Baghsar Fort

Name of Monument: Qila Baghsar

Location: Smahni, Azad Kashmir

Date of Construction: 16th Century

Very little knowledge is available about the true history of the fort. In the 15th century, Bhimber was under control of a local chieftain who is known to have constructed a series of forts in the region. Bhaghsar fort may have been first constructed during his reign. Later it came under control of Mughals, who may have re-constructed it. G.T.Vigne, an English traveler who extensively travelled through Kashmir, mentioned it as Bagh Sar.  Baghsar Fort is situated in Smahni valley near Bhimber, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Baghsar Fort depicts the Mughal, Indo-Islamic architectural style. This war-torn Fort has withstood the ravages of time. The rulers constructed the massive structure of the Fort to have a mighty stronghold to fight back against the enemies.

The four-storied architecture of the Fort was built using granite and sand stones. The robust structure of the Fort depicts impressive masonry work. There are three entrances to the fort. Northern main entrance, southeastern entrance and the entrance to inner perimeter.  The outer circumference comprises a boundary wall and thirty-eight small rooms mainly constructed for the guards and soldiers. Each room consists of a light port and a storage area. There are some loopholes in the walls to keep an eye on outside the Fort. 

The Interior of the Baghsar Fort consists of a water pond, a darbar hall, and forty-three spacious rooms. An observation tower is built in the southeast corner to have a panoramic view of the entire village and to keep an eye on the enemy. There is a firing inlet on the western wall where soldiers used to stand and fire on the opponents. Numerous indentations are on the Fort’s borders to allow archers to fire while staying under cover. Several ventilators are designed in the Fort to prevent suffocation and the proper inlet of light and air. Irrespective of the challenging location of the Fort on the line of control, the Fort’s structure is still intact.