.
Bijnot Fort
Bijnot (Winjhrot) is structurally an impressive fort. It was originally built by Raja Winjha or Bija Bhatia in 757 A.D. At present the fort is in ruins but still depicts most of its original features. It is at a distance of 45 km from Nawan Kot Fort and is built of blocks of limestone set in locally available lime mortar. The outer fortification is almost square with an overall length of 300 feet on each side. On the northern side, there is an eleven feet wide entrance, above which three rooms are built. The walls survive to the height of 21 feet, excluding the about 7 feet of the parapet wall on it.
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