Living in Pakistan is a great blessing. The country has several shades of beauty. It is enriched with mighty mountains, beautiful glaciers, exceptional views, volcanoes, and what not. According to a report, Pakistan was ranked the best holiday destination for 2020 and was also declared the third-highest potential adventure destination in the world. If one only wonders about the beauty of northern areas of Pakistan, then one is missing out some amazing historic architecture: majestic forts. Although there are a number of forts in Pakistan, the top ten will be discussed here.
1. Rohtas Fort:
This one arguably is the best fort in Pakistan. It was constructed by the famous king Sher Shah Suri in 1547 AD. It is situated in the town of Dina, which is near Jhelum city. The fort is known for its large defensive walls, and several monumental gateways. Rohtas Fort was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997 for being an “exceptional example of the Muslim military architecture of Central and South Asia.”
2. Derawar Fort:
This fort is just near Bahawalpur City and the area is known for the historic monuments and forts. It was constructed in 1733. This is one of the largest square type fortresses in the country. The walls of the fort are 30 meters high and have a circumference of 1500 meters. This was the residence of the Royal Family of Bahawalpur.
3. Ranikot Fort:
This fort is also famously known as the great wall of Sindh. It is situated in the Jamshoro District and is a talismanic wonder of the country. It was built way back in 836 AD but it was again reconstructed in 1812. The site was nominated in 1993 by the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO world heritage status.
4. Lahore Fort:
It is located in the heart of Lahore which signifies the brilliance in construction of the Mughal Empire. It was built by Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Royal dynasty and is still there in very excellent condition. It is not even a question that a tourist from foreign country heads to Pakistan and goes back without visiting Lahore fort.
5. Bala Hissar Fort:
Bala Hissar Fort is located near Peshawar City which was the residence of the Afghan kings in the early 19th century. The fort has seen good and bad times in the times of wars which resulted in destruction of the fort. However, still this fort is preserved in reasonably good condition which fascinates the visitors.
6. Red Fort:
This famous fort in Muzaffarabad is also popularly known as Muzaffarabad fort. The Chuk rulers of the area initially began with its construction but was completed much later by Sultan Muzaffar Khan in 1646. The architecture of the fort shows that great experts in design and structure participated in its construction. It is surrounded on three sides by the Neelum River which adds more colours to its beauty.
7. Altit Fort:
This ancient fort is located in the picturesque Hunza valley and the collage of history with nature creates a majestic spell for the visitors. The rulers of the Hunza state constructed it some 1100 years ago for their private residence. Now, it is public, and visitors enjoy by visiting it.
8. Baltit Fort:
This is another ancient fort just near the Altit fort which is also on the tentative list of World heritage of UNESCO. It is a 700 years old fort and alterations and rebuilds were done over the centuries. Simply put, this place has a heart of many tour lovers.
9. Skardu Fort:
It is situated in the Skardu valley which used to be the royal residence of the kings of Skardu. It was constructed in the 16th century and because of its charm, Emperor Aurangzeb of the Mughal tried to capture the fort but in vain.
10. Quetta Fort:
Quetta fort in the province of Baluchistan is a military garrison fortress which was constructed by the British Empire in the late 19th century. Its historic relevance and impeccable beauty makes it one of the finest forts in Pakistan.
From the above blog, it becomes evidently clear that Pakistan is blessed with uncountable beautiful destinations. Visionary decision making is a key to unlock the untapped potential of the tourism sector in Pakistan. Hopefully, Pakistan will get the top position in the tourist index which it deserves. Long Live Pakistan!
