<div>HARIPUR Once a symbol of military might, Fort Hari KishanGarh now stands unprotected.
The fort, which is the largest archaeological site in Haripur, has been exposed to several encroachments by the authorities themselves, while the archaeology department has turned a blind eye towards its maintenance.
The historical Sikh-era fort, spread over 35,420 square metres, was built by Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, who was the governor of Hazara during 1822-23.
The Sikhs had annexed the Kashmir Valley in 1818, from where they made their way to Hazara after facing severe resistance from local people.
The fort was encircled by a strategically-important deep trench to protect Sikh forces inside the fort. The walls of the fort, 3.6 metres thick and 14.6 metres high, and the two wooden gates represent the magnificent stonework of the Sikh rule in Hazara.
The walls and gates are still standing even though no maintenance work has been carried out in the fort for almost 200 years.
According to the Hazara Gazetteer 1883-84, the fort was founded on the advice of Mukadam Musharraf, a Gujjar tribal chief, to maintain Sikh rule in Hazara. The fort was used as a base and was considered a key place for defense in Hazara.
It also served as the District Headquarters for the British rulers between 1849 and 1853, before Major James Abbott relocated the headquarters to Abbottabad.
After the relocation of the headquarters, Abbottabad, previously known as
More...
The fort, which is the largest archaeological site in Haripur, has been exposed to several encroachments by the authorities themselves, while the archaeology department has turned a blind eye towards its maintenance.
The historical Sikh-era fort, spread over 35,420 square metres, was built by Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, who was the governor of Hazara during 1822-23.
The Sikhs had annexed the Kashmir Valley in 1818, from where they made their way to Hazara after facing severe resistance from local people.
The fort was encircled by a strategically-important deep trench to protect Sikh forces inside the fort. The walls of the fort, 3.6 metres thick and 14.6 metres high, and the two wooden gates represent the magnificent stonework of the Sikh rule in Hazara.
The walls and gates are still standing even though no maintenance work has been carried out in the fort for almost 200 years.
According to the Hazara Gazetteer 1883-84, the fort was founded on the advice of Mukadam Musharraf, a Gujjar tribal chief, to maintain Sikh rule in Hazara. The fort was used as a base and was considered a key place for defense in Hazara.
It also served as the District Headquarters for the British rulers between 1849 and 1853, before Major James Abbott relocated the headquarters to Abbottabad.
After the relocation of the headquarters, Abbottabad, previously known as
More...