Trending Today:
‘Celebrating Bilateral Ties’
Shaikha Al Nowais Becomes
  • Aviation
    • Airlines
    • Airports
    • CAA
    • PIA
  • Hotel/Lodges
    • Destination Pakistan
    • Events
    • Food & Beverages
    • Restaurants
  • Pakistan Tourism
    • News
    • Expos & Events
    • Rails & Roads
    • Mountains
    • Organizations
  • International Tourism
    • Cruises
    • Destination
    • Expo & Events
    • News
    • News Destination
    • Organizations
    • Technology
  • Advertise
  • E-papers
  • Newsletter
  • Aviation
    • Airlines
    • Airports
    • CAA
    • PIA
  • Hotel/Lodges
    • Destination Pakistan
    • Events
    • Food & Beverages
    • Restaurants
  • Pakistan Tourism
    • News
    • Expos & Events
    • Rails & Roads
    • Mountains
    • Organizations
  • International Tourism
    • Cruises
    • Destination
    • Expo & Events
    • News
    • News Destination
    • Organizations
    • Technology
  • Advertise
  • E-papers
  • Newsletter
Home»Destination Pakistan»Destination Ramkot | Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK)
Destination Pakistan

Destination Ramkot | Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK)

holidayweeklyBy holidayweeklyMay 1, 2017No Comments
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Ramkot Fort is an ancient fort situated in Mirpur of Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. The view of its interior from above shows a style of use not confined to warfare but also of peaceful living with children and women.

The fort is located on the confluence of Rivers Jhelum and Poonch, on a vertical cliff looking over the shiny blue waters. Due to its peculiar architecture, the Ramkot Fort is distinct amongst fortresses built in the Kashmir region. It is believed that Ramkot was very likely built in the second half of 16th century.                           .

During excavations relics of the 5th – 9th century AD have been discovered showing a previous ‘pucca’ structure, indicating commerce and religion of times gone by. During the period between the 16th – 17th centuries AD, the Muslim rulers of Kashmir  had built numerous forts because of the terrain they ruled over and the constant fear of attack by invaders. Ramkot Fort was the larger and more pivotal of them. The subsequent Sikh Rulers of Kashmir further fortified Ramkot which came into disuse under the British Rule.

The best time to visit the fort is from July to September because during that period  time the lake remains  full of water and  in other months the Mangla lake goes  dry and reaching Ramkot becomes bit hard. Whenever you go there, don’t forget to take drinkable water with you. To approach the fort, you have to take a boat from the water sports club at the Mangla Dam, which, after an almost 10-minute ride, would reach the northern extremity of the reservoir. Here, you will find a gigantic fort structure located on the summit of the hill.

From Mirpur the Fort is about 79km by road, from Dina it is 13 km  and from Dadyal it is a 30 minute walk; with Mangla Dam beside it, the site is accessible also by boat which is preferred by tourists. Being identical to the architectural characteristics of Mangla and Muzaffarabad Forts, Ramkot was very likely built in the second half of 16th century.

Neither the Azad Jammu Kashmir government nor the federal government, which manages affairs of the Mangla Dam seem to be taking any interest in the protection, restoration and development of this decaying heritage. Although most of the fort lies in ruins, signs pointing to its past life and grandeur are still alive.

Curiosity about the water tanks even being situated on the bank of river still prevails. The historians are not sure why such a relatively small fortress used such large tanks. Although the fort is ruined, there are marks of its past grandeur, for example, the gateway which is strategically designed with firing sits on every angle. The ramps and crenellations for cannons are alterations of the time when Dogra of Kashmir held this fort in 19th century.

It is said that the fort was fully neglected till the late ’90s, when Dr. Anis ur Rehman, head of the Islamabad-based NGO Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, first came across Ramkot on a fishing trip to Mangla. Mr. Rehman told that the fort, when he saw was entirely ruined and inaccessible, it was full of mud and thick vegetation all around the fort and when he  contacted the Federal Ministry of Archaeology and told about Ramkot Fort, he was absolutely  surprised to know  that the ministry had no idea about the  fort. With the permission of the government he started working on cleaning and restoration of the fort single handedly.

Than later a roof and door were fixed at the main entrance and whole fort was cleaned and old canons, provided by Pakistan Army were brought in especially from Quetta for the Ramkot Fort. Due to carelessness towards the fort, those old model canons are now broken.

Like many other heritage sites, Ramkot has its own share of myths surrounding its establishment. It is said that the fort was built over the site of an old Hindu Shiva temple, but looking at the present structure of the fort, no one can doubt that it is a construction of the 16th century but like other fortresses in Azad Kashmir such as Throtchi, Mangla, Barjhan and Muzaffarabad, the Ramkot Fort could not make much of a place in historical records.

Holiday Weekly request to both, Federal and AJK government to  restore, protect  and provide with all necessary facilities for impressive heritage site, the Ramkot Fort so that it could become a major tourists attraction and resultantly it will generate many other tourism based  economic activities for the people of the  area.

Azad Jammu & Kashmir Kashmir Mirpur Ramkot volume 13-2017
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
holidayweekly
  • Website

Related Posts

Air France – KLM Signs Gerry’s Group | As New client in the Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program

April 26, 2025

EU To Tighten | Visa-Free Travel Rules For 61 Countries In 2025

April 21, 2025

Mirpur Set To Get | Int’l Airport As Feasibility Process Begins

April 21, 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Top Posts

‘Celebrating Bilateral Ties’

June 3, 2025

TAAP & TURSAB Praiseworthy Efforts for Mutual Tourism; Turkish CG

March 2, 2017

To boost Tourism & Trade Pakistan & Malaysia to Have Visa-Free Regime; CG Malaysia

March 2, 2017

PIA Female Cabin Crew Passing Out Ceremony Held

March 2, 2017
Don't Miss
Hotel/Lodges

‘Celebrating Bilateral Ties’

By holidayweeklyJune 3, 2025

Serena Hotels, In Collaboration WithEmbassy Of Portugal Hosted Soulful Strings ISLAMABAD: Portugal & Pakistan a…

Shaikha Al Nowais Becomes

June 2, 2025

“Taste the World”

May 29, 2025

flyadeal and Matchless Global | Announce GSA Partnership at ATM Dubai 2025

May 19, 2025
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

About Us
About Us

Email Us: info@example.com
Contact: +92 321 9264 080

Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest YouTube WhatsApp
Our Picks

‘Celebrating Bilateral Ties’

June 3, 2025

Shaikha Al Nowais Becomes

June 2, 2025

“Taste the World”

May 29, 2025
Most Popular

‘Celebrating Bilateral Ties’

June 3, 2025

TAAP & TURSAB Praiseworthy Efforts for Mutual Tourism; Turkish CG

March 2, 2017

To boost Tourism & Trade Pakistan & Malaysia to Have Visa-Free Regime; CG Malaysia

March 2, 2017
© 2025 Weekly Holiday. Designed by Haseeb Ansari.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.