Baghsar Fort

Baghsar Fort (Urdu: باغ سر قلعہ) is an ancient fort built in Samahni Valley near Bhimber, Pakistan, close to a place known as Baghsar. The fort was constructed by Mughal rulers.[1][2] Some parts of it are currently closed to visitors, due to it being right beside the line of control between Pakistan and India.[2][3]

Baghsar Fort
Native name
Urdu: قلعہ باغسر
Southern side of the fort, observation point visible.
LocationBhimber, Pakistan
Coordinates33°02′22″N 74°12′22″E
Architectural style(s)Indo-Islamic, Mughal

History
Portrait of Durga Devi at the main (northern) entrance of the fort.

Very little knowledge is available about the true history of the fort. It is widely believed that fort was built by Mughals but Godfrey Vigne, an English traveller who extensively traveled through Kashmir tells it was built by Dhian Singh, brother of Maharaja Ghulab Singh Dogra. He mentioned it as Amur Gurh castle in his book.[4]

Layout
View of Baghsar Fort main gate.
Embrasures visible in boundary wall.
Mosque showing Indo Islamic architecture.

Outer perimeter consists of boundary wall and thirty eight small rooms while inner side of the fort consists of darbar hall, a water pond and forty three rooms. There are three entrances to the fort. Northern main entrance, south eastern entrance and the entrance to inner perimeter. Observation point is prominent on the south eastern corner. There is a firing bay on western wall. Fort is surrounded by embrasures in the walls to allow archers to fire and remain under cover. There is a big room along the southern wall. Here the ruler of the time was used to meet his courtiers and delegates.[5]

Tomb of Jahangir

Mughal emperor Jahangir on his way to Lahore from Kashmir died somewhere in between Chingus Sarai, Rajouri and Sarai Saadabad, Bhimber.[6] To preserve his body his entrails were removed and buried in Baghsar fort. Then body was sent to Lahore where it was buried in mausoleum built along the banks of Ravi.

Conservation

Despite being on line of control, structure of the fort is still intact. But it is severely neglected by government in regard to conservation.

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baghsar Fort.

References
  1. Rashid, Salman (2 September 2007). "Dumped into oblivion".
  2. Singh, Sarina (2008), Pakistan and the Karakoram Highway, p. 186, ISBN 9781741045420
  3. https://jang.com.pk/news/869599
  4. Vigne, Godfrey (2018), Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, the Countries Adjoining the Mountain-Course of the Indus, and the Himalaya, North of the Panjab; Volume 1, p. 238, ISBN 9780344244087
  5. "Baghsar Fort - Land of Gardens and Water". Today 24 News. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  6. Allan, J.; Haig, Sir T. Wolsely; Dodwell, H. H. (1934). Dodwell, H. H. (ed.). The Cambridge Shorter History of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 398.
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