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Top 10 Facts about Kot Diji Fort

The Kot Diji Fort (Fort of the Daughter), formally known as Fort Ahmadabad, is an 18th-century Talpur-era fort located in the town of Kot Diji in Khairpur District, Pakistan, about 25 miles east of the Indus River at the edge of the Thar Desert.

The fort was built between 1785 and 1795 by Mir Sohrab Khan Talpur, founder of the Kingdom of Upper Sindh in 1783. In addition to the fort, a 5-kilometre, 12 feet wide mud wall was built around the city. This defensive wall had bastions throughout its length and a huge iron gate served as the city鈥檚 only entrance

The site sits on a hill at the southern end of the Rohri Hills and sits above a prehistoric mound of the same name, where remains of a pre-Harappan civilization have been found.

Read on for the top 10 facts about Kot Diji Fort.

1.  Kot Diji Fort was built by Mir Sohrab Talpur

Image by Faraz Ali Shah from Wikimedia

Kot Diji Fort is an architectural marvel built on the orders of Mir Sohrab Talpur, one of the prominent rulers of the Talpur dynasty. The construction of this incredible historical fort in Sindh started in 1785. It took ten years to build Kot Diji Fort and the project was finally completed in 1795. Since it sits atop a hill, the magnificent views of this fort dominate the entire region surrounding it.

The Talpur dynasty were rulers based in Sindh. Four branches of the dynasty were established following the defeat of the Kalhora dynasty at the Battle of Halani in 1783.  One ruled lower Sindh from the city of Hyderabad, another ruled over upper Sindh from the city of Khairpur, a third ruled around the eastern city of Mirpur Khas, and a fourth was based in Tando Muhammad Khan.

2.  Kot Diji Fort  was a High-level Administrative Centre

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The fort was divided into three parts constructed with burnt bricks. The first part of the fort was reserved for Talpur rulers who ruled Hyderabad, the middle portion was under the Talpur rulers in power in Mirpur Khas, and the third portion belonged to the Mirs of Khairpur.

The fort had an ammunition store referred to as the 鈥淏arood khano鈥�, a pond that served as a water reservoir for the military officers, 3 main towers that are about 50 feet tall, living quarters for the accommodation of soldiers and officers, a Zindaan (prison) and a courtroom called Mir Haram, where the rulers and judicature used to have meetings. It also has tombs of a few of the Talpur rulers

3.  The  Structure of the fort was Functional

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The fort sits atop a 110-foot tall high hill that rises above the city of Kot Diji. The fort’s 30-foot-tall walls encircle the uppermost portion of the fort, resulting a narrow-width fortress with a perimeter of 1.8 kilometres.

Kot Diji was an urban civilization. The citadel was a part of the town built on high ground for the rulers and elites. The citadel contained bastions at regular intervals. The outer part of the consisted of houses made of mudbricks on stone foundations

4.  The Fort Served a Strategic Function

Kot Diji was located at the edge of the desert; this provided an advantage over enemies marching from the east because an exhausted army could be met before it could take supplies and water from the irrigated lands. In fact, the Mirwah canal was built in 1790 specifically to irrigate the lands west of the fort and bring water to the military base.

It was strategically positioned on an elevated landform in the region for warfare and to keep an eye on the enemies.

The walls and bastions have arrow slits which allowed defenders to attack their enemy with maximum protection.

5. Kot Diji Stands on the ruins of Another Civilisation

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One of the key things that greatly adds to the history of Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur, Sindh, is that it was constructed on the archaeological site of pre-Harrapan civilisation, dating back from 2500 to 3000 BC. All these factors make Kot Diji Fort one of the most famous tourist attractions in Sindh.

Pre-Harappan is the culture, preceding the Harappans but different from it. Early/Pre-Urban Harappan means the earlier phase of the Harappan culture, which Page 2 paved the base stone for the urban phase. Mature/Urban Harappan denotes the urban phase (prosperous period) of the Harappan culture.

6. Kot Diji is on Pakistan鈥檚 Protected Status List

The government of Pakistan has declared it a protected heritage site in Pakistan, though it has been noted that portions of the fort are under the control of powerful local families.

Pakistan is endowed with a large number of ancient sites and historic structures. These historic assets are its link with the country’s past. In an age when globalization is all-pervasive, it is Pakistan鈥檚 ancient lineage that provides the nation with a distinct identity. Pakistan is a treasure-house of ancient heritage, spanning scores of centuries.

7. Located in the Historically Rich Province of Sindh

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Home to many fascinating historical places, the province of Sindh is like a treasure trove of history, which dates back thousands of years. The Khairpur district of the province is also quite popular in terms of tourism as it hosts some really impressive remnants of ancient architecture.

One of the best examples in this regard is Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur, Sindh. The structure of this worth-visiting historical edifice still stands with all its grandeur.

Visit Kot Diji Fort and learn more about the history, architecture and location of this enigmatic citadel in Sindh.

8.  Kot Diji鈥檚 Elephant Proof Doors

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The majesty of the fort is dazzling you will marvel at its splendour, especially the elephant-proof gate. It was 13 feet high and 10 feet wide. The gate built of wood contains iron spikes so as to make it immune to the attacks of the enemy. This way the fort seemed impossible to be penetrated.

The fort has only one main entrance on the east that saved it against any raiding enemy. The gate known as Shahi Darwaza or the royal gate in itself is a work of engineering genius. Built on the plan of a curved entrance, the fort has a small courtyard, which is accessible only from the outside.

9.  The Fort Experiences Low Tourism

While the fort was magnificent the number of visitors is wanting. Given the beauty and magnificence of the fort

The most probable reason behind such low turnout could be the lack of facilities available there. There Even the link road that connects the fort to the main road was dusty. Vehicles running on the road leave behind so much dust that it made the trail invisible for some time.

Overall, the fort does not look like a recreation site due to lack of facilities but it is a situation that could be remedied.

10.  British troops Took Over the Fort as a Military Base

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In January 1843, British troops also stayed here at a time when Charles Napier was on his military adventure to invade and conquer Imam Garh.

General Sir Charles James Napier was an officer and veteran of the British Army’s Peninsular and 1812 campaigns, and later a Major General of the Bombay Army, during which period he led the military conquest of Sindh, before serving as the Governor of Sindh, and Commander-in-Chief in India.

Napier’s campaign against these chieftains resulted in victories in the Battle of Miani (Meanee) against General Hoshu Sheedi and the Battle of Hyderabad, and then the subjugation of the Sindh, and its annexation by its eastern neighbours as the Sind Division.

If any of you ever plan to visit Khairpur, do make it a point to make Kot Diji Fort your first stop. And if you live in Sindh, you must explore this fort at least once.