Nandana Fort or Nandna Fort () was a

fort A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...

built at strategic location on a hilly range on the eastern flanks of the

Salt Range The Salt Range ( and Namkistan نمکستان) is a mountain range in the north of Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends along the south of the Potohar Plateau and the north ...

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

. Its ruins, including those of a town and a temple, are present.

History

It was ruled by the

Hindu Shahi The Hindu Shahis, also referred to as the Kabul Shahis and Uḍi Śāhis, were a dynasty established between 843 CE and 1026 CE. They endured multiple waves of conquests for nearly two centuries and their core territory was described as having c ...

kings until, in the early 11th century,

Mahmud of Ghazni Abu al-Qasim Mahmud ibn Sabuktigin (; 2 November 971 – 30 April 1030), usually known as Mahmud of Ghazni or Mahmud Ghaznavi (), was Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire, ruling from 998 to 1030. During his reign and in medieval sources, he is usuall ...

expelled them from Nandana.

Al-Biruni Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (; ; 973after 1050), known as al-Biruni, was a Khwarazmian Iranian scholar and polymath during the Islamic Golden Age. He has been called variously "Father of Comparative Religion", "Father of modern ...

carried out his measurements of the circumference of the Earth here. The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) was tasked by the

Prime Ministers A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but rat ...

Office to rehabilitate the site with the aim of making it an international tourist destination. Prime Minister

Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. He was the founder of the political party Pak ...

had been informed of the decrepit state of the site by his wife's nephew, Shahroze Khan, who had previously heard about the state of the fort from Paul Salopek, a

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

contributor. In February 2021, the PM and several aides and cabinet members attended an official event celebrating the restoration of the site.

Anandapala The Hindu Shahis, also referred to as the Kabul Shahis and Uḍi Śāhis, were a dynasty established between 843 CE and 1026 CE. They endured multiple waves of conquests for nearly two centuries and their core territory was described as having c ...

, the son of

Jayapala Jayapala was a ruler of the Hindu Shahi dynasty from 964 to 1001 CE. He ruled over the area which stretched from Laghman in the west, to Kashmir in the east and from Sirhind to Multan. He was the son of Hutpal and the father of Anandapala. ...

of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, had erected the

Shiva temple A Hindu temple, also known as Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to whom it is dedicat ...

in Nandana.Pakistan journal of history and culture, Volume 17 By National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (Pakistan)Page 122 File:Ruins of Nandna Fort Remainants of Fort Wall.jpg, Remains of Fort Wall File:Nandana Temple Ruins.JPG, Nandana Temple Ruins. File:Ruins of Nandna Fort Remainants of room on the hill foot May be part of Fort.jpg, Room on the hill foot. Maybe part of the fort

References

External links

Nandana Fort
Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab {{Castles in Pakistan Archaeological sites in Punjab, Pakistan Cultural heritage sites in Punjab, Pakistan Forts in Punjab, Pakistan Buildings and structures in Punjab, Pakistan Tourist attractions in Punjab, Pakistan

History

See also

References

External links