Pacco Qillo I Hyderabad I Sindh I Royal Castle that the People Occupied I A Crumbled Majesty

#hyderabadpakistan #historyofsindh #sindh Pacco Qillo I Hyderabad I Sindh I Royal Castle that the People Occupied I A Crumbled Majesty Collaboration: Directorate General Antiquities & Archaeology, Government of Sindh Focal Person: Tarif Mustafa Bhutto, Assistant Director (Coord) Coordination: Naqash Sahito, Assistant Archaeological Engineer, Sindh Circle of Archaeology, Pacca Fort, Hyderabad Special Thanks: Ali Raza Sheikh, Hyderabad Naveed Panhwer, Hyderabad ‪@naveedpanhwer007‬ Raheel Sheikh, Hyderabad Music: Binu Kumar, Kerala, India ‪@SoundSFX‬ (Under License) For Support: Buy Me a Coffee buymeacoffee.com/gilanilogs Syed Zulfiqar Arshad Gilani Easy Paisa: 0321 875 5750 IBAN: PK22TMFB0000000091196140 Standard Chartered Bank A/C 01714038001 Swift Code: SCBLPKKXXXX IBAN: PK36SCBL0000001714038001 Bank Alfalah A/C 5501 5000422906 Swift Code: ALFHPKKAXXX IBAN: PK06ALFH5501005000422906 #hyderabadcity #hyderabadtourism #sindhu #sindhiculture #historicalplaces #heritagepakistan #pakistanhistory #pakistantourism #indus #historyofpakistan #islamichistory It is said that the constant floods in Khudabad frustrated Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhora, the ruler of Sindh. He decided to abandon Khudabad and shift his capital to a new place in the late 1760s. Kalhora decided to build a new capital on the ruins of an ancient fishing village on a hillock known locally as Ganji ('bald' or 'barren'). The ancient village, once known as Neroon or Neroonkot, is traced back to the Mauryan era (322-185 BCE). The hillock fort’s construction is said to have been headed by Diwan Gidumal, an intelligent courtier, who was given ‘two boats full of money’ by Ghulam Shah. He stayed close to the location during the construction, which finished in 1768. It is the use of pakki or burnt bricks which gave the mighty fort its name: Pakko Qilo in Sindhi and Pakka Qila in Urdu. The fort served as the seat for Ghulam Shah, from where he could see his new capital ‘Hyderabad’ shaping up. His sudden death after just a few years (around 1771-72) was the beginning of the fall of Kalhora rule. The assassinations of Baloch chiefs and an air of distrust in the region led to the Battle of Halani, fought between Kalhoras and Talpurs (a Baloch tribe), in 1782. The Talpurs, led by Mir Fateh Ali Khan Talpur, brought an end to the Kalhora rule in Sindh. Fateh Ali kept ruling from Khudabad until it was inundated by River Indus which was changing its course, after which Hyderabad was made capital again. It was during Fateh Ali's rule that the Pakka Fort reached the peak of its glory days. New buildings were added and old ones repaired. The Mir Haram, which still stands, was built during Fateh Ali’s rule. The succeeding Talpur rulers also added various buildings and structures to the fort. The 33-acre establishment was nothing short of a marvel once. It is written that the fort was once filled with gardens, large palaces and halls and other beautiful structures. But in 1843, the downfall began. British forces led by Charles Napier fought against the Talpurs. The British won the battle, and Sindh finally belonged to them. The fort was damaged heavily in the process. The British were ruthless, and made sure that most of the buildings were razed to the ground. Whatever buildings were spared became offices for British authorities. The part nearest to the gate was converted into a museum later on. The huge towers that stood in the fort were demolished as well, to prevent its use in any future uprisings. Following Partition in 1947 and the large influx of migrants from India, authorities used the fort as a temporary settlement. But with time, the temporary settlement slowly transformed into its modern-day form: a shanty-town. The fort’s original shape was somewhat oval, and only some of its ramparts have survived. The main gate of the fort towards the west, which faces the entrance of the Shahi Bazar is also there. Another little known surviving structure lies towards the east of the fort premises, known among the locals of the area as Qilay Ki Surang (the fort’s tunnel). Passing through some narrow lanes, one comes across a gate, leading to a series of steps, which take you to a prominent grave and some so-called tunnels. It is a tragedy that Pakka Qila is suffering from this fate. Its walls have been falling down for a long time, while people continue to live there. Follow us on: Facebook:   / gilanilogs1   Twitter:   / gilanilogs   Instagram:   / zulfiqargil.  . WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBl...