Type: Monument - Fort
Province: Azad Jammu and Kashmir
District: Mirpur
Period: Historic
Relative Chronology: 1799-1849 CE
Description: The site is located 20 km north-west of Mirpur city, at a low height hilltop, surrounded by Mangla Dam. The site can be approached through boat. This fort is located on the cliff of a hilltop surrounded by Mangla Dam reservoir on its three sides i.e., eastern, western, and southern. This for was for the first time built by the Muslim rulers of Kashmir during 16th/17th century, which was fortified by the Sikh Maharajas. The plan is trapezoid and multi-faceted. It is unique in its assemblage, architecture and appearance from all other contemporary forts. Its strategic locality is of great interest. The material used in this building is mainly stones, with dressed masonry, and river rolled pebbles. Mostly, the lime mortar was used as binding material, and walls are lime plastered on both interior and exterior. The fort has multiple stories, with two water tanks, living rooms for Darogha and watch tower. It has the remains of Shiva temple inside. The fortified wall has several slits in rows at the lower and upper level of parapet, with merlons and slits provided to them. These walls are provided with buttresses, for the support and reinforcement. The western side of the fortification wall has been badly damaged by the river water, and due to erosion of soil. Due to negligence, most parts of this grand structure have been badly decayed and been taken over by wild vegetation.
Latitude: 33.223485000
Longitude: 73.641752778
Ownership: Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Legal Status: Protected by Azad Jammu & Kashmir Preservation and Protection of Antiquities Act, 1986
Title of Publication: Threat to the Cultural Heritage of Pakistan Survey and Documentation of Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan
Published In: Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 2020
Year of Publication: 2020
Bibliography/Reference: Khan, Ashraf, Ghani-ur-Rahman
