Gujrat Fort

Name of Monument: Dhakki/ Qila Gujrat

Date of Construction: Late 16th century

Material of Construction: Bricks

Till the middle of `6th century there was not central stronghold of the Mughals in the Chenhat Doab. The area remained in dispute between Gujars and Jats over common grazing land for cattle. During his second visit to Kashmir in 997 AH (1582 AD), Akbar passed through. this area and find ruined site 41 feet higher than surrounding country. He decided to build a new fort on this mound to settle the dispute permanently between the two tribes and to secure his control in the region. The date of construction is evident from the Persian verse,” Gujrat Basai Akbarabad,” (Gujrat founded by Akbar. This chronogram gives the date as 995 AH or 1580 AD. Gujrat Akbarabad was made a separate a separate pargana. The construction of Gujrat Town is described by Emperor Jahangir in the following terms;

” Having reached the Chenab in two marches on Thursday, the 21st Zil Hija, I crossed the river by a bridge which had been built there and my camp was pitched in the neighborhood of the pargana of Gujrat. At the time when his majesty Akbar went to Kashmir, a fort had been built on that bank of the river. Having brought to this fort a body of Gujars who had their time in the neighborhood in thieving and highway robbery, he established them there. At it had become the abode of the gujars, he made it a separate pargana and gave it the name of Gujrat.”

The Gujrat fort is square plan, 1600 feet by 1600 feet. It was strengthened with four corner towers and two each on north and south sides. Two entrance gates were constructed on the east and west sides. A bazaar connects these gates. A hammam (akbari Hammam) was constructed outside the Kabuli (western) gate and baoli was built in the center of the town with access from the bazaar for the convenience of the travelers and local residents. the construction was carried out under the supervision of Dianat Rai and Wazir Khan.