Field guides / Sindh / Boundary Wall of Pucca Fort
Field guide · Heritage
Boundary Wall of Pucca Fort
The crest of the fortification wall of Talpur period is decorated with ornamental Kanguras or merlons of very curious shape.
In one corner of the Fort, there is a memorial to the native of soldiers who had bravely faced the British attack on the fort in 1843 CE. The monument belongs to Kalhora/Talpur period of Historic Sindh.
Why go
- ✦Talpur-period fortification crowned with curiously shaped merlons
- ✦A memorial to the soldiers who met the British attack of 1843
- ✦The defining edge of Hyderabad's old city
History
Ghulam Shah built the fort on one of the three hills above the Indus at Neroon Kot, to house and defend his people, and the town that formed around it became the capital of Sindh. The Talpurs took it in 1783 and ruled from inside these walls until the British conquest of 1843. Its name simply means 'the solid fort' — pakko, strong or fire-baked; qillo, fort.
Historical Significance
The wall encloses the seat of Sindh's government under two successive dynasties, and the founding act of the city of Hyderabad.
Architecture
The crest of the Talpur-period fortification wall is finished with ornamental kanguras — merlons of a distinctly unusual profile. In one corner of the fort stands a memorial to the native soldiers who faced the British attack of 1843.
Why Visit
The perimeter of the fort that Hyderabad grew around, with the Talpur buildings still standing inside it.
Interesting Facts
- Built in 1768 by Ghulam Shah Kalhoro over the old settlement of Neroon Kot
- 'Pacco Qillo' means the solid or fire-baked fort, after its brick
- It was the seat of government under both the Kalhoras and the Talpurs
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to March. Hyderabad is very hot from April onwards.
Getting there, Hyderabad is roughly 160 km from Karachi on the M-9 motorway. The Pucca Fort monuments sit together in the old city and are walkable as one visit.
Allow, Two to three hours for the Pucca Fort complex; a half day including the Talpur and Kalhora tombs.
What to Do
Make Boundary Wall of Pucca Fort Part of a Trip
GreenPak resorts within reach, and the journeys that travel this region.
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Boundary Wall of Pucca Fort, within 30 km.
