The Bizarre History Behind Bala Hisar Fort Peshawar

Bala Hisar Fort is a masterpiece hidden within the City of Peshawar. The fort was used for the Durrani Empire as a royal residence, and was rebuilt under Jatsikh rule. Today, the fort serves as headquarters for the Frontier Corps of Pakistan.

Architectural Overview Of Bala Hisar Fort Peshawar

The word Bala Hissar derives from Persian and means “high or elevated”. The Afghan Pashtun King Timur Shah Durrani (1773–1793) gave the name, and until now it is known by the same name, although the name was changed during the Sikh rule.

The formidable Bala Hisar Fort along the Grand Trunk Road and its desolate ramparts still seem to track activity. Since winning Peshawar Babur first built a fort here in 1526. Before being conquered, trashed, and reconstructed in mud by the Sikhs in 1834 (replaced by British brick) it was a royal house for the Afghan Durrani family. It is now Frontier Corps Headquarters. Inside access is restricted but from the ramparts there is a small museum and great views over the area.

Ancient History behind Bala Hisar Fort Peshawar

This ancient fort Bala Hisar stands on a high mound in Peshawar city’s northwestern corner. The fort was used by the Durrani Dynasty as a royal palace, and was restored under Sikh and British rule.

While visiting Peshawar in 630 AD, a Chinese explorer Hiuen Tsang noticed a “royal residence” and named it by the Chinese term Kung Shing, which is used for its purpose and is defined as a fortified or walled part of the town where the royal palace stands.

Hiuen Tsang then makes a separate note of the not fortified town. It indicates that the royal residence formed a Citadel’s core, which must have been covered further by a moat. The historians also reported an old Bara River channel surrounded by a high spot which includes the Bala Hissar and Inder Shahr. The higher region might have been the citadel.

The fort used to be significantly away from the old town of Peshawar, but now land between the old town and the fort has been filled with the construction of new buildings. The location of the fort on a high hill, however, offers a strong and panoramic view of Peshawar and the mesmerizing valley as a whole. When you happen to be on a bright, sunny day in Peshawar, you’ll see the mountains around the Peshawar valley. Another mesmerizing sight is the view from this location over the valley.

Unique Layout Of The Fort

This fort covers an area of nearly 10 acres (40,000 m2), and the fort’s height is 90 feet above ground level. The interesting fact is that the fort’s main entrance faces the ancient road straight to India.

During the reigns of numerous conquerors, invaders and rulers, Bala Hisar fort endured the ups and downs, building and ruin, zenith and depths as Peshawar had always been a premeditated town and had a vital importance for invaders and kings. Since winning Peshawar Babur first built a fort here in 1526. Historical references tell us that the Afghans ruined this fort after the Mughal Emperor Humayun was overthrown by the Afghan King Sher Shah Suri.

The Afghans but shortly after the Sikhs invaded Peshawar in 1834, Hari Singh Nalwa began the reconstruction of the fort and called it Sumergarh. Hari Singh Nalwa placed a plaque over the fort gate that said, “This Sumer Garh was built in the city of Peshawar by the revered Maharaja Ranjit Singh Bahadur at Raja Bikramjit Sambat 1891 with the blessing of Almighty God.”

Preserving This Piece Of Heritage

The KP Assembly recently passed a joint resolution calling on the Frontier Corps to hand over the historic fort to the civil administration, so that it can be open to the public and turned into a tourist spot. Developing old Peshawar areas into tourist spots will boost tourism and create a positive image of the city in front of the international media and the globe. It is need of the hour otherwise we may neglect the meaning of one of the world’s ancient civilizations. One great deed for preserving the fort is done by Bahria Town Peshawar management. The upcoming mega society itself holds immense preservation and conservation of the historical places of Peshawar.