Ain Fort (Owin Fort), Sudhnoti

History

Who first built the fort is not recorded. It is believed to date from around 1460, under the Shah Mir sultans of Kashmir, and to have been strengthened after Akbar brought Kashmir into the Mughal empire in 1587 and again under the Dogra rulers of Jammu and Kashmir; the walls standing today are largely of the early 19th century. Set at the narrowest crossing of the Jhelum, it served as a customs post, a forest post and a military outpost, one of a chain of forts across the region with Baghsar, Mangla, Ramkot and Throchi, and it watched the river that once marked the edge of the Dogra state.

Historical Significance

Ain is one of the few survivors of the posts that once guarded and taxed traffic on the Jhelum, where the hills of Kashmir meet the Punjab plains. In late 2025 the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation began the first conservation work on the fort since 1947, funded by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund with the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and with technical support from the National University of Sciences and Technology. The work uses traditional stone and lime, and the site stays open to visitors while it goes on.

Architecture

A square fort on a natural rock platform, with an octagonal bastion at each corner, each pierced by arrow slits, and the main gate on the south under a multi-foiled arch. The walls are stone laid in diaper masonry and finished with lime plaster; inside, the fort rose two storeys around a water tank.

Why Visit

Few forts in Pakistan are still reached the way they were meant to be: by river. A short boat ride up the green Jhelum gorge, a climb through the forest and a 600-year-old fort with the river curling below make Ain one of the most memorable half-day trips from Islamabad.

How to Reach

From Islamabad it is about 1.5 hours by road to Kahuta and on to the Jhelum. The usual way in is by boat: a 15 to 25 minute ride up the gorge from the river landing to the foot of the hill, then a 15-minute climb to the fort. Boats are booked in advance through the fort's local operators, who give the launch point. A 4×4 jeep track by way of the Holar bridge also reaches the base of the hill, but it is rough and can close in the monsoon, July to September. Entry is PKR 1,000 per adult (2026).

Responsible Travel

Book the boat through the fort's local operators and wear the life jacket provided. Keep off walls under repair and do not climb the bastions where they are fenced. Food is cooked by the village on order, so book it ahead, and carry your litter back down.

Interesting Facts

• The Department of Archaeology lists it as Owin Fort
• It stood in a chain of forts with Baghsar, Mangla, Ramkot and Throchi
• It served as a customs, forest and military post at the Jhelum crossing
• The 2025 restoration is the first conservation work on it since 1947
• Solar lamps light the fort for evening visits