Harkishan Garh Fort is a fort in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.[1][2]
| Harkishan Garh Fort | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 34°00′06″N 72°56′26″E / 34.0017°N 72.9405°E |
| Estimated completion | 1822–23 |
History
editHarkishan Garh Fort was erected under the supervision of Governor Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa in 1822–23, subsequent to the Sikh annexation of Kashmir and Hazara.[3] The fort features a 20-feet deep moat, designed for the defense of the Sikh garrison.[3]
Initially, the fort was built to consolidate the Sikh control over the region and to serve as a launchpad for further expansion.[3] From 1849 to 1853, the fort also functioned as the district headquarters for the British administration, until Major James Abbott moved it to Abbottabad.[3]
Following Pakistan's inception, the police department claimed the western portion of the fort, while the revenue department took control of the eastern part.[3] Both entities have reportedly maintained their presence in the fort, with modifications allegedly made in contravention of the Antiquities Act.[3]
The municipal administration, tasked with conserving historical sites, is also reported to have built an overhead water tank on the fort's western section.[3]
In 2019, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa decided to convert it into a museum.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Morning symphonies: Harkishangarh Fort Haripur a reminisce". Pakistan Today. August 15, 2021.
- ^ "Rangila of the Frontier | Footloose". The News International.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Mutilating heritage: Encroachments deface the historic Harkishan Garh Fort". The Express Tribune. November 2, 2013.
- ^ "Sikh heritage: Harkishan Garh Fort saved from demolition". The Express Tribune. January 31, 2019.