Baghsar Fort

Baghsar Fort
Native name قلعہ باغ سر (Urdu)
Southern side of the fort, observation point visible.
Location	Bhimber, Pakistan
Coordinates	33°02′22″N 74°12′22″E
Architectural style(s)	Indo-Islamic, Mughal

Baghsar Fort (Urdu: باغ سر قلعہ) is an ancient fort built in Samahni Valley near Bhimber, Pakistan, close to a place known as Baghsar. The fort was constructed by Mughal rulers.^[1][2] Some parts of it are currently closed to visitors, due to it being right beside the line of control between Pakistan and India.^[2][3]

History

Very little knowledge is available about the true history of the fort. In the 15th century, Bhimber was under control of a local chieftain Jasrat, who is known to have constructed a series of forts in the region. Bhaghsar fort may have been first constructed during his reign.^[4] Later it came under control of Mughals, who may have re-constructed it. Godfrey Vigne, an English traveller who extensively travelled through Kashmir, mentioned it as Bagh Sar castle in his book.^[5]

Layout

View of Baghsar Fort main gate.

Embrasures visible in boundary wall.

Mosque showing Indo Islamic architecture.

Outer perimeter consists of boundary wall and thirty eight small rooms while inner side of the fort consists of darbar hall, a water pond and forty three rooms. There are three entrances to the fort. Northern main entrance, south eastern entrance and the entrance to inner perimeter. Observation point is prominent on the south eastern corner. There is a firing bay on western wall. Fort is surrounded by embrasures in the walls to allow archers to fire and remain under cover. There is a big room along the southern wall. Here the ruler of the time was used to meet his courtiers and delegates.

Tomb of Jahangir

Mughal emperor Jahangir on his way to Lahore from Kashmir died somewhere in between Chingus Sarai, Rajouri and Sarai Saadabad, Bhimber.^[6] To preserve his body his entrails were removed and buried in Baghsar fort. Then body was sent to Lahore where it was buried in mausoleum built along the banks of Ravi.

Conservation

Despite being on line of control, structure of the fort is still intact. But it is severely neglected by government in regard to conservation.

See also

• List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Pakistan
• List of forts in Pakistan
• List of museums in Pakistan

References

1. Rashid, Salman (2 September 2007). "Dumped into oblivion".
2. Singh, Sarina (2008), Pakistan and the Karakoram Highway, Lonely Planet, p. 186, ISBN 9781741045420
3. "قلعہ باغ سر... کشمیر کا تاریخی ورثہ".
4. Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1985). A Short History of Jammu Raj: From Earliest Times to 1846 A.D. Ajaya Prakashan. p. 72.
5. Vigne, Godfrey (2018), Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, the Countries Adjoining the Mountain-Course of the Indus, and the Himalaya, North of the Panjab; Volume 1, Creative Media Partners, LLC, p. 238, ISBN 9780344244087
6. Allan, J.; Haig, Sir T. Wolsely; Dodwell, H. H. (1934). Dodwell, H. H. (ed.). The Cambridge Shorter History of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 398.