Rohtas fort has total 12 gates. It is spread in quite huge area with scattered buildings thus each and every place needs to be describe and non of the place here can be ignored. I am trying to cover some of the gates in my post.
The first gate is known as "Khwas Khani" mean the "Gate for the specials", indicating that it was used by emperor and his special army men. This gate is the main entry to the fort but you have to keep driving through this gate until you reach to the parking lot inside the fortress. Inside the fort area lots of houses have been made by the local people, quite enough to be called as a small town.
After parking you may either walk towards "Shah Chand Wali "gate or towards "Sohail gate". The choice is yours. On the left side of Sohail gate, there is "Rohtas Fort Museum" but I couldn't visit the museum because it was closed for visitors. But I was told by the guide that inside the museum has certain statues of Emperor's Sher Shah Suri wives dressed in traditional attires. The guide was holding an album of the photographs of the museum. So I took some quick snaps from the album booklet. He also told me that inside the museum are kept old swords, daggers, shields and coins etc.
I always wonders why photography always forbidden inside museums? What could be its reason?
"Talaqi gate" is considered as bad omen. The word "Talaq" means in urdu as divorce and here it is thought to be sign of condemned. According to a legend Prince Shabir Suri entered the gate and had an attack of fever which proved fatal and after the death of the Prince this gate was regarded as ominous or bad omen.
"Langar Khani gate" or the Mess gate is named after a mess for the soldiers. Its opening into a Langar Khana ( A mess or canteen for the soldiers) during emperor Sher Shah Suri's era. It is said there are kitchen, stores and a well for water. Many sheep, buffalos and cow can be seen grazing around the fort because the area around the fort is mostly a rural area.
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view from the top of the kabuli gate or shahi gate |
The royal mosque has a prayer chamber with a small courtyard at its front. It seems the most decorated one of the original buildings inside the fort. It is said that during Emperor Sher Shah Suri's time, in case of invasions, there made a secret stairs that leads direct from the courtyard of this mosque to the top of the Kabuli gate.
I went through these stairs and found a splendid scenery in surrounding. I personally like this place, very soothing and calm. Far from the hills I could listen the sounds of the music, probably some one playing songs on their mobile phone or it might be coming from the nearby village. But I didn't saw any domes of the mosque. It is said that this mosque doesn't have any domes.
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Stairs leading directly from the courtyard of the mosque to the top of the kabuli gate. |
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left side view from the top of the kabuli gate |
I met there with a family from Jhelum who visited fort on same day and the elder lady of the family was so kind. They were looking certainly from some joint family system. Any how they cordially invited me to join them and got surprised when they came to know I have been to Rohtas especially from Mardan. They offered us to visit their home they lived nearby and also offered to have a lunch with them but I couldn't join them due to time constraints.
Rohtas Fort is frequently visited both by International as well as national and local peoples.
Wao Wao, very interesting and informative blog and info about the Fort. The photography was superb and I like all the angles you did photography. But sad to see how our govt neglecting taking care of the Fort our historical places and even the kalima inscribed there on the wall was in very bad condition in a country called ISLAMIC Republic of Pakistan.
ReplyDeletestunning pictures kiran, would love to visit!
ReplyDeleteThe first picture is absolutely beautiful...somehow the images remind me of my past, or the way I used to click. Rather odd! :)
ReplyDeletewe learn with the passage of time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Siddharth!
I have discovered your blog and it´s really interesting. great photos and story to discover a country almost unknown by us. thank you for your visit to my blog and your kind comments. I will visit this site often to enjoy and learn, Greetings from Spain!
ReplyDeleteThanks Armando
ReplyDelete