Rohtas Fortress

Rohtas is a massive Punjabi fortress that was built by the Muslim military commander Sher Shah in 1541-1543 in close proximity to the Great Wheel Road. Its main vocation was the defense of the lands from Humayun, the second ruler of the Mughals. The perimeter of the fortress walls reaches 4 kilometers, their height is 18 meters, and the width is about 12.5 meters. At that time, the building was considered impregnable. On the circumference of Rohtas there are several massive sandstone gates, as well as 68 semicircular bastions.

The fortress received its name in honor of the battle of Rokhtas, in which the great Sher Shah defeated the army of Mughals. 10 years after the death of the ruler, the commandant of the fortress treacherously opened its gates to the conquerors.

The great Mughals gave Rohtas great military and strategic importance, on his model they built many fortresses. At the beginning of the XVIII century, the fortress gradually loses its importance, after the division of British India, it is within Pakistan, and in 1997 it becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site.