Gujrat Fort

Gujrat Fort
General information
Location	Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates	32°34′29″N74°04′36″E / 32.574667°N 74.076558°E / 32.574667; 74.076558

Gujrat Fort, also known as Akbari Fort, is a fort in Gujrat, in Punjab, Pakistan. ^[1]

History

During 1587 ^[2] or 1596–97, Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of a fort in Gujrat, which included five gates. ^{[3] [4]} This fortified settlement housed all city inhabitants and entry or exit was restricted after nightfall for security reasons. ^[3]

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  The fort of Gujrat, Punjab, lithograph by Lieutenant W. L. D. Smith, after his own painting, Day & Son, London, 1849

Gates

The gates bear unique names reflecting their respective histories and orientations. ^[3] The eastern Shah Daula Gate, or Shahdauli Gate, pays tribute to saint Kabiruddin Shahdoula Daryai. ^{[3] [5]}

The westward-facing gate, known as Kabuli or Dhakki Gate, derives its name from its direction towards Kabul. ^{[3] [4]}

In the North stands the Sheeshiyan Wala Gate, famed for its decorative glasswork roof. ^{[3] [4]} "Shishi," a Scandinavian term signifying graveyard, possibly indicates the gate's proximity to a burial site. ^[3]

The southern gate, originally termed Kalari Gate, is now known as Shah Faisal Gate, named after three neighboring southern villages: Kalara Dewan Singh, Kalara Rahwala, and Kalara Punawan. ^{[3] [4]}

Lastly, the Timble Gate, situated adjacent to the Shahdauli gate, completes the quintet of these historical entrances. ^[3]

References

1. "Important Places". District Gujrat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
2. "4 Historical Gates of Gujrat Fort". Gujrat. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
3. Butt, Waseem Ashraf (June 16, 2016). "Last vestige of Mughal era in Gujrat". Dawn. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
4. "Gujrat historical sites to be restored". Dawn. January 3, 2020. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
5. Miles, M. (2010). "THE CHUAS OF SHAH DAULAH AT GUJRAT, PAKISTAN: Evidence, Historical Background and Development, with Bibliography 1839-2009". Independent Living Institute (ILI). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.