Balahisar Fort Glows with Independence Spirit

Fakhar-e-Alam / APP

Peshawar: The historic Balahisar Fort, an emblem of Pakistan’s rich heritage, is adorned with a vibrant display of the national flag’s white and green colors in celebration of the nation’s 77th Independence Day.

This transformation, marking the lead-up to the national holiday on August 14, has captured the imagination of many, including young Anaya Ali, a fourth-grade student from Nowshera.

For Anaya, the sight of Balahisar Fort adorned in the national colors is more than just a visual delight; it is the fulfillment of a long-held dream. “Seeing Balahisar Fort was my childhood dream, and today my Papa made it come true. I am so thankful to him,” Anaya told APP, her eyes shining with excitement.

Standing as a silent witness to Pakistan’s heroic struggle for independence, the fort now proudly displays the national flags atop its ancient walls.

The impressive display of the national colors serves as a poignant reminder of the fort’s significance in Pakistan’s history.

Anaya, dressed in traditional national attire, was accompanied by her father as they joined numerous other citizens who gathered to witness the fort’s majestic transformation. “I am extremely happy to see the national flag hoisted on top of the ancient fort on our country’s Independence Day,” Anaya added.

“The history of Balahisar is as old as the history of Peshawar itself, dating back nearly 3,000 years, as evidenced by the Gor Kathri excavations,” said Bakhtzada Muhammad, Senior Research Officer at the Archaeology and Museum Department.

Being a gateway to the subcontinent, Peshawar has always held strategic importance due to its geographical location, making it a focal point for invaders seeking to establish and strengthen their dynasties.

Consequently, these rulers constructed forts across the subcontinent as strongholds of power for the protection of their people and to safeguard against external aggression, including the mighty Balahisar Fort.

Spanning an area of 15.4 acres, Balahisar Fort was built with red bricks and stands 92 feet tall, reminding visitors of the rulers of various dynasties who resided there before advancing into the subcontinent to gain geopolitical strength and trade advantages from the rich lands of the region.

“In the past, most invaders and warriors, including Afghan Muslim rulers, Mughals, Sikhs, and the British, first sought to conquer Balahisar Fort before proceeding to Punjab and other parts of the subcontinent,” said Bakhtzada Khan.

The old main entrance of Balahisar directly faces the GT road, which links Peshawar with Afghanistan and Central Asia to the west, and extends towards Pushkalavati (Charsadda) in the north and Hund and Taxila to the east.

Several branches of the historic Bara River once flowed through the interior of Peshawar, with one possibly passing near the Balahisar Fort.

Renowned historian Dr. A.H. Dani, in his book *Peshawar-Historic City of Frontier* (now Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), wrote that when Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese traveller, visited Peshawar in 630 AD, he mentioned a “royal residence”—likely Balahisar.

According to Dr. Dani, a channel of the old Bara River surrounded by a high spot may have comprised Balahisar and Inder Shahr, with the present elevated Balahisar serving as the citadel.

The Chinese word “Kung Shing” is used to signify its importance and is explained as the fortified or walled portion of a town where the royal palaces were situated.

This suggests that the royal residence formed the nucleus of a citadel, which would have been further protected by a moat.

In the 11th century AD, Raja Jaipal, a ruler of the Hindushahi dynasty, was defeated near Peshawar, and commander Mehmud Ghaznavi garrisoned the fort with his army.

“There are differing opinions regarding the fort’s origin, but most historians believe that the Mughals were the architects of the present Balahisar,” Bakhtzada said.

According to renowned historian Abul Fazl, Balahisar was redesigned and built by Mughal emperor Zaheeruddin Babar in 1526. However, after Emperor Humayun was overthrown by Shershah Suri, the Afghans destroyed the fort.

“While staying in the fort, Humayun decided to rebuild it for his future conquest of India and personally supervised its reconstruction,” Bakhtzada explained.

Balahisar was also used by Hari Singh Nalwa as a royal residence for Maharaja Ranjeet Singh during Sikh rule.

“The Afghan Durrani rulers used it as their winter camp in the early 19th century and named it ‘Balahisar,’ a Persian term meaning high fort,” Bakhtzada said.

“Later on, the Sikhs renamed it as Samargarh in 1834, but the name remained unpopular.” Balahisar remained a key settlement for successive rulers and witnessed the reigns of Hindu Maharajas, Ghauris, Ghazanvis, Tughlaqs, Mughals, and Sikhs.

The fort also served as the residence of Afghan king Ahmed Shah Durrani and his son Taimur Shah Durrani. However, after Taimur’s death in 1793 AD, the Durrani rule weakened, and the Sikhs captured Peshawar and Balahisar in 1834 following the battle of Nowshera.

Initially, the Sikhs destroyed a significant portion of the fort but later regretted it, and Sher Singh, following the orders of his father Ranjeet Singh, reconstructed the fort using unbaked bricks.

At the entrance to Balahisar’s main courtyard, a Sikh-era inscription can still be seen at the arch gate. This is the only inscription remaining in Balahisar today, and it reads, “Victory to Porak. This was built by Raja Bikramajit and was named Samir or Samar Garh.”

At the time of the Sikh Shahi’s annexation by the British in 1849, Balahisar had mud walls. The British replaced these with red bricks, giving the fort its present appearance, and stationed troops there until the cantonment was established in Peshawar.

“When the Afridi tribesmen launched a massive attack on Peshawar city in 1930 in a bid to overthrow the colonial rulers, British artillery fire dispersed them from Balahisar,” Bakhtzada said.

This architectural marvel has always been a centre of attraction for local and foreign tourists, as well as visiting dignitaries, offering a rare view of its massive battlements and intricate designs.

Balahisar also holds the honour of hoisting the national flag on August 14, 1947, and later served as the Frontier Corps (FC) Headquarters.

As the country prepares for its 77th Independence Day celebrations on August 14, Balahisar Fort stands as a symbol of national pride and a beacon of the enduring spirit of Pakistan’s independence movement.