Rawat Fort — Attraction in Zone V

• Loccation. It is located at a distance of 17 km East of Rawalpindi on  Grand Trunk  Road.

• Name. Rawat Fort derives is name from the Arabic word Rabat Sarai meaning caravanserai.

• Construction. The fort was built in 15th century AD during the times Delhi Sultanate by the  Gakhar clans who ruled Potohar region between River Indus and Jhelum River. At that time they helped Mughal emperor Humayun.  to defend the Pothohar plateau and fought against Pashtun king Sher Shah Suri in 1546.Other 2  forts of Gakhdar were Dangali Azad Kashmir, the other is Phirwala Fort.

Rawat Fort is said to have been built atop a Ghaznavaid -era fort that was established in 1036 CE. The same can be discerned from the fact that the fort is associated with Mas'ud I of Ghazni son of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni, the Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire from 1030-40. It attests that Mas'ud was arrested here by rebellious soldiers in his employ, then murdered in the nearby town of Giri near Taxila.

Mughal Emperor Akbar acknowledges Rawat in his famed Akbarnama, but not much else is said, which may suggest that it was a simple rest stop along the G.T Road during the early Mughal Era.

Aziz Malik in his book ‘Pothohar’, calls it a guard post more than a fort because its small size with only two gates.

Description

• Area Square in shape measuring  93.5 x 106.3 meters, enclosing approximately 10,000 square meter courtyard.

• Gates. One gate opens to the east and the other to the west, it was built slightly higher to keep an eye on the surrounding area.Two smaller gateways stand on the north and south sides,

• Mosque. A three-domed mosque measuring 29.5 x 12.1 meters exists along its western wall. The mosque area has been extended with a shed and tiled outdoor floor.

• Tomb. There is also a quadrangular building with a dome in the fort's inner measuring 16.6 meters in diameter. It is said to be erected as resting place of Sarang Khan, then Gakhar Chief who ruled portions of the northern Punjab from 1520-46.

• Graves. However surprisingly  Sarang Khan’s grave is located outside in the courtyard amidst many graves of his 16 sons and relatives who lost their lives while fighting Sher Shah Suri in 1546. He died after being struck in the head, with a Saranga spear.

• Travellers’ Quarters. Along the inner perimeter wall are several small cells, which may have originally constructed rented out to accommodate itinerant merchants. There were originally as many as 76 individual cells, though a number of these have crumbled or are in otherwise poor repair.

After Humayun’s Return as Victor

• Sultan Adam Khan became the ruler of Potohar after Sultan Sarang Khan, he built a tomb in his brother’s memory.

• When Akbar became the king, he gave Sultan Kamal Khan, son of Sultan Sarang Khan, the title of Panj Hazari in the Mughal army along with the territory of Potohar.

About Gakhars

Akbn  1205 the Gakhdas were defeated by Shahabuddin Ghori and forced to convert to Islam.

• Later, when  Shahabuddin Ghori was returning from India, few Assassins broke into his tent and killed him on 15 March 1205 at Dhamiak; the assasins were said to be  Khokar Jats while others believe the Nizari Ismaili.

• Rajmohan Gandhi in his book ‘Punjab’. On page 139 of A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten, he writes: “Gakhar Sardar Makrab Khan supported the Iranian invader Nadir Shah against the Mughals in 1739. Nader Shah gave him the title of Nawab. Muqrab Khan defeated the Yusufzai and Khattak tribes in the west and expanded his state from Sindh to Chenab.Later, Muqrab Khan could not withstand the growing power of the Sikhs and was killed in Gujarat in 1765 by Gujar Singh of...

Rawat Fort (Urdu: قلعہ روات‎) is an early 16th century fort in the Pothohar plateau of Pakistan, near the city of Rawalpindi in the province of Punjab. The fort was built to defend the Pothohar plateau from the forces of the Pashtun king Sher Shah Suri. Location It is 17 km east of Rawalpindi on Grand Trunk Road. The 2nd century Mankiala stupa can be seen from the roof of the fort's mosque. The fort is located approximately 50 miles from the vast Rohtas Fort, which had been built by Sher Shah Suri to establish control of the Gakhar region. Etymology Rawat Fort derives is named from the Arabic word Rabat (Arabic: رباط‎), meaning caravanserai - an inn for caravans. History The fort was founded as a caravanserai in the 15th century by Salteen-e-Dehli, though the caravan itself may have been built atop a Ghaznavid-era fort that was established in 1036 CE. The caravanserai was then later fortified in the 16th century by the local Gakhar – warrior clan loyal to the Mughal emperor Humayun in order to defend the Pothohar plateau from Sher Shah Suri's forces. The fort was the scene of a battle between the Gakhar chief Sultan Sarang and Afghan king Sher Shah Suri in 1546. Sarang was captured, tortured at the fort by the forces of Sher Shah Suri, and then buried at the fort. Layout The fort is almost in square form and has two gates. There is also a quadrangular building with a dome in the fort's inner area – an area which also contains many graves. Along the perimeter are several small cells, which may have originally been small rooms rented out to itinerant merchants. The fort also contains a mosque with three domes. The grave of the Gakkar chief, Sultan Sarang Khan is present within the fort.His 16 sons, who died there fighting, are also buried inside the fort. Conservation The fort is federally protected as a Cultural Heritage Site of Punjab, and is managed by the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage. In November 2016, a conservation plan was commissioned for preservation of the fort.50 million rupees were allocated in March 2017 towards the first of two phases of conservation of...

Rawat Fort, a significant historical site on the Pothohar Plateau near Islamabad, exemplifies the rich heritage of the region. Constructed in the 16th century, this fort initially served as a caravanserai, offering rest and safety to travelers along the renowned Grand Trunk Road.

Architecturally, Rawat Fort showcases a unique blend of defensive strength and cultural elements. Its nearly square layout, enclosed by towering walls, and the remains of two prominent towers at its northern and southern ends highlight its strategic role. The fort features eastern and western gates that usher visitors into a realm where every stone holds echoes of the past.

Within the fort's confines, visitors will find a mosque with three domes and a quadrangular structure topped with a dome, thought to be a baradari, which functioned as a space for leisure and social gatherings. The central courtyard contains ancient graves, including those of a tribal chief and his sons who bravely opposed Sher Shah Suri.

Despite numerous alterations over the centuries, Rawat Fort has preserved much of its original allure. The small cells along its perimeter, historically rented to merchants, and the mosque's tranquil presence provide insight into the daily lives of its former inhabitants.

From the rooftop of Rawat Fort, one can see the Mankiala Stupa, dating back to the 2nd century, adding another layer to the historical experience. Additionally, its proximity to the expansive Rohtas Fort further enriches the narrative, linking various historical periods.

Rawat Fort is more than a mere assembly of bricks and stones; it is a testament to the resilience of the Gakhars, a record of the Mughal Empire's reach, and a silent witness to the myriad caravans that once journeyed across the subcontinent. It remains a captivating relic, continuing to attract those who cherish Pakistan's...