Written by: Mahnoor Fatima
Posted on: June 19, 2020 | 
| 中文
Eastern Gate of the Rawat Fort
Have you ever seen a Fort that was also a serai? The Rawat Fort holds this unique privilege, and it's very close to the Capital. It sits 18km east of the city of Rawalpindi on the Grand Trunk Road (G.T Road), the fort provides a fascinating look into the history of the local nobles and rulers of the Pothohar Region, before the arrival of the Mughals. The name ‘Rawat’ may actually come from the Arabic word ‘rebaat’, meaning caravanserai. Its features closely resemble a serai that could have been used by invaders and traders from what is now known as Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Historians are not sure if the Fort was built over the serai or vice versa, but they largely believe that the Fort expanded on what was the serai. Mughal Emperor Akbar acknowledges Rawat in his famed Akbarnama, but not much else is said, which may suggest that it was a simple rest stop along the G.T Road during the early Mughal Era.
Map of the Rawat Fort
According to experts, this fort was built in the 16th Century by the ruler of the Gakkar Tribe, Sultan Sarang Khan Gakkar. The Gakkars were a tribal clan of warriors who once controlled the Pothohar Plateau, and were known for their tall, fortified cities. They were also allies of the Mughal King Humayun and sworn enemies of Afghan King Sher Shah Suri, who set up Rohtas Fort nearby to prevent them from crossing into his territory.
Legend has it, a fierce battle took place close to the Fort grounds between Sultan Sarang and Sher Shah Suri in 1546 AD, during which the latter defeated and executed the former. The building inside the fort is said to hold the graves of Sultan Sarang, and his 16 sons who died defending their home from Suri’s invasion.
The Gakkar Graves
Although the compound is in a dilapidated condition, its design matches Rohtas in its design and intricacy. The fort is almost square in its shape, surrounded by high walls. There are remnants of two tall towers in the northern and the southern corners of the building, and it has entrances from the eastern and western sides. Inside there are two mausoleums and one three-domed mosque. The walls outside the fort are lined with small rooms.
The Doors to the Rooms at the Wall of the Fort
The tomb is the most prominent part of the whole Fort. The walls are high with panels and arched openings which must have been embellished at the time. Historians believe that this building housed Sutan Sarang’s tomb, but there is no longer any indication of a marble cenotaph or grave. Many believe that the site, much like the mosque, fell victim to vandalism and poor restoration work that removed, or did not pay heed to the original façade.
Standing on top of the huge drum-shaped dome of the Tomb, one can see the Tope Mankiala, a Gandhara-era Buddhist stupa once allegedly visited by Buddha himself. Buildings like the stupa surround the fort, but there is very little work done to uncover the story behind them.
The Tomb Within the Fort
Talk of conserving the Fort began in 2017, under the Department of Archaeology and Museums. The first phase involved clearing the place of encroachments and installing security cameras to prevent the theft of bricks from the compound. Recently, under the Public Sector Development Program’s 2020-2021 Budget, the Government of Pakistan allocated about Rs. 5.6 million for the Fort’s preservation and restoration.
Tope Mankiala and the Surrounding Village
It is difficult to believe that the present-day roads of Pakistanis were once battlegrounds for epic clashes between kingdoms who vied for territory. Many people often drive through, unaware of the other sites that tell the story of this region’s history. Hopefully, with new restoration plans, the Rawat Fort will not only serve as a heritage site for tourists, but also as a gateway into the history of communities who once called this region home.
The Three-Domed Mosque
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