Rohtas Fort | World Heritage Explorer

World Heritage Identification Number: 586

World Heritage since: 1997

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇵🇰 Pakistan

Continent: Asia

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

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Rohtas Fort: A Testament to the Architectural Genius of Sher Shah Suri

The Rohtas Fort, nestled in the heart of the Punjab province in Pakistan, stands as a remarkable testament to the architectural prowess of Sher Shah Suri, the medieval ruler who defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun in 1541. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, this colossal fortification offers a captivating glimpse into the rich history and cultural heritage of the region.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Following his defeat of the Mughal emperor Humayun in 1541, Sher Shah Suri built a strong fortified complex at Rohtas, a strategic site in the north of what is now Pakistan. It was never taken by storm and has survived intact to the present day. The main fortifications consist of the massive walls, which extend for more than 4 km; they are lined with bastions and pierced by monumental gateways. Rohtas Fort, also called Qila Rohtas, is an exceptional example of early Muslim military architecture in Central and South Asia.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that the Rohtas Fort is an exceptional example of the Muslim military architecture of central and south Asia, which blends architectural and artistic traditions from Turkey and the Indian sub-continent to create the model for Mughal architecture and its subsequent refinements and adaptations.

Encyclopedia Record: Rohtas Fort

Rohtas Fort is a 16th-century fortress located near the city of Dina in Jhelum district of the Punjab province, Pakistan. Commissioned by Sur emperor Sher Shah Suri, its construction was supervised by Raja Todar Mal and is now one of the largest and most formidable forts in Punjab.

Additional Site Details

Area: Not available

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 32.9625 , 73.58888889

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

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Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley
572 km — Afghanistan

Country Information: Pakistan

Official Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Capital: Islamabad

Continent: Asia

Population (2024): 251,269,164

Population (2023): 247,504,495

Population (2022): 243,700,667

Land Area: 770,880 sq km

Currency: Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Rohtas Fort
Wikipedia: Rohtas Fort

Portions of the page Rohtas Fort are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Rohtas Fort, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.