Sheikhupura Fort

Sheikhupura Fort
شیخوپورہ قلعہ
Sheikhupura, Punjab[1]
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Pakistan
Websitehttp://skp.com.pk/city-sheikhupura/historical-places/qila-sheikhupura-sheikhupura-fort/
Location
Coordinates31°42′N 73°59′E / 31.700°N 73.983°E / 31.700; 73.983
HeightAverage 11.5 m
Site history
Built1607 (1607)

Sheikhupura Fort (Punjabi, Urdu: شیخوپورہ قلعہ) is a 17th-century Mughal-era fort near the city of Sheikhupura in Punjab, Pakistan.[2]

History

The date of the construction of fort is traditionally attributed to the reign of Emperor Jahangir. The emperor mentions in his autobiography that he entrusted the construction of a fort at Jahangirpur (Sheikhupura) to Sikander Muin, a local landlord, in around 1607.[3][4]

The fort was drastically altered during the Sikh-era, with numerous buildings constructed, some with exquisite Sikh frescoes. In 1808, the fort was conquered by a Sikh force led by the six-year-old son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Kharak Singh.[5] Ranjit Singh granted this fort as jagir in 1811 to his wife and the prince's mother, Datar Kaur who had a considerable role in its rehabilitation and lived in it to her last day, until 1838.[4] In mid 19th century when power turned to the British, the fort of Sheikhupura was used for the house arrest of Maharaja’s last queen, Jind Kaur, the mother of Maharaja Duleep Singh.[6]

During colonial period it served as the District Headquarters of Gujranwala District until 1881. After 1918 it also served as police station. In 1967 it was declared a protected monument and is now under custody of the Department of Archaeology.[5]

In 2010, the US government's Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation granted 850,000 USD towards restoration of the fort.[7]

Layout

The fort is roughly in square shape and measures 128 metres by 115.5 metres. The walls average 11.5 m (38 ft) in height, varying from 11.12 to 12.4 metres.[5][6] There are four octagonol bastions, one at each corner, with further five semi-circular bastions located within the walls. The main gate is located at the eastern side.[5] The fort contains several havelis dating to the Sikh period which are adorned with colourful frescoes.[6] The fort is quite formidable and dominates the skyline of the neighborhood.[8]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Qila Sheikhupura.

References

  1. ^ "Asian Historical Architecture: A Photographic Survey".
  2. ^ Nadiem, Ihsan H. (2004). "Sheikhupura Fort". Forts of Pakistan. Al-Faisal Publishers. pp. 96–97. ISBN 979-969-50-3352-3.
  3. ^ Jahangir, Emperor of Hindustan (1909). Beveridge, Henry (ed.). The Tuzuk-i-Janhangīrī or Memoirs of Jahāngīr. Translated by Rogers, Alexander. London: Royal Asiatic Society. p. 91.
  4. ^ a b Ali, Aown (3 September 2014). "The crumbling glory of Sheikhupura Fort". Dawn. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Hasan, S. Khurshid (2005). "Sheikhupura Fort". Historical Forts in Pakistan (PDF). Islamabad: National Institute of Historical & Cultural Research Centre of Excellence, Quaid-i-Azam University. pp. 74–77. ISBN 969-415-069-8.
  6. ^ a b c "Sheikhupura Fort, Sheikhupura, Pakistan". Asian Historical Architecture. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  7. ^ Luke, Christina; Kersel, Morag (4 January 2013). US Cultural Diplomacy and Archaeology. Routledge. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-136-15571-0.
  8. ^ "Sheikhupura Fort, Sheikhupura, Pakistan". Asian Historical Architecture. Retrieved 27 September 2025.

Further reading

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