In This Post:
History of Kot Diji Fort
Architecture of Kot Diji Fort
Location of Kot Diji Fort in Sindh
Timings of Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur, Sindh
Things to Remember on Your Trip
Home to many fascinating historical places, the province of Sindh is like a treasure trove of history, which dates back to thousands of years. The Khairpur district of the province is also quite popular in terms of tourism as it hosts some really impressive remnants of the ancient architecture. One of the best examples in the regard is Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur, Sindh. The structure of this worth-visiting historical edifice still stands with all its grandeur.
So, if you want to learn more about this historical attraction and have plans of visiting it any time soon, then you have landed on the right post. Here we have compiled a detailed travel guide to visiting Kot Diji Fort that discusses the history, architecture, and location of this enigmatic citadel in Sindh. Moreover, in this blog, we’ll also shed light on some other useful information that will help you with your trip to the region of Khairpur.
So, without further ado, let’s go exploring!
History of Kot Diji Fort, Sindh
Kot Diji Fort is an architectural marvel built on the orders of Mir Sohrab Talpur, one of the prominent rulers of the Talpur dynasty. The construction of this incredible historical fort in Sindh started in 1785. It took ten years to build Kot Diji Fort and the project was finally completed in 1795. Since it sits atop a hill, the magnificent views of this fort dominate the entire region surrounding it.
It was strategically positioned on an elevated landform in the region for warfare and to keep an eye on the enemies. One of the key things that greatly adds to the history of Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur, Sindh, is that it was constructed on the archeological site of pre-Harrapan civilisation, dating back from 2500 to 3000 BC. All these factors make Kot Diji Fort one of the most famous tourist attractions in Sindh.
Quick Fact: The name of Kot Diji Fort has been derived from a Sindhi language phrase “Diji jo Qilo”, which means “Fort of the Daughter”. Like other tourist destinations in Sindh, the name of this fort has also been influenced by the local language.
Architecture of Kot Diji Fort, Sindh
The time when Kot Diji Fort was built, it was known as “Fort Ahmadabad”. It was named after Ahmad, a Persian architect who designed and engineered the praiseworthy architecture of this historical fort in Sindh.
The fort sits at a height of 110 feet from the ground and is located on the southern end of Rohri hills. The royal gate, which is locally known as “Shahi Darwaza”, is the only entrance to Kot Diji Fort. Since the primary purpose of this fort was to combat enemies, the royal gate was constructed as a large wooden structure, embedded with iron spikes that made it elephant-proof.
As you pass through the entrance of the fort with a curved ceiling, you enter into a small courtyard. The place is guarded by two heavy bastions, which is also among the major highlights of the fortification of this structure.
Furthermore, the fort has three strategically positioned towers and many specifically-designed cannon placement zones. You will also spot some roofless rooms in the palace. They were purposed to store ammunition and are known as “Barood Khano” in the Sindhi language.
The art of simplicity has been uniquely used in the architecture of Kot Diji Fort. The entire fort was constructed with kiln-baked bricks as it was the only sturdy construction material available locally at that time.
The architecture and history of this fort make it one of the most amazing places to visit in Sindh. Further in our travel guide, we’ll learn about the location of Kot Diji Fort and the best routes to get to it.
Location of Kot Diji Fort in Sindh
Located in one of the most picturesque regions of Sindh, Kot Diji Fort is just 25 kilometres southwest of the city of Khairpur. From Karachi, it is more than 400 kilometres away. It may take you around 6.5 hours to get to this historic attraction in Sindh by car. Like many other historical attractions in Sindh, the best route to take to get to Kot Diji Fort from Karachi is Karachi-Hyderabad (M9) Motorway and Mehran Highway.
Similarly, if you’re travelling from Hyderabad, you may only have to cover around 250 kilometres while travelling along Mehran Highway. Your journey may also be less long than travelling from Karachi to this fascinating place to visit in Sindh.
Timings of Kot Diji Fort in Sindh
Like other historical forts in Pakistan, Kot Diji Fort also stays open during the day time. The opening hours of this historical attraction in Sindh are from 8 am till 6 pm.
Things to Remember When Visiting Kot Diji Fort in Sindh
Here a few things that you should keep in mind when taking a trip to Kot Diji Fort, a popular tourist destination in Sindh.
- The weather in Khairpur Districts stays hot, dry, and dusty for most of the year. So, it is better to pick a cloudy day if you’re travelling to Kot Diji Fort near the city of Khairpur.
- As discussed, the fort only stays open for visitors during the day time, so try to leave early for your trip as it can be 6 to 7 hours long drive, depending on the flow of traffic.
- Although you may come across several stopovers on your journey with local dhabas and roadside chai cafes it’s better to pack your own food and water supplies.
- To make your journey safer and more enjoyable, don’t forget to read about some of the best tips for comfortable road trips in Pakistan.
Quick Fact: The region of Khairpur is also famous for Faiz Mahal, which is undoubtedly a very beautiful palace. It is another graceful remnant of the Talpur Dynasty, which was also constructed at the end of the eighteenth. So, upon your visit to the Kot Diji Fort, you can also plan on exploring this place. For more information in this regard, you can check out our detailed blog post on Faiz Mahal in Sindh.
Here we wrap our travel guide to visiting the Kot Diji Fort. We hope the information that we have provided you in this blog will help you with your trip to this amazing historical site in Sindh. If you have already taken a trip to Kot Diji Fort and want to share with us your experience, feel free to write to us at blog@zameen.com. We love it when our readers interact with us.
If you’re a fan of tourism in Sindh, you may also like reading our blog posts on popular tourist attractions in Thatta, Kharoonjhar Mountains, Tharparkar District, and different types of forests in Sindh. Also, don’t forget to read about Ranikot Fort in Jamshoro District, which is also among the most popular historical sites in Sindh. The fort is also popularly dubbed as the “Great Wall of Sindh” due to its unique structure.
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