Bala Hisar Fort Pakistan

Bala Hisar Fort is one of the most historic places of Peshawar. The word Bala Hisar is from Persian, meaning, “elevated or high fort”. According to Dr. Hussain Khan, the name was given by the Afghan King Timur Shah Durrani (1773–1793). The Sikhs who conquered Peshawar in the early 19th century named it Samir Garh in 1834 but the name did not become popular.. Located just to the North West of the city and the North of the Lady Reading Hospital, Bala Hisar covers a part of the ancient Shalamar Garden of Peshawar. This many centuries old Fort of Peshawar, along with many gardens around the city, were  destroyed by the Sikhs, but a  Sikh sardar, Kurruck Singh,  is said to have rebuilt the fort of Bala Hisar of unburnt bricks and named its Suumunger.These are the references to the strengthening of the fort of Peshawar  by King Babar, which confirms the existance of the fort before Mughals.  The present burnt brick structure  of the fort belongs to the British era. This historic fort is now occupied by the Frontier Constabulary. 

The fort stands on a high mound in the northwestern corner of Peshawar City. Not long ago, the fort used to be conspicuously away from the old city of Peshawar, but now the construction of new buildings has covered space between the old city and the fort. However, the fort's position on a high mound gives a commanding and panoramic view of Peshawar and the entire Peshawar valley.

In the early nineteenth century, Peshawar was the summer capital of the Kingdom of Kabul and the Balahisar the residence of Afghan kings. The Sikhs fought and defeated the Kabul Barakzais in the Battle of Nowshera in early 1823. On conclusion of this battle, fought on the right bank river Indus, the Sikhs chased the retreating Afghans past Peshawar through the Khyber Pass.

Categories: Bala Hisar Fort , Historical places , Peshawar