Lahore Fort
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One of the entrance gates of the Lahore Fort |
The
Lahore Fort, locally referred to as
Shahi Qila (شاهى قلعه) is the
citadel of the city of
Lahore, in modern day
Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern corner of Lahore, adjacent to the
Walled City. Some of the famous sites within the fort are:
Sheesh Mahal,
Alamgiri Gate,
Naulakha pavilion, and
Moti Masjid. The fort is 1,400 feet long and 1,115 feet wide. In 1981, the fort was added to the
UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites.
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Diwan-e-Khas: The hall of special audience with the emperor |
According to available historical information, the origin of Lahore Fort is obscure. Traditionally the foundation of Lahore and its fort is attributed to
Loh, the son of
Rama,
Avatara of Lord
Vishnu of
Hinduism, and hero of the
Ramayana of epic age (1200-800 B.C.). However, during the execution done in the year
1959 A.D. by the Department of Archaelogy, in front of
Diwan-e-Am, a gold coin of
Mahmood of Ghazni dated A.H. 146 (
1025 A.D.) was found at a depth of
25 feet from the level of the lawns. Cultural layers continued to a further depth of 15 feet, giving
strong indications that people had lived here,
long before the conquest of Lahore by Mahmud in
1021 A.D. Further mention of the fort is traceable in connection with
Shahab-ud-Din Ghori's successive invasions of Lahore from 1180 to 1186 A.D.
* 'Long before' 1025 A.D. - Original Construction. It cannot be said with certainty when the Lahore Fort was originally constructed or by whom, since this information is lost to history, possibly forever. However, evidence found in archaelogical digs, gives
strong indications, that it was built,
long before 1025 A.D.
* 1241 A.D. - Destroyed by
Mongols.
* 1267 A.D. - Rebuilt by Sultan
Ghiyaas-ud-Din Bulban.
* 1398 A.D. - Destroyed again, by
Amir Tamur's army.
* 1421 A.D. - Rebuilt in mud by
Sultan Mubark Shah Syed.
* 1432 A.D. - The fort is occupied by
Shaikh Ali of Kabul who makes repairs to the damages inflicted on it by
Shaikha Khokhar.
* 1566 A.D. - Rebuilt by
mughal emperor
Akbar, in solid brick masonry on its earlier foundations. Also perhaps, its area was extended towards the river
Ravi, which then and upto about 1849 A.D., used to flow along its fortification on the north. Akbar also built
Doulat Khana-e-Khas-o-Am, the famous
Jharoka-e-Darshan (the royal balcony),
Masjidi Gate etc.
* 1618 A.D. -
Jehangir adds
Doulat Khana-e-Jahangir in 1618 A.D.
* 1631 A.D. -
Shahjahan builds
Shish Mahal Diwan-e-Am (Mirror Castle).
* 1633 A.D. - Shahjahan also builds
Khawabgah (a dream place or sleeping area),
Hamam (a warm bath area) and
Khilwat Khana.
* 1645 A.D. - Shahjahan then builds
Diwan-e-Khas and probably also
Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in the same year.
* 1674 A.D. -
Aurangzeb adds the graceful
Alamgiri Gate.
* (Sometime during) 1799-1839 A.D. - The outer
fortification wall on the north with the moat, the
marble athdera,
Havaeli Mai Jindan and
Bara Dari Raja Dhiyan Singh were constructed by
Ranjit Singh, ruler from 1799-1839 A.D.
* 1846 A.D. - Occupied by the British.
* 1927 A.D. - The British remain in possession of the fort till 1927, when it is handed over to the
Department of Archaeology after
demolishing a portion of the fortification wall on the south and converting it into a stepped form thus
defortifying the fort.
The Pakistani Government seems to understand the historic value of this fort, as is evident from this warning prominently placed at the visitor entrance to the fort:
Warning:The Fort is a protected monument under the Antiquities Act 1975. It is incumbent upon everyone to take care and so safeguard it by avoiding any damage, destruction, misuse, bill posting, fixing of commercial sign, other scribbling on the structure etc.If anybody is found involved in the violation of aforementioned acts he/she shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to Rs.200,000/= (
US $4,304.32) or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both under the Antiquities Act, 1975.(The activity indicated was undertaken with the support of the World Heritage Fund of UNESCO).
*
Alamgiri Gate*
Hazuri Bagh*
Moti Masjid*
Naulakha pavilion*
Roshnai Gate*
Sheesh Mahal*
Badshahi Mosque*
Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)*
Mughal Empire*
List of forts*
UNESCO World Heritage Centre*
Photos and information about the Lahore Fort*
Panographic Images of Lahore Fort And Shalimar Garden
