Derawar Fort

Derawar Fort (Punjabi, Urdu: قِلعہ ڈیراور) is a fortress in Ahmadpur East Tehsil of Bahawalpur District in the Punjab, Pakistan. Approximately 20 km south of the city of Ahmedpur East, the forty bastions of Derawar are visible for many miles in the Cholistan Desert. The walls have a perimeter of 1500 metres and stand up to thirty metres high.[2]

Derawar Fort
قِلعہ ڈیراور
Derawar Fort was originally founded as a Bhati fort in the 9th century CE, and renovated in 1732 by Nawab Sadeq Mohammad Khan[1]
TypeFortress
LocationAhmadpur East, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates28°46′5″N 71°20′3″E
Built9th century CE
Governing bodyGovernment of Pakistan
Pakistan Army
Derawar Fort is located in Punjab, Pakistan
Derawar Fort
Location of Derawar Fort
قِلعہ ڈیراور in Punjab, Pakistan
Derawar Fort is located in Pakistan
Derawar Fort
Derawar Fort (Pakistan)

History

Derawar fort was built in the 9th century AD by Rai Jajja bhati, a Hindu Rajput ruler of the Bhati clan,[3] as a tribute to emperor Rawal Deoraj Bhati.[1][4] The fort was initially known as Dera Rawal, and later referred to as Dera Rawar, which with the passage of time came to be pronounced Derawar, its present name.[4]

In the 18th century, the fort was taken over by Muslim Nawabs of Bahawalpur from the Shahotra tribe. It was later renovated in its current form in 1732 by the Abbasi ruler Nawab Sadeq Muhammad, but in 1747 the fort slipped from their hands owing to Bahawal Khan's preoccupations at Shikarpur.[1] Nawab Mubarak Khan took the stronghold back in 1804. 1,000 year-old catapult shells were found in the debris near a decaying wall in the fort.[5]

Nawab Sadeq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V, the 12th and last ruler of Bahawalpur state, was born in the fort in 1904.[6]

Google Doodle made a doodle of Derawar Fort to celebrate Pakistan's 75 Independence Day.[2] According to Google, the fort symbolizes Pakistani adaptability and antiquity.[2][7]

Structure

The fort is a massive and visually stunning square structure built of clay bricks. The walls have a length of 1500 meters and stand up to thirty meters high. There are forty circular bastions, ten on each side, which stand 30 m high and are visible across the desert for many miles.

Renovation

The Fort was later renovated in its current form in 1732 by the Abbasi ruler Nawab Sadeq Muhammad. In 2019 the provincial government has earmarked a sum of Rs46 million to resume the conservation of Derawar Fort, an iconic edifice located in Cholistan desert near Bahawalpur. The major work has been completed including conservation of a food grain warehouse outside the fort, underpinning of damaged parts on the front and south-eastern sides of the fort’s bastion, walls and platform, underpinning of the north-eastern side of the bastion and the walls, the interior of the fort and the sloped flooring leading to baradari and walls adjacent to the main gate.

Images

See also

References
  1. Derawar Fort – Living to tell the tale, Dawn, 20 June 2011
  2. Desk, BR Web (14 August 2021). "Google celebrates Pakistan's Independence Day with a doodle of Derawar Fort". Brecorder. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. Khaliq, Fazal (1 February 2017). "Derawar Fort: a 9th century human marvel on the verge of collapse". Dawn. The Derawar Fort was built in the 9th century under the kingship of Rai Jajja Bhatti, a Hindu Rajput from Jaisalmir in India's Rajasthan state.
  4. Dawn News
  5. Gill, Majeed (20 February 2017). "Centuries-old catapult shells found near Bahawalpur". Dawn. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  6. "Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan V". Story of Pakistan website. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  7. "Google marks Pakistan's Independence Day with Derawar Fort doodle". nayion.com.pk. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
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