It is true that there are many places in Pakistan that are worth exploring but are not that well known. One place that combines folklore, adventure, heritage and mystery is Ranikot (pronounced ‘runny coat’, not ‘raani kot’) Fort, located near Sann, in Sindh’s Jamshoro district. This enigmatic fort is one of the largest, if not the largest fort in the world, with a circumference of 32-35 kilometers. Due to its large and looming structure, Ranikot is known as “The Great Wall of Sindh.”
No one has been able to uncover the history of the fort, though multiple stories about its origins exist. Its stands in the middle of sandy terrain, leaving no obvious clues about its builders. Some suggest that it was made by Arabs or the Abbasids, who ruled Sindh in the 9th Century AD. Others believe in looking much further into the past, to Sassanid or Greek rule in the Subcontinent.
More recent studies pointed to the fort’s construction in the 17th Century AD, under the Mirs of the Talpur Dynasty. Ethnically Baloch, the Talpurs served under the Kalhoras, until their leader was assassinated by a Kalhora, and the Talpurs revolted. After gaining control of Sindh, the Mirs needed a place of refuge for their families during turbulent times.
It is said that they constructed this fort to protect themselves against the British, but could not complete it before the British took over Sindh in 1843.
Nowadays, Ranikot a fascinating marvel, which follows the natural landscape form. There are three man-made walls with semi-circular bastions in intervals, and the fourth wall is that of the hill in the North. A smaller fortress exists inside, which may have served as a residential area. The gates and entrances are carved with floral patterns and other designs.
