Rohtas Fort

Pakistan / Punjab / Jhelum / Rohtas Road, 1
 place with historical importance, fortification, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Rohtas Fort (Urdu: قلعہ روہتاس Qila Rohtas) is a garrison fort built by the great Afghan king Sher Shah Suri. This fort is about 4 km in circumference and the first example of the successful amalgamation of Pukhtun and Hindu architecture in the sub-continent.Qila Rohtas is situated in a gorge approximately 16 km NW of Jhelum and 7 km from Dina. It was constructed on a hillock where the tiny Kahan river meets another rainy stream called Parnal Khas and turns east towards Tilla Jogian Range. The fort is about 300 feet above its surroundings. It is 2660 feet (818 meters) above sea level and covers an area of 12.63 acres.It has so many gates such as Sohail Gate,Shah Chandwali Gate, Kabuli Gate,Shishi Gate,Langar Khani Gate,Talaqi Gate,Mori or Kashmiri Gate,Khwas Khani Gate,Gatali Gate,Tulla Mori Gate,Pipalwala Gate and Sar Gate etc.
Sher Shah Suri named Qila Rohtas after the famous Rohtasgarh Fort in Shahabad district near Baharkunda, Bihar which he captured from the Raja of Rohtas Hari Krishan Rai in 1539. Rohtasgarh is situated on the upper course of the river Son, 20 37’ N and 85 33’E.
Sher Shah constructed Qila Rohtas to block Emperor Humayun's return to India after defeating him in the Battle of Kanauj. This fort lies on the old GT road between the North (Afghanistan) to the Plains of Punjab. It blocked the way from Peshawar to Lahore. The other reason was to suppress the local tribes of this region Potohar called Gakhars who were allies of Humayun and refused their allegiance to Sher Shah Suri.
It was never taken by storm and has survived intact to the present day. The main fortifications consist of the massive walls, which extend for more than 4 km; they are lined with bastions and pierced by monumental gateways. Rohtas Fort, also called Qila Rohtas, is an exceptional example of early Muslim military architecture in Central and South Asia.

Ch. Mansoor Ahmed Khatana
www.maak.webs.com
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohtas_Fort
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   32°57'54"N   73°34'35"E

Comments

  • Last time i visted this was two years ogo ,there was some repaire being done by two peoples ,they were father ,and son, i ask them if they had any experiance or any knoledge of working on these historic buildings ,they replied they have built very big kotis around this area,but no experiance of working on historic buildings.i think only expert should be allowed to restore work
  • After taking over of the punjab by the Sikhs Maharaja Ranjit Singh.One of his general Gurmakh Singh Lamba commander Fauj-E- Khas captured the fort from the Gakhar Chief NurKhan father of Fazal Dad Khan in 1825.When Sardar Mohar Singh wanted to retie against the wishes of Maharaja Sardar Gurmukh Singh succeeded the fort and his troops were placed under his command. 2. Empire Akbar stayed for single night,Jangir towice way to Kashmire and the Mugal beauty the Malka Nur Jhanalso stayed in this fort.
This article was last modified 6 years ago