Rohtas Fort of Jhelum, Pakistan

This is yet an additional masterpiece constructed by the excellent Afghan King who is recognized in the history as Sher Shah Suri and whose actual name was Farid Khan. This is Rohtas Fort of Jhelum, Pakistan which was constructed by Suri in order to resist the Army of Humayun (The Indian Mughal Emperor) after defeating him. He was also threatened by the neighborhood Ghakkars, so another cause to create this fort was naturally to block them as well. The other magnum opus of Suri is the well-known Grand Trunk Road.

Rohtas fort ( By Amir Mukhtar Mughal )

Sher Shah Suri was an effective and a masterly administrator. Though, he ruled over India for only 5 years from 1540 to 1545, but he established a new template for civic and military discipline. First time in the history of India, Rupee was regulated as official currency and the postal system of India was also formulated. But Rohtas Fort and G.T. Road are the most important constructions, raised for the duration of the Suri’s reign.

The Rohtas Fort is a mega military architecture which is spread over a circumference of 4 kilometers. Rohtas fort was constructed in the Afghan-Persian architectural style. In truth this was the first time in the history, when each construction styles have been mixed together. Rohtas Fort is a magnificent piece of art close to to a lot of archaeologists due to its commanding place and it has many high and massive walls along with huge trap gates.

 The outer walls are presently lacking symmetry but they have a length of much more than 4 kilometers. They have the average height of about 14 m and the average thickness of ten m. The wall of the Rohtas Fort has 2 or 3 terraces and varies in thickness, the maximum being 13 meters close to the Mori Gate. The terraces are linked by staircases.

Talaqi Gate of Rohtas Fort ( Image : Sadaqat )

Rohtas Fort has twelve main gates which were built in ashlar stone. These gates are identified as Sohail Gate, Shah Chandwali Gate, Kabuli Gate, Shishi Gate, Langar Khani Gate, Talaqi Gate , Mori Gate, Khwas Khani Gate, Gatali Gate, Tulla Mori Gate, Pipawala Gate and Sar Gate.

Haveli Man Singh ( Image : aha299 )

There are also three Baolis in Rohtas fort made with lime rock and they are named as the Main Baoli , Shahi Baoli and Sar Gate Baoli. The other spectacular buildings incorporate the popular Shahi Mosque which was constructed close to the Kabuli Gate.  This mosque includes exquisite calligraphic and decorative characteristics.

Shahi Mosque of Rohtas Fort ( Zahid Ali Khan’s Image )

Queen’s Palace which is frequently spoken as Rani Mahal is a single storey structure and both the exterior and interior are embellished magnificently. Haveli Man Singh is also situated just near to Rani Palace.

Haveli Maan Singh, Rohtas Fort, Pakistan ( Image: Fiaz Tariq )

UNESCO declared the Rohtas Fort of Jhelum, Pakistan as the Globe Heritage Site in 1997 and pays tribute to this historical constructing as beneath

“Rohtas Fort is an exceptional instance of the Muslim military architecture of central and South Asia, which blends architectural and artistic traditions from Turkey and the Indian sub-continent to develop the model for Mughal architecture and its subsequent refinements and adaptations.”

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Khewra Salt Mines of Jhelum, Pakistan

Horses do learn! Does this make sense? Yes, they do. How ? It occurred thousands of years ago when Alexander, the Fantastic was on his expedition to conquer the Indian subcontinent. When he arrived close to Mianwali area (presently in Pakistan), his horses began to lick some stones. So in this way, a single of the largest mines of salt had been disclosed ahead of the world. The Precambrian of Khewra salt mines is determined by the geologists as 600 million years. Khewra salt mines remained below the handle of the regional Janjua Rajas till these had been taken more than by the British government in 1849. Lastly at the time of the partition of India, the mines were come beneath the authority of Pakistani government.

Khewra salt mines, Pakistan. Imgae : flickr

Khewra Salt Mines are positioned at a distance of 160 km from Islamabad and 260 km from Lahore in Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan District Jhelum, Punjab. The whole area is well-known as Salt variety. According to the estimate , the reserves of Khewra salt mines comprise of around 220 million tones of salt. The mine-head buildings consists of 19 levels from which 11 are under ground. Only 50% salt is extracted and 50% is left as pillars to assistance the mountain. The aggregate length of all the tunnels is much more than 40 Km. The typical production of salt which is the purest in the planet is almost 4,66,000 tonnes yearly.

Salt stairs, Khewra. Image : flickr

Khewra salt mines of Jhelum , Pakistan are not only the second biggest salt reserves right after the Sifto Canada, Inc., salt mine in Goderich, Ontario but it is a fascinating tourist location. Khewra salt mines are now administered by the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) which was established in 1974. Although the primary tunnel of Khewra salt mines was created by Dr. H. Wrath in 1872 but it was ultimately established as a tourist resort by PMDC in 2002. The present architecture of the tunnel was created by Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan.

A fantastic view of the Khewra salt mines – Pakistan. Image: Saad Rashid

Right after entering into the tunnel there is lengthy walk way which leads to the marvelous natural and salt created structures. With this shining and transparent salt several marvels also have been produced by PMDC to attract the guests. Some of the prominent formations include the famous salt mosque , a model of the Minaret of Pakistan, a model of Shish Mahal (the Palace of Mirrors) and the model of Parliament Residence of Pakistan. The Salt ponds which are illuminated with fancy lights and a 25 feet pillars-less bridge identified as Pul-Saraat are also worth seen. The old mining machinery of Khewra salt mines is also preserved to showcase the mine’s heritage.

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