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Ramkot Fort

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Ramkot Fort
View of Ramkot Fort
Map
General information
LocationDadyal, Mirpur district, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Construction started16th century AD

Ramkot Fort (Urdu: قلعہ رام کوٹ, romanized: Qila Ram Kot) is a medieval fort in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.[1][2] The fort is accessible via three routes from Dina, Dadayal, and Mirpur, with 440 stairs leading to the main gate, which is built on a sloped rock for defensive purposes.[3]

History

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The original fort was constructed in 1186 during the Ghurid dynasty by Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din, according to the information board at the entrance but that fort is no longer in existence.[3] In the late 14th century, the fort was under control of Jasrat, a Punjabi Khokhar chieftain. At this fort Khokhars clashed with the armies of amir Timur in 1398.[4] However, the current structure probably dates to the 16th century builted by Kashmir Sultanate.[5][6]

A temple with a large red Shivalinga, brought from the Ganges River, suggests a significant Hindu population once resided in the area.[3] The presence of Hindu mythological figure Ram Chandra's birthplace in nearby Pharwala may explain the fort's name.[3] However, British geologist and historian Frederick Drew attributes the fort's construction to a Gakhar named Taghlu, contradicting the information board.[3] The fort underwent renovation during the reign of Gakhar Queen Mango, whose daughter married Mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir's son.[3] During the Sikh era, the fort was handed over to the Dogras.[3]

Ramkot Fort held strategic importance, as one of the four ancient routes to Srinagar passed through it.[3] The nearby Mangla Fort, attributed to Queen Mangla, daughter of King Porus, is closely associated with the famous battle between Raja Porus and Alexander the Great in 326 BC.[3] The area is also significant for being the birthplace of Raja Porus in 400 BC and, much later, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, author of Saif-ul-Malook.[3]

Architecture

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The main gate, constructed with red bricks, contrasts with the stone used elsewhere, suggesting possible destruction and reconstruction.[3] A smaller gate at the back was likely used for escape.[3]

The fort's interior features two large ponds for rainwater collection, essential due to its elevation and previous location at the confluence of the Jhelum and Poonch rivers.[3] Collapsed rooms, raw iron deposits, and the superintendent's residence are found within the complex.[3] The fort also includes a slope for hauling cannons, with a donated cannon on the rampart.[3]

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  • Landscape view
    Landscape view
  • Bird's eye view
    Bird's eye view
  • Courtyard
    Courtyard

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ramkot Fort.

References

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  1. ^ "Fort forlorn and forsaken | Footloose". The News International.
  2. ^ "Ramkot Fort: Centuries-old Kashmiri heritage site on the verge of destruction". The Express Tribune. January 29, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "منگلا ڈیم کے قریب رامائن کے رام چندر سے منسوب قلعہ" [Fort attributed to Ram Chander of Ramayana near Mangla Dam]. Independent Urdu. February 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Panikkar, Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 72. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  5. ^ Ali, Aown (July 3, 2015). "Ramkot Fort: The crumbling giant of Azad Kashmir". DAWN.COM.
  6. ^ "Ramkot Fort, Mirpur, Pakistan". Asian Architecture.
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