Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 11:39, 24 April 2023

Red Fort
Rutta Qila
Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir
Rutta Qila in 2014
Red FortShow map of Azad KashmirRed FortShow map of Pakistan
Coordinates	34°22′56.63″N 73°27′53.18″E / 34.3823972°N 73.4647722°E / 34.3823972; 73.4647722
Type	Fortification
Site information
Owner	AJK Tourism and Archeology Department
Status	Decommissioned in 1947
Site history
Built	c. 1646

Red Fort (Template:Lang-ur), also known as Muzaffarabad Fort, is a 17th-century fortification located in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It was built by the Chak dynasty of Kashmir. The fort is locally referred to as the 'Rutta Qila' or just 'qila'.

Construction

Chak rulers of Kashmir anticipated a threat to the city from the Mughals. Construction was initiated in 1559 at a strategic location. The Mughal Empire annexed Kashmir in 1587, and the fort lost its importance. 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.

Architecture

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 Kishenganga River. The northern part of the fort had terraces with steps leading to the bank of the river. The 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.

Abandonment

In 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. Towards the middle of 1947, the Dogra forces left, leaving the fort abandoned. The fort is now located in Muzaffarabad, Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

Damage

Most of the fort's relics were stolen and a large portion was destroyed during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

See also

• List of forts in Pakistan
• List of cultural heritage sites in Azad Kashmir

References

1. ^ "Muzaffarabad: Barsala". AJK Tourism. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
2. ^ "Red Fort Muzaffarabad". AJK Tours. July 31, 2010. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
3. ^ "A red fort, a Kashmiri chronicle". The Express Tribune. January 13, 2013. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
4. Naqvi, Mubashar (May 5, 2017). "The other Red Fort".

v t e Forts in Pakistan
Azad Kashmir	Baral Fort Baghsar Fort Bharand Fort Burjun Fort Karjai Fort Mangla Fort Ramkot Fort Red Fort, Muzaffarabad Throchi Fort
Balochistan	Kharan Fort Lasbela Fort Mir Chakar Fort Sassi Punnu Fort Sandeman Fort Sibi Fort
Gilgit-Baltistan	Altit Fort Baltit Fort Khaplu Palace Shigar Fort Skardu Fort
Punjab	Akrand Fort Attock Fort Bijnot Fort Derawar Fort Din Garh Fort Fort Abbas Fort Mao Mubarak Fort Munro Gujrat Fort Harand Fort Islamgarh Fort Jamgarh Fort Khair Garh Fort Kusak Fort Lahore Fort Malot Fort Mankera Fort Marot Fort Mir Garh Fort Moj Garh Fort Multan Fort Nandana Fort Nawankot Fort Pakka Khanpur Fort Pharwala Fort Rawat Fort Rohtas Fort Sangni Fort Satghara Fort Sheikhupura Fort Tulaja Fort
Sindh	Dalel Dero Fort Kot Diji Fort Manora Fort, Karachi Naukot Fort Pacco Qillo Ranikot Fort Sehwan Fort Umarkot Fort
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa	Alexander Fort Ali Masjid Fort Bala Hissar, Peshawar Birmoghlasht Summer Fort Chitral Fort Harkishan Garh Fort Handyside Fort Jamrud Fort Mastuj Fort Shagai Fort

• Cultural heritage sites in Azad Kashmir
• Archaeological sites in Azad Kashmir
• Forts in Azad Kashmir
• 1646 establishments in Asia