Red Fort (Urdu: لال قلعہ), also known as Muzaffarabad Fort, is a 16th-century fortification located in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. It was built by the Chak dynasty of Kashmir.[1][2] The fort is locally referred to as the 'Rutta Qila' or just 'qila'.[3][4]
| Red Fort | |
|---|---|
Rutta Qila | |
| Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir | |
 Red Fort in 2014 | |
  Red Fort  Red Fort | |
| Coordinates | 34°22′56.63″N 73°27′53.18″E / 34.3823972°N 73.4647722°E |
| Type | Fortification |
| Site information | |
| Owner | AJK Tourism and Archeology Department |
| Status | Decommissioned in 1947 |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1559-1646 |
Construction & Architecture
editIn the 16th century, Chak rulers of Kashmir anticipated a threat to the city from the Mughals. For defence, they started construction of the fort in 1559 at a strategic location on the west of Muzaffarabad.[3] The Mughal Empire annexed Kashmir in 1587, and the fort lost its importance.[1][2][4] Finally, the construction of the fort was completed in 1646 in the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Khan of the Bomba Dynasty, the founder of Muzaffarabad.[4]
The architecture of the fort shows that great experts in design and structure participated in its construction. It is surrounded on three sides by the Neelum River (formerly known as the Kishan Ganga River[5]). The northern part of the fort had terraces with steps leading to the bank of the river. The main gate on eastern side was very well protected from the hazards of flood waters, but some parts on the north side have suffered damage. There used to be an inn at the entrance to the fort, but only traces of that structure remain now.[1][2]
Abandonment
editIn 1846, Maharaja Gulab Singh of the Dogra dynasty began reconstruction and extension of the fort for political and military operations and his successor Maharaja Ranbeer Singh completed the work. The Dogra military then used the fort till 1926, after which a new cantonment was built, leaving the red fort abandoned once again.[4] Towards the middle of 1947, the Dogra forces left, leaving the fort abandoned.[1][2]
Damage
editMost of the fort's relics in museum associated with it were stolen by raiders and dealers and a large portion was destroyed during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.[6][4][5]
Renovation
editLater in October 2019, Government of Azad Kashmir and Lahore Walled City Authority (LWCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for restoration and conservation of Red Fort and other major heritage places in Azad Kashmir.[7]
On his trip to Azad Kashmir in 2022, American ambassador in Pakistan Donald Blome visited the fort.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Muzaffarabad: Barsala". AJK Tourism. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Red Fort Muzaffarabad". AJK Tours. July 31, 2010. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ a b "Red Fort". doam.gov.pk. Department of Archaeology and Museums - Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "A red fort, a Kashmiri chronicle". The Express Tribune. January 13, 2013. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ a b Naqvi, Mubashar (5 May 2017). "The other Red Fort". The Friday Times. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Muhammad, Rukhsana Said (2019). "Natural Disasters" (PDF). Cultural Heritage Resources of the Neelum Valley: Challenges and Opportunities (Quaid-i-Azam University): 126. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Zaafir, M.Saleh (14 October 2019). "AJK govt, LWCA ink MoU for Red Fort restoration". The News International. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Sajid, Islamuddin (5 October 2022). "US envoy visits Azad Kashmir to 'promote US-Pakistan partnership'". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
Further reading
edit- Hashmi, Anees ur Rashid; Aziz, K.Zahid; Swati, N.Iqbal (3 November 2023). "RETROSPECTIVE NARRATION OF MAJOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN MUZAFFARABAD CITY" (PDF). Ancient Punjab. 10 (University of the Punjab): 96–98. Retrieved 22 October 2024.