Rohtas Fort

Rohtas Fort is a very old and strong fortress from the 16th century. It is located near the city of Dina in the Jhelum district of Punjab province, Pakistan. It was built by the great leader Sher Shah Suri, and a wise man named Raja Todar Mal helped watch over its building.

Today, Rohtas Fort is still in great shape and was chosen as a special place by UNESCO in 1997. UNESCO said it is a wonderful example of old military buildings from Central and South Asia.

Part of the fort is now a village called Rohtas, where people have lived for a very long time, even since the days of Islam Shah Suri. This makes Rohtas Fort one of the few forts in the world where people still live inside its walls.

Location

Rohtas Fort is about 16 kilometres northwest of Jhelum, near the city of Dina. It is close to Khukha and Gaggar Khurd, and not far from the Grand Trunk Road, one of Asia’s oldest roads. The historic Badshahi Road used to run along the fort’s northern wall.

The fort sits on a hill in the Tilla Jogian Range, looking down on a gorge where the Kahān River meets a small seasonal stream. It is 91.5 metres above the land around it and 819 metres above sea level, covering an area of 70 hectares. Near the fort’s Talaqi gate is Gurdwara Chowa Sahib.

History

Sher Shah Suri, the ruler of the Sur Empire, built Rohtas Fort with his finance minister Todar Mal. The fort was built to protect the area near the Salt Range region in Punjab. It was built in a strong spot between the mountains of Pothohar and the plains of Punjab.

Construction started in 1541 but was hard because local tribes did not want to help. Workers got paid more, and building went on. Sher Shah Suri died in 1545 before the fort was finished. After that, many rulers used the fort, including the Mughals and Sikhs. The British took control of the area in 1849. Today, Rohtas Fort is one of the biggest and most impressive forts in Punjab. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

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Architecture

Rohtas Fort was built to be strong and useful, mixing styles from Turkish, Middle Eastern, and South Asian traditions.

Layout

Rohtas Fort covers a big area of 70 hectares (170 acres), surrounded by 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) of walls. It has towers and twelve big gates to get inside. The fort is shaped like a triangle and follows the hill it sits on. One part of the northwest corner is separated by a long wall, creating a special area for important people.

Ramparts

The walls of the fort are made from sandstone put together with lime mortar and brick. The outer walls range from 10 to 18 metres (33 to 59 ft) high and are 10 to 13 metres (33 to 43 ft) thick. There are 68 towers placed at different spots along the walls. The walls have different levels connected by stairs, and soldiers could fire from the top.

Gates

Rohtas Fort has 14 gates made from strong stone.

Sohail

Sohail gate is beautifully built and was likely the main entrance. It is named after a local saint buried nearby. The gate is very tall and wide, with detailed decorations.

Shah Chandwali

Shah Chandwali is a double gate connecting the special area to the main fort. It is named after a saint who worked on the gate and is buried nearby.

Kabuli

Kabuli gate faces northwest toward Kabul, Afghanistan. It now has a visitors' center and museum.

Shishi

Shishi gate is known for its blue tiles. It has an inscription giving the fort's construction date.

Langar Khani

Langar Khani gate leads into the special area and was designed as a trap. It has a special shape and decorations.

Talaqi

Talaqi gate has tall towers on each side. Its name might come from a word meaning divorce.

Mori

The Mori gate faces north toward Kashmir and is also called the Kashmiri gate.

Khwas Khani

Khwas Khani was the original main entrance from the Grand Trunk Road. It has detailed decorations.

Gatali

Gatali gate is smaller and faces a village and a river crossing point. It has carved decorations.

Sar

Sar is a small entrance made by locals through the main wall. It is named after a nearby pond.

Tulla Mori and Pippli

Tulla Mori and Pippli are small entrances rather than big gates.

Royal mosque

The Shahi Masjid (Royal mosque) is near the Kabuli gate and is the most decorated building in the fort. It has a prayer area and a small courtyard.

Palace

The Raja Man Singh Haveli is the fort's only palace, located on the highest point. The Rani Mahal (Queen's palace) is a smaller building with detailed decorations inside and out.

Stepwells

There are three deep wells in the fort cut into limestone. The central one had many steps and was used by soldiers and animals. The royal one was used by important people, and a smaller one was likely for soldiers.

Legacy and conservation

Rohtas Fort was named a World Heritage Site in 1997. It shows important building styles from Turkey and India and is a great example of military architecture from the 16th century.

People are working hard to protect the fort. In 2000, the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation started a program with help from the Royal Norwegian Embassy. They are fixing some of the gates and buildings and made a museum inside one of the gates. Some parts of the fort have fallen down because of rain and neglect, but many people are helping to save this important place for everyone to enjoy.

Panoramic view of the Rohtas Fort

Rohtas village

People have lived inside Rohtas Fort for a very long time. In the 1840s, about 1,200 people lived there in 350 houses. By 2016, the number grew to around 4,000 people in 450 houses.

Today, the village inside the fort has a government high school, a primary school, a post office, shops, 17 mosques, and three special prayer halls. The area has electricity and water. Officials say this settlement should not be there, and in 1992 they asked people to move out. However, this plan has not happened, and people still live inside the fort. About 40% of the villagers follow Shia beliefs, while the rest follow Sunni beliefs.