Ranikot Fort

25.88305555555667.932222222222Koordinaten: 25 ° 52 '59 "N, 67 ° 55' 56" E

The fortress of Ranikot (also Rannikot ) is a massive defense building in the south of present-day Pakistan, in the province of Sindh. It is located about 75 kilometers north- west of Hyderabad.

The in its history remains largely unexplored system is considered, in the opinion of Pakistani scientists as largest existing fortress in the world. The Pakistani government has the entry as a World Heritage Site in December 1993 sought to UNESCO.

Location

The fortress is located in the Kirthar Mountains Ranikot, about 35 kilometers west of the Indus. At the northeast edge of the fort are the ruins of the already explored early historical city Amri - the eponymous place a pre- 3000 BC thriving civilization on the Indus.

The builders of the fortress took advantage of the natural characteristics of the sent canyon -like river valley to the design of the overall system. The western flank of the fortress is the fringed by steep rock mountain chain Karo Takkar ( Black Mountain). In about six kilometers east of the river run the Lundi Hills and form the eastern boundary of the fortress. Up to 100 meter high rock walls were considered insurmountable. The desert-like surroundings of the fortress facilitated the control of the huge investment, the more significant was for the inhabitants and defenders of their own water supply. Apart from some natural sources of the Sindhu River and several smaller tributaries drinking water led into the interior of the fortress, there were also tanks and ponds are found. Within the fort extend to several steep mountains, they carry the two inner fortifications - the mountain fortress Meeri ( Lage25.89688888888967.901805555556 ) and the mountain fortress Shergarh ( Lage25.90872222222267.896138888889 ).

Construction details

The reconstructed total investment of the fortress impressed by their numbers: The enclosed basin is secured by wall sections, which have a total length of eight kilometers and an average height of six meters. The entire defense system had a circumference of 29 kilometers. The construction of the wall is reminiscent of the Great Wall of China. On the inside of up to five meters high wall, a parapet runs with stairs on the steep slopes, have so far a total of 85 round towers and bastions are recorded.

Only two gates gave access to the fortress, they were secured by fortified gates. The eastern gate is known as the Sann Gate, the north-eastern gate is called Amrigate, at its gates lie the ruins of the eponymous city. The two rivers were secured by fortifications. Two more goals or Mauerbreschen that were identified only from the inside, could have been a precaution prepared for a diversionary attack. One gate was named as Mirigate and the second Sher Gash Fort. Within the overall complex were also the two mountain fortresses that could serve as last refuges for the defenders and were interpreted in peacetime both residential and palaces of the ruling dynasty, as well as a prison.

So far, only a few remnants of crew quarters, warehouses and workshops inside the fortress could be exposed. From the local population is referred to as a Roman cemetery unused space as a burial place within the fort. Myths and legends also tell of fairies who gathered at specific sources within the fortress to cultic activities - possibly evidence of ancient places of worship.

Recent History

As a rule center of the local Talpur dynasty it served until the mid -19th century. Given the constant threat of their land by competing princes and the British invested Talpurs the mid-19th century still 1.2 million rupees to strengthen and repair the fort. The British envoy at the court of Talpur rulers were skillful enough of the royal family to clarify their hopeless situation, as protection against modern artillery of the British, these fortifications were ineffective, the fort was surrendered without a fight and therefore fell into disuse later. In the valley now penetrated even farmers who were allowed to invest up to the foot of the mountain fortresses settlements and fields.

Only in the 1950s began a scientific study, but the first focused on the archaeological evidence of Amri culture. After the independence of Pakistan, these pre-Islamic fortress in the core remained unheeded.

Impressions

Staircase in the restored area

Section Fastening the river

Meeri Fort, details of the gate bastion

Conservation

For tourist visits parts of the fortress walls and the two mountain fortresses have been restored. The plant will be systematically explored and it will be partially implemented rehabilitation projects. The Pakistani government hopes that with the designation as a World Heritage additional tourist attention, even borders south of the Kirthar National Park on the fortress.

Trivia

• Geology: The area of the fort is rich in fossils and geologically significant, there was the formation Ranikot her name.
• Stamp: The Pakistan Post Office in 1986 they gave a 90- paise brand with a view of the fortress as a motif in circulation.