PACCO QILLA (HYDERABAD FORT)



Pacco Qillo (Strong Fort), or Pakka Qilla, is an early modern fortification in Hyderabad, Pakistan. The Fort was constructed on the hillock, known locally as Gunjy, by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro around 1768 when he founded the city of Hyderabad.


The Fort, slightly oblong in shape, covers 30 acres of land. Its fortification wall, running along the contours of the hillock, is imposing with burnt bricks and decorated with ornamental ‘kangaroos’ of odd shape. There is only one main entrance, opening in the north towards Shahi Bazar. A small enclave near the main gate towards north is the only area where the few historical buildings still stand to tell the tale of the Fort’s past glory. In the northwest corner of this complex lies the Mirs haram, built on 7.5m high solidly built podium, the interior is profusely decorated with fresco paintings. It has five large halls towards the east. This was the place where Mirs treasury was located. Image result for pakka qila hyderabad

History
Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro made it his capital and raised some buildings for the purpose of civil use. During the Talpur rule over Sindh, Mir Fateh Ali Khan abandoned Khudabad and shifted his capital to Hyderabad in 1789. He also used the Hyderabad Fort to reside and hold his court. For the purpose he added a haram and other buildings to accommodate the ruling family and his relations. He also built some mosques.

After defeating the Mirs in the Battle of Miani in 1843, the British occupied the fort. Some blasts in the fort, later on, destroyed most of the buildings and houses of the public. In 1857, the British razed most of the remaining buildings to ground to make room for use of the area to accommodate troops, military stores etc. Ever since the British period the craftsman and working class people live in a sort of shanty town inside the fort.

Present condition
Due to passage of time vagaries of nature and especially human vandalism the Fort has suffered to a great deal. At present the fortification wall of the Fort is in a very dilapidated condition from the several places it's lost every originality. The south east part of the wall most effected and bulged out. 

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