Rawat Fort

Rawat Fort (Urdu: قلعہ روات‎) is a fort in the Pothohar plateau of Pakistan, near the city of Rawalpindi in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The fort was built by Gakhar Jats to defend the Pothohar plateau from the forces of Sher Shah Suri.^[1]

Location

It is 18 km east of Rawalpindi on Grand Trunk Road.^[2] 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.^[3]

History

Contemporary historians have concluded that the building’s design resembles a sarai rather than a fort. Historically, many of these roadside inns lined the G.T. Road and were used by invaders from Central Asia and Afghanistan. According to traditions, Rawat Fort was built by the Ghakkar tribe in 16th century. The region is also said to have been the battleground between the Ghakkar chief Sultan Sarang Khan and Sher Shah Suri in 1546 AD. The central courtyard of the fort contains ruined graves, that supposedly belong to the tribal chief and his two sons, who died fighting Sher Shah Suri. ^[4]

The fort was the scene of a battle between the Gakhar chief Sultan Sarang and Afghan king Sher Shah Suri in 1546.^[5] Sultan Sarang was captured, tortured, and then executed at the fort by the forces of Sher Shah Suri, and then buried at the fort.^[6]

External links

Gallery

Rawat Fort, Rawalpindi
Rooms at Rawat Fort, which were used as sarai for traveling passengers.
The grave of Ghakkar Sultan Sarang Khan at Rawat Fort.
The view of graves in the middle of Rawat Fort. Sultan Sarang Khan died fighting Sher Shah Suri and was buried at Rawat fort with his 16 sons.
View of an old structure, which was supposed to be a bara-dari at Rawat Fort.