Rohtas Fort, locally known as Qila Rohtas, has a great historical value. It is located in Punjab Pakistan It is at a distance of approximately 8 km from Dina in district Jhelum.
History of the Fort
Foundation
Rohtas Fort was built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century. Sher Shah Suri laid the foundation for this Fort in 1542, and after approximately 8 years the construction was completed in 1550 in the reign of Saleem Shah Suri successor of Sher Shah Suri.
Why the Fort was built?
One of the reasons why Suri had the fort built was to suppress Potohar, the local tribes of the area. They were extremely loyal to Humayun. The Gakhars were not native of the region. They had helped Humayun and his family to escape from India after the battle of Kanauj. In order to reward them, Humayun aided Gakhars in occupying Potohar, which was owned by the local tribes.
Even though these tribes were supporters of the Mughal Emperor Babur, they refused to swear allegiance to Humayun, because he had helped the Gakhars against them. They allied with Suri who ordered them to fight and crush the Gakhars and take over their lands. The Rohtas Fort was built for the purpose of crushing the Gakhars. Sher Shah Suri died before the completion of the magnificent structure.
Rohtas Fort in Mughal Dynasty
Ten years after Sher Shah’s death and the end of the Suri dynasty, Emperor Humayun returned to rule India for another 15 years. When Humayun returned, the Governor of Rohtas Tatar Khan Kasi fled. The fort had never been popular with the Mughals because of its military character. Emperor Akbar stayed there for a single night. Emperor Jahangir rested here for a single night while going to Kashmir for entertainment. He said the following about its location:
“This fort was founded in a cleft and the strength of it cannot be imagined.”
Main Structures in Fort
The main structures in the Fort are:
- Shahi (Royal) Masjid
- Shahi (Royal) Palaces
- Maan Sing Palace
- Queen Palace
- Hanging House
- Gates
Gates(دروازے)
Rohtas Fort has 12 gates
Sohail Gate
It derived its name from a Saint named Sohail Bukhari, buried in the southwestern bastion of the gate. It is a double gate rectangular in shape, it measures 21.34 meters (70 feet) high, 20.73 meters (68 feet) wide, and 15 meters (50 feet) deep. The central archway spans 4.72 meters (15 feet) wide. It has an inner and an outer arch decorated with beautiful and simple motifs of sunflower, the decoration repeated in other parts of the Fort.
Shah Chandwali Gate
It is named after a Saint Shah Chandwali who refused to get his wages for working on this gate. It links the citadel to the main fort. The shrine of the Saint still stands to this day. It is a double gate, with an outer and an inner door. The outer gate, the entrance which opens from the citadel, measures 13.3 meters wide and 8.23 meters deep. The inner gate, a simple archway, measures 3.66 meters wide.
Kabuli Gate
It is named so because it faces Kabul and opens to the west. This is also a double gate.Its opening measures 3.15 meters (10 feet) wide. It has two bastions on each side. The gate has five battlements on top and stairs leading up to it from the outside. On the southern side of the gate, the Shahi (Royal) Mosque stands which led to the popular name Shahi (Royal) Darwaza (Gate or Door).
Shishi Gate
The Shishi Gate derives its name from the beautiful glazed tiles used to decorate its outer arch. Those blue tiles represent the earliest examples of the technique, later refined in Lahore.
Langar Khani (لنگر خانہ)Gate
It is also a double gate. Its dimensions are 15.25 meters (50 feet) high, 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) wide with a central arched opening. The outer arch has a small window like the Sohail Gate. The outer opening leads to a Langar Khana Two bastions stand on either side of the gate housing a kitchen, stores, and a well for water. The Gate has an L-shaped opening; as soon as one enters from the outer gate, one has to turn right.
Talaqi Gate
The Dimensions of the gate are 15.25 meters high and 13.8 meters wide with two bastions on either side. According to a legend, Prince Sabir Suri entering the gate had a fatal attack of fever. Regarded as a bad omen, its name became “Talaqi.”
Mori or Kashmiri Gate
This Gate opens to the north, facing Kashmir, hence its name. This gate opens into one chamber which opens into another.
Khwas Khani Gate
It is named after one of Sher Shah Suri’s greatest generals, Khwas Khan. It is the original entrance to the Qila (Fort), the gate opens to the old Grand Trunk Road. A double gate, with outer and inner doors; the outer gate measures 12.8 meters wide (42 feet) and 8 meters (26 feet) deep, with a bastion and a defensive wall on each side. On the bastions, canons could be deployed.
Gatali Gate
It is a single gate 9.15 meters high and 6.1 meters deep, faces toward the village Gatali Ford (ravine), also Patan Gatiali or Gatiyalian, the important point to cross the River Jhelum for the Kashmir Valley.
Tulla Mori Gate
Tulla Mori Gate serves more as an entrance than a gate. On the eastern side of the fort, it measures two meters wide with a bastion next to the entrance.
Pipalwala Gate
Pipalwala Gate, a small entrance like the Tulla Mori Gate, measures 2.13 meters wide.
Sar Gate
Sar Gate, called “Sar” because “Sar” means water, constitutes a small entrance with a bastion and a Baoli next to it.
Architecture
This fort was built in a style that draws from Turkish, Middle Eastern, and South Asian artistic traditions. The fort’s Haveli of Man Singh was built by one of Akbar’s generals and displays elements of Hindu architectural styles.
Before the construction of this fort, the combination of these styles had not been harmonious. Qila Rohtas is the earliest example of the successful mixing of these two styles with the Afghan-style being more prominent.