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| Rohtas Qila |
Another magnificent
structure from the Mughal era that still stands is the Rohtas fort, or
Qila-e-Rohtas, as it is also known.
The fort was ordered
to be built in 1541 by Sher Sha Suri after he defeated the Mughal emperor
Humayun. Sher Sha Suri built the fort at the strategic location of Rohtas. The
fort lies on the Grand Trunk Road between the mountainous region of Afghanistan
and the plains of Punjab near modern day Jhelum.
One of the more
impressive facts about this fort is that the fort was never taken by force
(i.e. was never stormed) and survives intact till today. The fort has massive
walls that run for more than 4 kilometers. These walls are the main fortification
of the fort. The walls have multiple bastions and monumental gateways.
The Qila-e-Rohtas is a
prime exponent of early Muslim military architecture coming out of Central and
South Asia. This fort is nothing short of majestic and surpasses various citadels
of that time in splendor and size. It is in fact the only architectural example
from the time of Sher Sha Suri that has survived till date.
Rohtas Over The Centuries:
The fort was
envisioned by Sher Sha Suri after he had defeated Humayun at Chausa. There was
a dual purpose to the fort:
- To curtail the hostilities from the locals called the Potohars
- To serve as a precaution against Humayun whose return was inevitable.
The fort was however
taken by Humayun 10 years after the death of Sher Sha Suri without a fight. The
conqueror was Tatar Khan Kasi.
The fort remained
under the control of the Mughals till the time of Aurangazeb. Following that
period the fort changed hands between the Durrani’s and the Sikh’s. During this
time however, the fort did not serve its actual purpose and ended up with a
village within its walls.
Inside The Majestic Fort:
Because of the
intended purpose of the building, there were not many structures that were built
within the walls of the fort. Most of the area was used for the production of
food for the garrison.
The few structures
that were made within the walls included a Shahi Masjid situated near the
Kabuli gate of the fort. The Masjid is not very large and has a prayer hall and
a small courtyard.
The fort also has its
own water supply. The water supply came from structures called Baolis (stepped
wells). There were three of these which were carved into the limestone bedrock.
Overall the Rohtas
fort is an amazing construction and a magnificent place to visit and a
must-visit location for all history buffs.
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