The
Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila (Urdu: شاهی
قلعہ ) is citadel of the city of
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern
corner of the Walled City of Lahore. The trapezoidal composition
is spread over 20 hectares. Origins of the fort go as far back
as antiquity, however, the existing base structure was built
during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar (1556-1605), and was
regularly upgraded by subsequent rulers. Thus the fort manifests
the rich traditions of the entire Mughal architecture. Some of
the famous sites inside the fort include: Sheesh Mahal, Alamgiri
Gate, Naulakha pavilion, and Moti Masjid. In 1981, the fort was
inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the
Shalimar Gardens (Lahore).
Origins
The origins of Lahore Fort are obscure and are traditionally
based on various myths. However, during the excavation carried
out in 1959 by the Department of Archaeology, in front of Diwan-e-Aam,
a gold coin of Mahmood of Ghazni dated A.H. 416 (1025 A.D.) was
found at a depth of 7.62 meters from the level of the lawns.
Cultural layers continued to a further depth of 5 meters, giving
strong indications that people had lived here, long before the
conquest of Lahore by Mahmood in 1021 A.D. Further mention of
the fort is traceable to Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Ghuri's
successive invasions of Lahore from 1180 to 1186 A.D.
Location of Fort along the Walled City of Lahore
- It cannot be said with certainty when the Lahore Fort was
originally constructed or by whom, since this information is
lost to history, possibly forever. However, evidence found
in archaeological digs gives strong indications that it was
built long before 1025 A.D
- 1241 A.D. - Destroyed by Mongols.
- 1267 A.D. - Rebuilt by Sultan Ghiyas ud din Balban.
- 1398 A.D. - Destroyed again, by Amir Tamir's army.
- 1421 A.D. - Rebuilt in mud by Sultan Mubark Shah Syed.
- 1432 A.D. - The fort is occupied by Shaikh Ali of Kabul
who makes repairs to the damages inflicted on it by Shaikha
Khokhar.
- 1566 A.D. - Rebuilt by Mughal emperor Akbar, in solid
brick masonry on its earlier foundations. Also perhaps, its
area was extended towards the river Ravi, which then and up
to about 1849 A.D., used to flow along its fortification on
the north. Akbar also built Doulat Khana-e-Khas-o-Am,
the famous Jharoka-e-Darshan (Balcony for Royal
Appearance), Masjidi Gate etc.
- 1618 A.D. - Jehangir adds Doulat Khana-e-Jehangir
- 1631 A.D. - Shahjahan builds Shish Mahal (Mirror
Palace).
- 1633 A.D. - Shahjahan builds Khawabgah (a dream
place or sleeping area), Hamam (bath ), Khilwat
Khana (retiring room), and Moti Masjid (Pearl
Mosque).
- 1645 A.D. - Shahjahan builds Diwan-e-Khas (Hall
of Special Audience).
- 1674 A.D. - Aurangzeb adds the massively fluted Alamgiri
Gate.
- (Sometime during) 1799-1839 A.D. - The outer fortification
wall on the north with the moat, the marble athdera, Havaeli
Mai Jindan and Bara Dari Raja Dhiyan Singh were
constructed by Ranjit Singh, Sikh ruler from 1799-1839 A.D.
- 1846 A.D. - Occupied by the British.
- 1927 A.D. - The British hand over the Fort to the Department
of Archaeology after demolishing a portion of the
fortification wall on the south and converting it into a
stepped form thus defortifying the fort.
Structure
The strategic location of Lahore city between the Mughal
territories and the strongholds of Kabul, Multan, and Kashmir
required the dismantling of the old mud-fort and fortification
with solid brick masonry The structure is dominated by Persian
influence that deepened with the successive refurbishments by
subsequent emperors.
The fort is clearly divided into two sections: first the
administrative section, which is well connected with main
entrances, and comprises larger garden areas and Diwan-e-Aam
for royal audiences. The second - a private and concealed
residential section - is divided into courts in the northern
part, accessible through 'elephant gate'. It also contains Shish
Mahal (Hall of Mirrors of Mirror Palace), and spacious
bedrooms and smaller gardens.On the outside, the walls are
decorated with blue Persian kashi tiles. The original entrance
faces the Maryam Zamani Mosque, whereas the larger Alamgiri Gate
opens to the Hazuri Bagh through to the majestic Badshahi
Mosque.
Fort
Picture Gallery
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