| Red Fort | |
|---|---|
Rutta Qila | |
| Muzaffarabad,Azad Jammu and Kashmir | |
 Red Fort in 2014 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fortification |
| Owner | AJK Tourism and Archeology Department |
| Status | Decommissionedin 1947 |
| Location | |
  Red Fort  Red Fort | |
| Coordinates | 34°22′56.63″N73°27′53.18″E / 34.3823972°N 73.4647722°E /34.3823972; 73.4647722 |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1559-1646 |
Red Fort (Urdu:لال قلعہ), also known asMuzaffarabad Fort, is a 16th-centuryfortification located inMuzaffarabad,Azad Jammu and Kashmir,Pakistan. It was built by theChak dynasty ofKashmir.[1][2] The fort is locally referred to as the 'Rutta Qila' or just 'qila'.[3][4]
In the 16th century, Chak rulers of Kashmir anticipated a threat to the city from the Mughals. For defence, they started construction of the fort in 1559 at a strategic location on the west of Muzaffarabad.[3] TheMughal Empire annexed Kashmir in 1587, and the fort lost its importance.[1][2][4] Finally, the construction of the fort was completed in 1646 in the reign ofSultan Muzaffar Khan of theBomba Dynasty, the founder of Muzaffarabad.[4]
The architecture of the fort shows that great experts in design and structure participated in its construction. It is surrounded on three sides by theNeelum River (formerly known as the Kishan Ganga River[5]). The northern part of the fort had terraces with steps leading to the bank of the river. The main gate on eastern side was very well protected from the hazards of flood waters, but some parts on the north side have suffered damage. There used to be an inn at the entrance to the fort, but only traces of that structure remain now.[1][2]
In 1846, MaharajaGulab Singh of theDogra dynasty began reconstruction and extension of the fort for political and military operations and his successor Maharaja Ranbeer Singh completed the work. The Dogra military then used the fort till 1926, after which a new cantonment was built, leaving the red fort abandoned once again.[4] Towards the middle of 1947, theDogra forces left, leaving the fort abandoned.[1][2]
Most of the fort's relics in museum associated with it were stolen by raiders and dealers and a large portion was destroyed during the2005 Kashmir earthquake.[6][4][5]
Later in October 2019,Government of Azad Kashmir andLahore Walled City Authority (LWCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for restoration and conservation of Red Fort and other major heritage places in Azad Kashmir.[7]
On his trip to Azad Kashmir in 2022, American ambassador in PakistanDonald Blome visited the fort.[8]
