Hari Parbat Fort

Mystic charm and inexplicable beauty are two terms that aptly personify Jammu and Kashmir. The state's panoramic rhapsodies have attracted legions of aficionados who are not only mesmerized by the panoramic vistas, the age-old palaces and forts are also wondrous attractions that captivate them. Hari Parbat Fort is one of Jammu and Kashmir's ancient forts whose origin can be traced back to the days of Mughal rule.

Hari Parbat Fort, a primordial fort belonging to the Mughals is perched atop the Sharika Hill. Located on the banks of the Dal Lake that sparkles like a mirage of quicksilver under the playful saffron sunbeams while pretty shikharas sail by adorning the water body, the fort accentuates the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings. The fort moored at an elevated altitude offers a breathtaking view of the Dal Lake fringed by stately Chinar trees and the picturesque Char Chinar islet that stands in its midst resplendent with lush foliage.

The construction of the fort first began at the initiative of the pioneering and benevolent Mughal emperor Akbar but the present imposing edifice is credited to be a brainchild of the Afghan governor who ruled Kashmir in the 18th century. The fort is an epitome of secularism that houses a gurdwara that was built to a pay a tribute to Guru Hargobind Singh's visit to the fort. A venerable Parvati temple and the deeply revered Muslim shrines of Khwaja Makhdoom Sahib and Akhund Mullah Shah are also enshrined within the fort's premises.

Last Updated on 8/29/2011