Pakistan is full of wonders. If we dig deep enough, we would realize that even the travelers among us have not explored half of it. There are many places in Pakistan that can easily be a target for tourists and adventurers. Besides hill stations, mountains, rivers and seas, there are other beautiful and ancient places in our country we should visit. One of these places is known as the biggest fort in the world which is Ranikot.
Related: Top 10 travelogues by Mustansar Hussain Tarar
Ranikot: The Biggest Fort in the World
We are truly privileged that the world’s largest fort is in our country. Not only it is present in our country, but we have also managed to preserve it with its true sanctity over time.
When we decide to go on a Pakistan tour, we usually go up north or places that have pleasant or moderate weather. The weather, the lush green mountains, the flowing rivers are something to look at. However, if we want to learn our history, we need to connect with ancient places that are in Sindh.
Location and Area of Ranikot
Ranikot lies in the heart of the city Jamshoro in Sindh. If you are traveling from Karachi or Hyderabad, it lies on your North-West about seventy-five miles ahead. You will see a range of hills on barren land where this astonishing structure stands. It is connected by the Indus Highway near Sann railway station.
The walls of the fort run almost 22 miles in length and cover a circumference of 32 kilometers. Due to the long and concrete structure of the wall, it is also compared to The Wall of China. The fort was built with stones and lime mortar.
Read more: Ancient university in Sharada Peeth, Azad Kashmir
The History behind Ranikot
When you dig into this story, you will realize that there is so much to Ranikot than what meets the eye. It is hard to track the origin of the fort as there are many stories narrated by different sources. Some are of the view (and what we believe in) that the fort was built by the Mirs in colonial times when the British invaded the subcontinent.
The stronghold was meant to provide a safe haven for the people of Sindh and to protect them against British rule. However, the fort could never be used for the purpose it was being built as the builders and engineers couldn’t complete it in time.
The fort was built by the instructions of Nawab Wali Muhammad Khan Leghari, then Prime Minister of the Sindh. The project alone cost the government about 1.2 million rupees.
The Restoration of the Fort
The Ranikot you will visit today is not in the same condition it was originally built. The Talpurs who took over the city rebuilt some of the fort’s features. For example, the Sann gate through which you enter the fort is not the one built before colonization of the subcontinent. The pillars that are still standing through the bank of the river took a major hit in monsoon seasons and collapsed under the river. The government, to keep the original design of the Ranikot intact, later restored it.
Related: 15 best places to travel in Pakistan
Geographical Importance of Ranikot
Ranikot is an important heritage for Pakistan because not only it is an ancient structure and has a history attached to it. The fort holds a significant value geographically as it connects a range of Kirthar hills. The National Highway connects with it and it is adjoining with the Indus River.
Importance of Ranikot in Tourism
Sindh as a whole attracts many keen eyes towards it. Now that the Pakistani travelers’ bellies are full of the breathtaking views of the north, they are heading south to explore the marvels of Sindh.
Foreigners who are visiting Pakistan are now more interested in the archaeology of the barren lands in Sindh, barren yet full of history.
The Wall of Sindh is a major attention point for tourists. Though people have written in the reviews that there is no police or security to be found around to ensure safety, no harm has been reported yet.
Tourism in Pakistan is flourishing in recent times. Now that we are getting out of the pandemic, things are looking great and hopefully, we will see more tourists and visitors in these specular places.