Malot Fort , Chakwal

The Malot fort lies approximately 15 km west of Katas. The ancient fort is located on a hilltop and was constructed around 980AD. According to legend, the last Hindu Shahi Raja Mal converted to Islam over here. The area covered by the fort and town of Malot was more than 5 square kilometers in days past. These two temples are stunning examples of ancient Kashmiri architecture.

On the road to Malot village, near Choi village, you will find the Malot temples made of red sandstones from salt range mountains. This road connects to the main Kallar Kahar route, which runs from Karuli Chowk to Malot via the Pakistan cement factory and Choi village. It is located 12 km from Kallar Kahar, in the east. Namrod and Ramrod were also used to describe the Malot. The King of MalDev, or Malu, is the name. According to Rajput history, the name Malot derives its title from Malik-Kot. This is because they believed that the title Malik was given to someone who accepted the annexation of the Muslim King Delhi. However, in return the Malik received the autonomy and full sovereignty over the area. The Mughal King Baber’s travelogue “Tuzk-e-Babri” attests to the corollary between Malik-Kot (Mal-Kot) and Malot.

How do I reach?

There are three ways you can enter the main city.

1. Motorway to Kallarkahar exit. Cross bhaun, and enter Chakwal in 25 minutes.
2. Motorway via Chakwal exit, Balkasar interchange crossing Thoa Bahadur. It takes approximately 30 minutes to get to the city.
3. Take the GT road to Mandra exit just before Rawat, and then follow chakwal road for approximately 35 minutes.

Malot, which is at 32deg57’0N 73deg37’E lies to the west Jehlum and has an elevation of 230m (757 feet). Janjua tribe established it and settled it. Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi took control of the Ghaznavid Dynasty Empire established by Sultan Sebuktigin in 997 CE. He also conquered the Shahis of Kabul in 1005 and then conquests the Punjab region. The region was ruled by the Delhi Sultanate, and later the Mughal Empire. Missionary Sufi saints, whose dargahs are scattered throughout the Punjab region, made Punjab region a predominantly Muslim region. Malik Kot was the original name of the town, but Malot was later adopted. According to Tuzk-i Babri, the travelogue of Mughal king Babur, MalikKot was named Malot. The Sikh invaded Jhelum District after the fall of the Mughal Empire. The Sikh regime imposed severe restrictions on Muslims. Jhelum District grew in importance and population during British rule. Predominantly Muslim residents supported the Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. Sikhs and Hindus fled Pakistan after 1947’s indipendence of Pakistan. The Indian Muslims Refugees settled in Jhelum District. Malot Fort is a fortress made of red sandstones from Salt Range. It can be found on the road to Malot village, near Choi village. Archive records indicate that Malot was constructed around 980 AD. Gen Cunningham discovered the Malot Fort in very poor condition even in 1848. The Malot Fort is located approximately 15 km west of Katas. The ancient fort is located on a hilltop and was constructed around 980AD. According to legend, the last Hindu Shahi Raja Mal converted to Islam over here. The area covered by the fort and town of Malot was more than 5 square kilometers in days past. These two temples are beautiful examples of Kashmiri architecture. On the road to Malot village, near Choi village, you will find the Malot temples made of red sandstones from Salt Range. This road connects to the main Kallar Kahar route, which runs from Karuli Chowk to Malot via Pakistan Cement Factory and Choi villages. It is located 12 km from Kallar Kahar, in the east. Namrod and Ramrod were also used to describe the Malot. The King of Mal Dev, or Malu, is the name of the Malot. According to Rajput history, the name Malot derives its title from Malik-Kot. This is because they believed that the title Malik was given to someone who accepted the annexation of the Muslim King Delhi. However, in return the Malik received the autonomy and full sovereignty over the area. Tuzk-i Babri, the travelogue of Mughal King Babur, also reveals the corollary between Malik-Kot (Mal-Kot) and Malot. Malot, one the five temple-fortress structures that dot the Salt Range, was built in the 10th Century AD. It is known for its fusion of Greek tradition and Kashmiri architecture. Blend of Kashmiri and Greek architecture. 113 View from the Malot Fort. Recent cement factory and coal-mining activity have only exacerbated the situation. Experts believe that Malot can only be saved and preserved if it is moved to safer ground. This way of conserving a building is not new, as the reassembled building that houses Karachi’s Indus valley School of Art and Architecture shows. Moving Malot brick by brick is the best method to preserve it. Katas is probably the most suitable site for its reassembly, which is the largest and most important of the five temple-fortress structures in the Salt Range. Katas is a complex of seven temples from ancient times. This site has been the center of India-Pakistan cooperation over the past years, as archaeologists from both countries collaborated to preserve and renovate the site. The road leading to Malot is in good condition. Cement manufacturing factory made sure that a neglected road was turned into a well once the entry to Malot Fort was completed. constructed one. The factory is located 3km from the Malot village. However, once you cross the factory, the road becomes bumpy and unmaintained, leading to the Malot Village. The first thing that strikes the eye as one enters the village is the pond with a banyan trees on its right bank. This village was once ruled by Hindus, as can be seen from the pond and banyan tree. Malot, a rock-strewn village, is a walled hamlet. The quiet village of Malot is peaceful and tranquil. The ruins of Malot Fort can be seen as one exits the village from the opposite corner. Raja Ajmal Dev Janjua (the rebellious Janjua King, the son Raja Dhrupet Dev) was the first to convert to Islam. He converted to Islam and adopted the Islamic code for names. He renamed his name as Raja Mal Khan. 117 his own empire, he conquered the Koh-i Jodh, a mountain in the Salt Range, in 12th century and made Rajgarh his capital. This Rajgarh was changed to Malot. There are many different accounts by historians of Raja Mal Khan’s conversion. Some believe it was his love of Islam and the saints that drove Raja Mal Khan to the net of Islam. Others claim it was to protect his emirate and himself from the fury of the Afghan invader Shahab al-Din Ghauri. Every foreign invader of that time, including Alexander the Great and Babur the Mughal king, used to pass through the Salt Range whenever they were driven by the desire to seize the Delhi throne. The Janjua kings were the first to confront foreign adventurers. The historians claim that Raja Mal Khan, a convert, was saved by the powerful army of Ghauri. Raja Mal was able to rest in peace for the moment, but his temporary freedom allowed him to re-conquer the Salt Range and regain the glory that his ancestors had lost to Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi two centuries earlier. He was filled with a new passion for victory and advanced towards Multan with his Gakhar allies. They defeated Multan’s governor, appointed by Ghauri. After capturing Lahore, he also blocked the strategic route between Punjab and Ghazni. His siblings continued their rebellion against the rulers in Delhi after Raja Mal’s death. Ranjit Singh defeated the Janjuas. The Janjua Empire’s centre of power, the Malot Fort, remained there until the beginning of the 19th century. It was constructed in the 10th century. The fort’s remains show that the local red stones were used to build the fort. This was when the Kashmiri and Greek styles of architecture were combined. Pen & Ink by Nazir Ahmed (TI), Malot Fort. 119 As the ravages of time kept deteriorating the fort, it received the worst blow, few years ago, when the hill on which the fort is located became a victim of coal mining. However, the Lahore High Court banned the mining. The Punjab archaeology division is still working to preserve the remains. A few years ago, the idea that the fort could still be saved by moving it to a safer location was put forward. This was to be the Katas Raj Temples complex. Unfortunately, this idea has yet to be realized.