Skardu Fort

Historic site in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Location of Kharpocho Fort
قلعہ کھرپوچو in Gilgit Baltistan

Show map of Gilgit Baltistan

Skardu Fort (Pakistan)

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Skardu Fort or Kharpocho (Balti: کھر فچو; Urdu: قلعہ سکردو), meaning The king of Forts, is a fort in Skardu in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Australian mountaineer and film maker Greg Child writes that the fort is "perched above the junction of the rivers" and overlooks the Rock of Skardu.^[1]

History

The fort was built by king Ali Sher Khan Anchan at the end of the sixteenth century.^[2] During his invasion of Baltistan in 1840, the Dogra general Zorawar Singh stormed it and razed it to the ground.^[3]^[4]

Dogra Fort

Zorawar Singh had another fort built on level ground next to the Kharpocho hill. The fort remained till the First Kashmir War in 1947, when the local Pakistan aligned Gilgit Scouts laid a siege to it fighting against the Delhi aligned Jammu and Kashmir State Forces under the command of Lt. Col. Sher Jung Thapa. Thapa eventually surrendered after running out of rations.^[5]^[6] ^[7]

Gallery

Kharpocho fort
Entrance to the Skardu Fort
The ancient mosque at the fort
A 1924 photo of the Mosque in Skardu Fort

References

^ Greg Child. Thin Air: Encounters in the Himalayas. The Mountaineers Books. p. 72. ISBN 9780898865882.
^ Shiri Ram Bakshi. Kashmir: Valley and Its Culture. Sarup & Sons. p. 124. ISBN 9788185431970.
^ Shankar Prasad. The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment. Lancer Publishers. p. 18. ISBN 9788170622680.
^ GD Bakshi. Footprints in the Snow: On the Trail of Zorawar Singh. Lancer Publishers. p. 155. ISBN 9788170622925.
^ J Francis. Short Stories from the History of the Indian Army Since August 1947. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. pp. 26–27. ISBN 9789382652175.
^ Jagjit Singh Arora. With Honour & Glory: Wars fought by India 1947–1999. Lancer Publishers. p. 13. ISBN 9788170621096.
^ B. Chakravorty. Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers. pp. 352–353. ISBN 9788170235163.

External links

NorthernAreas.gov.pk Skardu page

List of cultural heritage sites in Gilgit-Baltistan

Forts

Khaplu Palace
Baltit Fort
Shigar Fort
Skardu Fort
Altit Fort

Tourist attractions

Archaeological sites

v t e List of cultural heritage sites in Pakistan
Lists by provinces and territories	Azad Kashmir Balochistan Gilgit-Baltistan Islamabad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Punjab Lahore Sindh Karachi
Important sites	UNESCO World Heritage Sites National Monuments
Other sites	Archaeological sites Forts Mausolea and shrines Cemeteries Churches Gurdwaras Hindu temples Libraries Mosques Museums Hindu and Buddhist heritage British heritage

v t e Forts in Pakistan
Azad Kashmir	Baral Fort Baghsar Fort Bharand Fort Burjun Fort Karjai Fort Mangla Fort Ramkot Fort Red Fort, Muzaffarabad Throchi Fort
Balochistan	Kharan Fort Lasbela Fort Mir Chakar Fort Sassi Punnu Fort Sandeman Fort Sibi Fort
Gilgit-Baltistan	Altit Fort Baltit Fort Khaplu Palace Shigar Fort Skardu Fort
Punjab	Akrand Fort Attock Fort Bijnot Fort Derawar Fort Din Garh Fort Fort Abbas Fort Mao Mubarak Fort Munro Gujrat Fort Harand Fort Islamgarh Fort Jamgarh Fort Khair Garh Fort Kusak Fort Lahore Fort Malot Fort Mankera Fort Marot Fort Mir Garh Fort Moj Garh Fort Multan Fort Nandana Fort Nawankot Fort Pakka Khanpur Fort Pharwala Fort Rawat Fort Rohtas Fort Sangni Fort Satghara Fort Sheikhupura Fort Tulaja Fort
Sindh	Dalel Dero Fort Kot Diji Fort Manora Fort, Karachi Naukot Fort Pacco Qillo Ranikot Fort Sehwan Fort Umarkot Fort
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa	Alexander Fort Ali Masjid Fort Bala Hissar, Peshawar Birmoghlasht Summer Fort Chitral Fort Harkishan Garh Fort Handyside Fort Jamrud Fort Mastuj Fort Shagai Fort