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{{Short description|Fortress in Bahawalpur district, Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Derawar Fort <br>{{nobold|{{nq|قِلعہ ڈیراور}}}}
| native_name =
| native_language =
| image = Derawar Fort, Bahawalpur I.jpg
| caption = Derawar Fort was originally founded as a [[Bhati]] fort in the 9th century CE, and renovated in 1732 by Nawab Sadeq Mohammad Khan<ref name="dawn"/>
| type = [[Fortress]]
| locmapin = Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan
| coordinates = {{Coord|28|46|5|N|71|20|3|E|type:landmark_region:PK|display=inline, title}}
| location = [[Ahmadpur East Tehsil|Ahmadpur East]], [[Bahawalpur District|Bahawalpur]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]
| area = 
| built = 858
| architect = 
| architecture = 
| governing_body = [[Government of Pakistan]]<br>[[Pakistan Army]]
| owner = 
| designation1 = 
| designation1_offname = 
| designation1_date = 
| designation1_number = 
}}
'''Derawar Fort''' ([[Saraiki language|Saraiki]], {{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|قِلعہ ڈیراور}}}}) is a [[Fortification|fortress]] in [[Ahmadpur East Tehsil]] in the [[Bahawalpur District]] of [[Punjab, Pakistan]]. Approximately 20&nbsp;km south of the city of [[Ahmedpur East]], the forty bastions of Derawar are visible for many miles in the [[Cholistan Desert]]. The walls have a perimeter of 1500 metres and stand up to thirty metres high.<ref name="Brecorder-2021">{{Cite web|date=2021-08-14|title=Google celebrates Pakistan's Independence Day with a doodle of Derawar Fort|url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40113428|access-date=2021-08-14|website=Brecorder|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The Cholistan Desert comprises the western region of the Thar Desert in modern Pakistan, where archaeological evidence is present that the area was once inhabited by an Indus Valley culture. This culture once used the Hakra River to support their agricultural lifestyle. at around 600 BC, the river had changed course which caused it to essentially disappear into the ground. because of this shift in the river, the area became an arid desert that was no longer for human habitation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mingren |first=Wu |title=Derawar Fort: What Remains from a Once Thriving Desert Civilization? |date=13 March 2017 |url=http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/derawar-fort-what-remains-once-thriving-desert-civilization-007707 |access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref> there still remains evidence of up to a dozen fort structures. Derawar Fort is the best surviving structure of the remaining ruins.<ref name="UNESCO">{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Derawar and the Desert Forts of Cholistan |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6108/ |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref>

Even though the land could no longer support a settlement, it still was able to become an important part of the trade route that had connected Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. It also became a pilgrimage route for those traveling to Mecca, the holy Islamic city from India or vice versa.

Derawar fort was built in 858 under the kingship of Rai Jajja Bhati, a [[Hindus|Hindu]] Rajput ruler of the [[Bhati]] clan,<ref name="Khaliq2017">{{cite web |last1=Khaliq |first1=Fazal |title=Derawar Fort: a 9th century human marvel on the verge of collapse |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1311657 |publisher=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en |date=1 February 2017|quote=The Derawar Fort was built in the 9th century under the kingship of Rai Jajja Bhatti, a Hindu Rajput from Jaisalmir in India's Rajasthan state.}}</ref> as a tribute to emperor Rawal Deoraj Bhati<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.05831/page/204/mode/2up | title=The ruling chiefs, nobles and zamindars of India | date=1915 | publisher=G. C. Loganadham Bros, Madras }}</ref><ref name="dawn">{{citation|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/638006/derawar-fort-living-to-tell-the-tale|title=Derawar Fort – Living to tell the tale|date=20 June 2011 |publisher=Dawn}}</ref><ref name="DeraRawal">[http://www.dawn.com/news/1076549 Dawn News]</ref> of [[Kingdom of Jaisalmer|Jaisalmer Royal House]]  who had his capital at [[Lodhruva]]. The fort was initially known as ''Dera Rawal'', and later referred to as ''Dera Rawar'', which with the passage of time came to be pronounced ''Derawar'', its present name.<ref name="DeraRawal" />  [[Mehrgarh|Meergarh]], Jaangarh, Marotgarh, Maujgarh, Dingarh, [[Khangarh, Sindh|Khangarh]], Khairgarh, Bijnotgarh and [[Islamgarh]] are all forts that spanned across the desert creating a chain of forts that were all meant to provide shelter for travelers.<ref name="UNESCO" /> Out of all of these forts, Derawar is considered the best surviving example.

In the 18th century, the fort was taken over by Muslim Nawabs of [[Bahawalpur (princely state)|Bahawalpur]] from the Shahotra tribe. It was later renovated  in its current form in 1732 by the Abbasi ruler Nawab Sadeq Muhammad, but in 1747 the fort slipped from their hands owing to [[Bahawal Khan V|Bahawal Khan]]'s preoccupations at [[Shikarpur, Sindh|Shikarpur]].<ref name="dawn"/> Nawab Mubarak Khan took the stronghold back in 1804. 1,000 year-old catapult shells were found in the debris near a decaying wall in the fort.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gill|first1=Majeed|title=Centuries-old catapult shells found near Bahawalpur|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1316036/centuries-old-catapult-shells-found-near-bahawalpur|access-date=23 February 2017|agency=Dawn|date=20 February 2017}}</ref> The fort survived for as long as it did solely because of the consistent population that remained there. Many other buildings of the medieval desert fell as they did not have a population to maintain them.

[[Sadeq Mohammad Khan V|Nawab Sadeq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V]], the 12th and last ruler of Bahawalpur state, was born in the fort in 1904.<ref name=SOP>{{cite web|url=https://storyofpakistan.com/nawab-sadiq-muhammad-khan-v|archive-date=28 March 2019|date=24 May 2012|access-date=18 August 2022|url-status=dead|title=Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan V|website=Story of Pakistan website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328043424/https://storyofpakistan.com/nawab-sadiq-muhammad-khan-v}}</ref>

Derawar Fort was eventually taken over by the British and was used to house prisoners, as well as hang unlucky inmates.<ref name="Express Tribune-2017" />

During the period around the 1965 war with India, several structures inside the fort were taken down to make room for training.

[[Google Doodle]] made a [[doodle]] of Derawar Fort to celebrate [[Independence Day (Pakistan)|Pakistan's 75 Independence Day]].<ref name="Brecorder-2021" /> According to [[Google]], the fort symbolizes Pakistani adaptability and antiquity.<ref name="Brecorder-2021" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/14-Aug-2021/google-marks-pakistan-s-independence-day-with-derawar-fort-doodle|title=Google marks Pakistan's Independence Day with Derawar Fort doodle|website=nayion.com.pk|date=14 August 2021|access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref>

==Structure==
The fort is a massive and visually stunning square structure built of [[clay brick]]s. The walls have a length of 1500 meters and stand up to thirty meters high. There are forty circular [[bastions]], ten on each side, which stand 30 m high and are visible across the desert for many miles. Each bastion is intricately decorated with patterns cut into the brick. The interior provides evidence of structures decorated with tile and fresco artwork.<ref name="UNESCO" /> The current fort covers around 35 acres of land.

There is an underground passageway that could take the emperor all the way from his castle to the fort. There are still underground lodgings there, however, many sections have deteriorated. This area does have a very impressive passive ventilation system that keeps the underground palace very cool.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Humaira |first=Nazir |title=Derawar Fort Cholistan- History, Architecture, Conservation |url=https://ph.hu.edu.pk/public/uploads/vol-13/A%208.%20Humaira%20Nazir.pdf |access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref>

Derawar is just one example of the wide variety of forms derived from square brick. These particular forms date back to between the 16th and 18th centuries, though some renovations date as early as the 9th century.<ref name="UNESCO" />

The [[Moti Masjid (Lahore Fort)|Moti]] or Pearl Mosque and the cemetery of the Nawabs are both nearby and boast very decretive graves. the [[Abbasi Mosque]] is also nearby and was constructed in 1849 for Nawab's personal religious man, Pir Ghulam Farid. Just a short distance to the east of the fort lies mausoleums of the Nawabs and their families. There is also an ornate domed marble mausoleum for the last nawab's English wife.

==Renovation==
The Fort was later renovated in its current form in 1732 by the Abbasi ruler Nawab Sadeq Muhammad. In 2019 the [[Government of Punjab, Pakistan|provincial government]] has earmarked a sum of Rs46 million to resume the conservation of Derawar Fort, an iconic edifice located in Cholistan desert near [[Bahawalpur]].
The major work has been completed including conservation of a food grain warehouse outside the fort, underpinning of damaged parts on the front and south-eastern sides of the fort's bastion, walls and platform, underpinning of the north-eastern side of the bastion and the walls, the interior of the fort and the sloped flooring leading to baradari and walls adjacent to the main gate.

Despite renovation, the site faces extreme deterioration and neglect. Though the outside structure serves as an important example of history and landscape, the interior is falling apart due to severe weather conditions and disrespectful visitors and tourists. The woodwork is almost completely gone, along with the interior floor deteriorating to shambles.<ref name="Express Tribune-2017">{{Cite web |date=2017-02-14 |title=Derawar Fort: Cholistan's iconic structure crumbling away |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1326940/diminishing-time-derawar-fort-cholistans-iconic-structure-crumbling-away |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== Visiting Derawar ==
The trip to Derawar is a full day excursion requiring a three to four hour four-wheel drive led by local guides. The fort is still in possession of the family of the Bahawalpur rulers and anyone planning to enter the fort would need to obtain a special permission from the Amir to enter as it is private land.

Although the main fort hasn't gotten the treatment it deserves, the fort is still a magnificent place to visit. Taking the time to explore the surrounding Mosques and Mausoleums will enhance this experience and make it a well worth it trip for those interested in visiting the site.

Each year a jeep rally is held in the Cholistan Desert that is attended by people from all over the world. Due to its popularity, it is estimated to be visited by more than 70,000 people. The rally passes through three districts in the desert.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Howard |date=2014-12-20 |title=Derawar Fort |url=https://thecompletepilgrim.com/derawar-fort/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=The Complete Pilgrim - Religious Travel Sites |language=en-US}}</ref>

== UNESCO tentative list ==
Derawar and the Desert Forts of Cholistan was submitted by the Pakistan Government in 2016 to be considered as a World Heritage Site. The structures are reminiscent of ancient stops during trading routes in a desert largely lacking water. Derawar especially allowed access to water, while providing defense and shelter. The site is important due to its role in identifying political and social factors relating to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India trading routes.

Derawar is being considered under criterion (iii) which has to do with providing an important example of infrastructure designed to meet the environmental circumstances of the hostile desert while providing insight into ancient trade and culture, as well criterion (v) that claims Derawar is an exceptional example of the interaction of architecture with the limited environmental resources.<ref name="UNESCO" />

==Images==
<gallery>
File:Darawar Fort.jpg
File:Beautiful cloud formation during Sunset over Derawar Fort.jpg
File:Night View of Derawar Fort.jpg
File:Derawar Fort at Blue Hour by M Ali Mir 03.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of World Heritage Sites in Pakistan|List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Pakistan]]
*[[List of forts in Pakistan]]
*[[List of museums in Pakistan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Derawar Fort}}
*[http://www.mybahawalpur.com/bahawalpur-specials/derawar-fort-cholistan-desert.html Derawar Fort]
*[http://www.contactpakistan.com/ExplorePakistan/derawerfort.html ContactPakistan.com - Derawar Fort Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625011640/http://www.contactpakistan.com/ExplorePakistan/derawerfort.html |date=2015-06-25 }}
*[http://www.defence.pk/forums/current-events-social-issues/51118-derawar-fort-large-square-fortress-pakistan.html Derawar Fort, The Large Square Fortress in Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214115613/http://www.defence.pk/forums/current-events-social-issues/51118-derawar-fort-large-square-fortress-pakistan.html |date=2011-12-14 }}

{{Cultural heritage sites in Punjab, Pakistan |state=autocollapse}}
{{Tourist attractions in Bahawalpur}}{{Castles in Pakistan}}

[[Category:Rajput architecture]]
[[Category:Forts in Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Military installations established in the 1730s]]
[[Category:Palaces in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bahawalpur District]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Punjab, Pakistan]]