Pacco Qillo

Pakka Fort
Pakka Fort
Pakka Qila
Hyderabad, Sindh in Pakistan
	Pacco Qillo remains open today but in dire need of repair.
	Pakka Fort Location in Sindh
Coordinates	25°23′3.98″N 68°22′21.67″E / 25.3844389°N 68.3726861°E
Type	Fortress
Site history
Built	1768
Built by	Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro

Pakko Qillo (Sindhi: پڪو قلعو, Strong Fort) is a fort in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.^[2] It was built in the 18th century, and served as a strategic military base and played a crucial role in the city's history.

Etymology

The fort is known as Pakko Qillo (Sindhi) and Pacco Qillo (English), Pakko means strong, intact and Qillo means fort.

Construction

The Fort was constructed on the hillock known locally as Ganjo Takkar or Ganji, by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, around 1768 when he founded the city of Hyderabad.^[3]^[4]^[5]

History

During Talpur rule over Sindh, Mir Fateh Ali Khan left Khudabad and moved his capital to Hyderabad in 1789. He used the Hyderabad Fort as a residence and a place in which to hold his court. He added a harem and other buildings to accommodate the ruling family. To enable residents to fulfill their religious obligations, he commissioned the construction of mosques. During this period, the fort was surrounded by working-class homes. After defeating the Mirs in the Battle of Miani in 1843, the British occupied the fort. Blasts in the fort, later on, destroyed most of the architecture and houses of the public. In 1857, the British razed the remaining edifice to make room for military installation and stores.