The first fortifications on the site were constructed by the MughalemperorAkbar in 1590 who built an outer wall for the fort as part of his plans for a new capital at the site of modern-day Srinagar city in Kashmir. The project, however, was never completed. The present fort was built in 1808 under the reign of the Governor of Kashmir Province of the Durrani Empire, Atta Mohammed Khan.
The fort can be reached via two sides of the city, (a) via Rainawari through Kathi Darwaza Gate and (b) via Hawal through the Sangin Darwaza Gate. The fort was closed for almost 2 decades and thrown open to the public in 2007.
The Indian government on 15 August 2021 (the 75th independence day) hoisted a 100 feet tall Indian flag on the top of the fort.[4]
Shrines
Hindu temple
Hari Parbat is considered sacred by some Kashmiri Pandits.[5] According to Hindu Mythology, the area of Hari Parbat was inhabited by a daemon (asura) named Jalodbhava. People went on to pray to goddess Parvati for help. She took the form of a bird and dropped a pebble on the asura's head. The pebble grew larger and larger until it crushed the daemon. Hari Parbat is revered as that pebble, and Parvati is worshipped under the name Sharika, its temple occupying the middle part of the western slope of the hill. She is depicted as having 18 arms and sitting in Shri Chakra.[6][7][8]
Muslim shrines
The southern side of Hari Parbat features Makhdoom Sahib, the shrine of Hamza Makhdoom, a 16th-century Kashmiri Sufi saint locally.[9][10]
Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi at Kathi Darwaza, Rainwari, is believed to be the place where Guru Har Gobind, the sixth Sikh guru, stayed for few days while travelling through Kashmir.[12][13]
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev is a place where Guru Nanak sat and had discourse with people in early sixteenth century. It was earmarked with a pedestal by Mohammad Ata Khan, a general of Akbar who built the Durrani Fort. A small Gurdwara was later built at the place by Guru Har Gobind.[14]
Gallery
Hari Parbat from Dal Lake, Srinagar.
Hari Parbat as seen from downtown Srinagar, Kashmir.
Sharika Temple
Sharika Temple
Wooden windows of Hari Parbat Temple
Shrine of Hamza Makhdoom, Srinagar.
Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi, Rainawari
Hari Parvat
Kathi Darwaza
See also
Badamwari Park, situated at the foothills of Hari Parbat
References
^Asher, Catherine .B (1992). Architecture of Mughal India. Vol. 4. Cambridge University Press. p. 124. ISBN9780521267281. In Kashmir's capital city, Srinagar, Akbar had constructed a massive fort on a high hill known as the Koh-i Maran or Hari Parbat overlooking Dal lake.
^Kashir Encyclopedia (in Kashmiri). Vol. 1. Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Arts Culture and Languages. 1986. p. 403.
^Fernandez, E.E (1889). The Indian Forester. Vol. 15. Roorkee: Thomas Civil Engineering Press. p. 366. The beautiful expanse of water is situated at the foot of the hill called the Hari Parbat or Koh-i-maran.
