GREAT MUSLIM MILITARY ARCHITECTURE
In 1541, Sher Shah Suri built a strong military fort at Rohtas. It is now in Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan. This fort strength can be seen through its existence till the date. It has never been demolished by any natural disaster. It is standing still in its actual shape. It has massive walls having an extension of more than 4 km. These walls are pierced by monumental gateways. It is also known as “Qilla Rohtas.” The walls are lined with 68 bastions and 12 gates. It has a great significance in the Islamic world. The fort has also an influence of the Mughal Empire architectural style. In the mid 16th century, Mughal Emperor Humayun was loyal to the Gakhars. Sher Shah Suri built Rohtas fort to demolish Gakhars following their surrender without a shot by a treacherous Commander.
The layout of the fort is roughly triangular. The northwest corner of the fort is separated from the fort by a 530-meter long wall. It constructs a separated tower area that was more heavily fortified. The fort’s walls thickness reaches a maximum depth of 12.5 meters which near the Mori gate on the north perimeter, whose height is from 10–18.3 meters. The gates are made with much stronger material. Around 30,000 soldiers equipment was stored in the dome chambers of the walls.
The Garrison complex was in use until 1707. Then it was under the control of Durrani and Sikh rulers. Sikh rulers hold Qilla Rohtas in the 18th and 19th centuries. The fortification wall in nevertheless vulnerable to rainwater flooding and chocking system. The Baolis (Stepped walls), the Haveli Man Singh, and the Shahi Mosque are the inner constructions of the fort.
Sher Shah Suri died before the Rohtas fort completion. When Humayun returned to rule the Punjab in a larger irony. Rohtas fort became the capital of the Gakhars — the people Sher Shah almost conquered. Mughal Emperors were fond of green gardens and other architecture. Therefore, under the Mughal rule, Rohtas fort was not much popular. The Afsharid ruler Nadir Shah camped at the fort when he was attacking Mughal Empire. The last man to manage Rohtas fort was Raja Fazal Din Khan in the 19th century. The Rohtas Fort was added to the list of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1997.
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