Pharwala

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Pharwala Fort
قلعہ پھروالہ
Gate of Pharwala Fort toward the Swaan stream.JPG
The Pharwala Fort as seen from other side of Swaan River
General information
LocationRawalpindi District, Pakistan
Coordinates33°37′10″N 73°17′57″E / 33.61944°N 73.29917°E / 33.61944; 73.29917
Completed15th Century

Pharwala Fort (Urdu: قلعہ پھروالہ) is a 15th-century fort located about 40 km from Rawalpindi in Punjab, Pakistan. The fort is naturally defended by one side by a small Himalayan range and the other by the Swaan River.

History[]

The fort was built by the Gakhars in the 15th century. The Mughal Emperor Babur conquered the fort in 1519, however after the Mughals reconciled with the Gakhars the fort was returned to the Gakhars.[1] Under British rule, the Pharwala Gakhars were disbanded and their Jagir grants taken away after 1857.[2]

Conservation[]

The fort is in a bad shape. Being situated in the Kahuta area, is only open for Pakistani visitors,.[1] Foreigners need a No Objection Certificate to enter the area.

Walls and gates are in poor condition - Pharwala Fort.jpg

A small community of Gakhars still lives inside the fort these days (around 50 people).Notable Kiyani's living here including Raja Naeem Kayani Currently in Japan & Raja Gul Ghaffar Kiyani Ex-Service Man Pakistan Navy & their family belongs to this historic place. old and huge Banyan tree is also found inside the fort. There is no road to the fort. The Fort is not so easily accessible: there is no bridge, you have to cross the river by foot.

  • Centuries old banyan tree inside Pharwala Fort

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Dilapidated Pharwala Fort needs attention - Dawn Pakistan
  2. ^ Rawalpindi Gazetteer, 1889, pp 142-43
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