Akhnoor Fort

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Akhnoor Fort
Fort at Akhnoor 2013-09-05 12-15-20.jpg
Location Akhnoor, Jammu district, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Coordinates 32°53′47″N74°44′27″E / 32.8963°N 74.7407°E / 32.8963; 74.7407 Coordinates: 32°53′47″N74°44′27″E / 32.8963°N 74.7407°E / 32.8963; 74.7407
Built1762–1802
Architectural style(s) Indian fort architecture
India Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
India location map.svg
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Akhnoor Fort (India)

Akhnoor Fort is a fort on the right bank of the Chenab River (ancient name Asikni), 28 km from Jammu City. [1]

Contents

Construction of the fort was started by Raja Tegh Singh in 1762 CE and completed by his successor Raja Alam Singh in 1802. On 17 June 1822, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh crowned Maharaja Gulab Singh at the fort's Jia Pota ghat on Chenab's riverbank. [2]

The fort has high fortification walls with bastions at regular intervals and is crowned with battlements. There are two-storeyed watch-towers at the corners, which are crowned by battlements and merlons. [2] The fort has two parts which are bifurcated by a wall with a gate leading to the palace on the southern side. The palace is two-storeyed, and the walls facing the courtyard have decorated arches, some of which contain mural paintings. [1]

Access to Akhnoor Fort is obtained through both the riversides and the northern side. Formerly, a large part of the fort was in ruins; conservation work is in progress.

The fort was declared a National Monument in 1982 under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and is under the Archaeological Survey of India’s jurisdiction. [3]

History

The Akhnoor Fort has a history of over 5000 years, [4] and was perched upon an ancient site, locally known as Manda, which has been subjected to a limited excavation, which in turn has exposed a threefold sequence of culture. [2]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Akhnoor Fort". Jammu Tourism.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Akhnoor Fort". Government of Jammu District.
  3. Brara, Sarita (10 August 2013). "Akhnoor: Caught in a time warp". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  4. Raj Kumar (2010). Early History of Jammu Region, Pre-historic to 6th Century A.D. Volume 2. Kalpaz Publications. p. 31. ISBN   9788178357683.