Ranikot fort is the world’s largest fort with a circumference of about 26 km. It is one of the historical forts situated in Sindh. It is also called Dewar-e-sindh because it resembles with ‘Great wall of china’. It is situated in kirthar range, about 29-30 km southwest of Sann in district Jamshoro.
Its diameter is round about 6 km. Its walls are 6 meters high & made up of gypsum & sandstone. The purpose of its built is still unknown that’s why it is also said as largest unexplored fort in the world. Because of such beautiful places tourists called Sindh a heaven on earth. There are many places which need to be explored.
As Purpose of building Ranikot Fort is still unknown, Question still remains the same that why one has built a gigantic Structure in the middle of nowhere, what was they trying to defend? There are no credible answers. One guess relates it to the Talpurs, when Afghans attacked Sindh during the times of Kalhoras Talpurs sent their families to kach and Thar. However, after getting hold of Sindh, they need a safe place for their families in war times. So they built this fort. Another view is based on its location. As Talpurs don’t have strong relations with khan of Kalat they wanted a secure western frontier - thus the requirement of a strong fort. Talpurs have threat from Ranjit Singh and Durranis, so Ranikot has played an important role in their defense. Even doubt exist its relation with the Kirthar Mountain range, since some believe that the mountains of Ranikot are called Tora Mountains, forming one of the boundaries of the fort.
Archaeologists point to 17th century as its time of first construction but now some archaeologists agree that it was reconstructed by Talpur brothers Mir Karam Ali Khan and Mir Murad Ali in 1812. They have incurred cost of RS: 1.2 million on reconstruction.
Most of long wall of Ranikot is made of natural cliffs have height 2000 feet above the sea level. Man-made wall are constitute about 8.25 km portions. When you enter in the fort, you will find ditches, building structure, bastions, ammunition depots, streams, hills, ponds, pools, valleys, fossils, watchtowers, fortresses. They all added beauty to this place. Watchtower and a mosque are later modifications. There are three graveyards as well. One graveyard has over four hundred graves. One of their sandstone engraved with motifs of sunflowers and peacocks. One seems to be a graveyard of Arab people, while third is located one Km away from the Sann Gate, there are only four graves some time ago they were sixteen to seventeen graves. Sometimes local residents call it “Roman's graveyard”. Animal skeletons and prehistoric fossils can be found on the top of Lundi Hills.
Beside Sann and Mohan Gates, there are two additional gates 'Amri Gate' and ‘Shahpir Gate’. There is a crack in the fort wall which has appeared in the later years.
At the end we can say that Ranikot fort is still a mystery which needs attention of people
Click here for Photo gallery of Ranikot fort
Click here for Video of Ranikot fort
Its diameter is round about 6 km. Its walls are 6 meters high & made up of gypsum & sandstone. The purpose of its built is still unknown that’s why it is also said as largest unexplored fort in the world. Because of such beautiful places tourists called Sindh a heaven on earth. There are many places which need to be explored.
As Purpose of building Ranikot Fort is still unknown, Question still remains the same that why one has built a gigantic Structure in the middle of nowhere, what was they trying to defend? There are no credible answers. One guess relates it to the Talpurs, when Afghans attacked Sindh during the times of Kalhoras Talpurs sent their families to kach and Thar. However, after getting hold of Sindh, they need a safe place for their families in war times. So they built this fort. Another view is based on its location. As Talpurs don’t have strong relations with khan of Kalat they wanted a secure western frontier - thus the requirement of a strong fort. Talpurs have threat from Ranjit Singh and Durranis, so Ranikot has played an important role in their defense. Even doubt exist its relation with the Kirthar Mountain range, since some believe that the mountains of Ranikot are called Tora Mountains, forming one of the boundaries of the fort.
Archaeologists point to 17th century as its time of first construction but now some archaeologists agree that it was reconstructed by Talpur brothers Mir Karam Ali Khan and Mir Murad Ali in 1812. They have incurred cost of RS: 1.2 million on reconstruction.
Most of long wall of Ranikot is made of natural cliffs have height 2000 feet above the sea level. Man-made wall are constitute about 8.25 km portions. When you enter in the fort, you will find ditches, building structure, bastions, ammunition depots, streams, hills, ponds, pools, valleys, fossils, watchtowers, fortresses. They all added beauty to this place. Watchtower and a mosque are later modifications. There are three graveyards as well. One graveyard has over four hundred graves. One of their sandstone engraved with motifs of sunflowers and peacocks. One seems to be a graveyard of Arab people, while third is located one Km away from the Sann Gate, there are only four graves some time ago they were sixteen to seventeen graves. Sometimes local residents call it “Roman's graveyard”. Animal skeletons and prehistoric fossils can be found on the top of Lundi Hills.
Beside Sann and Mohan Gates, there are two additional gates 'Amri Gate' and ‘Shahpir Gate’. There is a crack in the fort wall which has appeared in the later years.
At the end we can say that Ranikot fort is still a mystery which needs attention of people
Click here for Photo gallery of Ranikot fort
Click here for Video of Ranikot fort