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Status: Completed
Construction Date: N/A
Completion Date: 5th Century AD
Excavation Initiation Date: N/A
Excavation Completion Date: N/A
Client: N/A
Custodians: Department of Archaeology & Museums Punjab, Government of Pakistan
Contractors: N/A
Building Style: Gandhara/Tughluks/Mughal Era Architecture
Building Type: Military/Religous
Building Usage: Fortress/Monastery/Tourist Spot
Height: N/A
No. of Blocks: 5
Area: N/A
Size: N/A
Location: Giri Fort, near Khurram Gujar and Khurram Paracha Village, Behind Margallah Hills National Park (facing Taxila), Margallah Hills, Tehsil Taxila, District Rawalpindi, Punjab
Description:
Giri Fort
The glen of Giri is located 8 km north-east of Taxila, at the foot of Margallah. It is approached through a rough torrent bed near two villages named Khurram Gujar and Khurram Paracha. There are remains of two monasteries and stupas, one on the top of the hill and other below it. The remains of Giri Fort are perched on the hill top, with spring water falling within it. The fort was built in 5th century by the Buddhist monks. Later, it was used by Sultan Masud, son of Sultan Mahmud of Gazni.
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Giri: when we follow the route from the Dharmarajika stupa south-south-east we first come to the monastic establishment at Kalawan, the biggest of its kind in Taxila, which had a longest span of life from the time of the Parthians to a late period.
Following the same route we pass through a rocky defile between the old village of Khurram Piracha and Khurram Gujar, enter a secluded valley and arrive in the glen of Giri, which lies on the old route that went across Margalla . Here we have two groups of Buddhist establishments, a fort, a Muslim Ziarat and mosques, all ranging from the early Kushana period to the time of Akbar(1556-1605). The Buddhist constructions fall into two groups- the eastern and the western. The eastern group, which stands just above the spring, consists of a stupa in the north and monastery in the south. The western group consists of a stupa of square shape in the north and a monastery on the east.
To the north of the monasteries lie mosques, Ziarats, and a rocky hill strengthened by a fort wall having semi-circular bastions. Inside there are remains of dwellings and other structures. The fortification belong to a time much later than that of the Huns.
Source
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" At Giri was built a hill fort by the Turki Shahis, which was used later by the Ghaznavid Sultans. It was occupied by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni and his two sons Masud and Muhammad. But at this time Taxila was not the capital. Turki shahi capital was at Udhandapur (modern Hund on the Indus). But Giri fort lay on the main route from Udhandpur to the Salt Range forts, e.g. one at Nandna in Jhelum district. After Mahmud’s occupation of this region Giri become very important from strategic angle. Here was decided the fate of his two sons, Amir Masud and Amir Muhammad and his two sons and avenged his father’s murder in Giri fort. Maudud establishment here a town and a Serai and named it Fathabad. People settled here and the place become very popular. Masud dispatched the corpse of the father and brethren from Giri to Ghazni. The Mughal historian further speaks of the construction of so many colleges and mosques by Masud.
Giri Fort is situated in the valley and the fortification wall spread over the hilltop. This has many semi-circular based placed at intervals. The fort also included the water spring. Just near the spring towards west there is an old domed mosque, its fluted dome resting on pendentive system of arches. Next to the mosque is a mausoleum. East of the spring there is another old mosque of a smaller size. Further away from the mosque there are remains of madrassah, the dome of which spread in the mediaeval time. Some of the Ulamas bore the name of Margalli. "
Source: http://texilamusium....325930044056641
Site Plan: N/A
Coordinates: 33°43'39.51"N,72°53'0.51"E 33°43'40.53"N,72°52'49.64"E
1 = Upper Giri Fort
2 = Lower Giri Fort
Website: None
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