| Jamrud Fort | |
|---|---|
جمرود قلعہ | |
 Jamrud Fort in 2015 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Frontier fort |
| Owner | Government of Pakistan |
| Controlled by | Sikh Empire (1837–1849) British Raj (1849–1947) Pakistan Army (1947–present) |
| Open to the public | No |
| Condition | Intact |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 34°01′02″N71°16′48″E / 34.017350°N 71.279887°E /34.017350; 71.279887 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1836–1837 |
| Built by | Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa |
| Materials | Stone and brick |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Jamrud (1837) Second Anglo Afghan War |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Frontier Corps KP |
TheJamrud Fort, also known asFatehgarh Fort, is located besideBab-e-Khyber at the eastern entrance to theKhyber Pass fromPeshawar, in theKhyber District ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
In October 1836, Jamrud was occupied by theSikh Empire. SardarHari Singh Nalwa (1791–1837), the well-known Sikh general, proposed to build a big fort at Jamrud. The proposal was opposed; nevertheless the foundation of the fort that has survived was laid by General Hari Singh Nalwa on 6Poh 1893 Sambat (18 December 1836) and the construction was completed in 54 days.[1][2] "Jamrud...noted for its fort built with 10 feet (3 m) thick walls c.1836 by the Sikh Hari Singh Nalwa, one ofRanjit Singh's generals, was originally named Fatehgarh to commemorate the Sikh victory over the disunited tribes."[3]
Early in 1837, theSandhawaliaJat ruler MaharajaRanjit Singh's (1790–1839) grandson, PrinceNau Nihal Singh, was to be married. Hari Singh Nalwa sent his forces to Lahore for this historic celebration. At this time, Mr Fast, an Englishman, previously in the service of the British India Government, passed through Jamrud on his way to Kabul. En route he encountered Mohammad Akbar Khan, son ofDost Mohammad Khan. When Akbar Khan learnt that the fort at Jamrud was unprotected, he decided to attack. The battle between the Afghans and the Sikhs was fought on 30 April 1837. The loss suffered in this battle by the Sikhs was indeed heavy. Hari Singh Nalwa had sent out an appeal for help to theMaharaja to dispatch reinforcements from Lahore post haste, however his letter was not forwarded to the Maharaja by theDogra chiefs. Reinforcements could not reach in time and Nalwa laid down his life in the battlefield. When the reinforcements arrived, the Sikhs managed to hold the fort and force the Afghan forces to retreat back to Kabul.[4][5][6]
Jamrud Fort was historically the meeting place of the Masonic Lodge Jamrud, which relocated to the United Kingdom after Freemasonry was banned in Pakistan in 1972.
1837: Lord Auckland appointed governor general. Akbar Khan, son of Dost Muhammad, defeats Sikhs at Jamrud...
