Daily Times

Pakistan’s rich heritage is in ruin and decline, owing to the blind eye the government has turned towards enriching, protecting and preserving the cultural sites. The Dipalpur Fort is situated 25 kilometres away from Okara. The fort has been distinguished for being the site for several battles in the 13th and 14th Centuries which itself is a great source of attraction for visitors and travellers. It is beautiful and simple. It was observed that the city represents beautiful religious art.

In olden days, Dipalpur was surrounded by a fortified wall, rising to the height of 25 feet. The fort is situated at more than 100 acres with 25ft height and 3ft wide walls with four main gates. The site has numerous untold stories. Dipalpur was famous in the subcontinent for its 84 mosques and 84 wells.

As per historians, Amir Khusrow was jailed in Dipalpur. Lal Jas Raj was the youngest son of Raja Dipa Chand, the founder of this city. It’s said that he sank into the Earth due to a curse by his stepmother Rani Dholran. Raja Dipa Chand constructed this monastery in the memory of his son. Now, the chamber is dilapidated, the doors are jammed and a staircase is used for storage. The construction itself is in a state of breakdown.

The city was reconstructed by Ghiyasuddin Balban who was the ninth sultan of the Mamluk Dynasty of Delhi. The fort has been renovated by many kings.

Muhammad bin Tughluq was the Sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351. He sent Feroz Shah Tughlaq to Depalpur as governor. His tales of oppression were embedded in the hearts of the people and even though he did such revolutionary works but the resentment from the people didn’t let him win their hearts. He also made the mistake of increasing taxes and hence burdening the people.

According to historians, the most interesting thing to know is that Dipalpur Tehsil is the largest tehsil of the country.

After migration, people began living inside the fort and due to that, this asset is withering away. Despites legislatures, sanctions and other instructions, no maintenance work is being carried out to make it attractive. The oldest assets of Pakistan are in wither and decline bit by bit.

There have been vast influences of Muslim empires. Before the arrival of Muslims in British-India, Hindus were in majority.

The influences of Sikh religion are in this city as well, because Baba Guru Nanak also stayed in Dipalpur for some time. There’s a town called Bhuman Shah. According to Bhai Kahan Singh Ji, Dashmesh Ji ordered to serve meals continuously. The shrine was built like a big fort and structure for Gurdwara of Baba Sri Chand. Numerous Sikhs from different places visit this shrine.

As per historians, Amir Khusrow was jailed in Dipalpur. Lal Jas Raj was the youngest son of Raja Dipa Chand, the founder of this city. It’s said that he sank into the Earth due to a curse by his stepmother Rani Dholran. Raja Dipa Chand constructed this monastery in the memory of his son

The languages spoken in this region are aplenty, Punjabi being one of them. Begooka, Arain, Chaudhary, Maher, Duala, Paracha, Rao, Wattoo, Klasson, Bhatti, Joyia, Kharal and Jutt among others are just some of the big family names derived from this area.

Chandoor and Arain are the main castes of the region. Chandoor are the oldest dwellers of the city.

The city’s wide and airy tunnels connect the royal housing quarters inside the fort to the next-door gardens outside. The city was civilised in the past with facilities having streetlights and clean streets, roads and good sewerage systems.

It’s so sad to know that this heritage is being used for residential purposes, like I mentioned earlier how lots of homeless people reside there; a fact that organically removes the real exquisiteness of Pakistan’s heritage. Pakistan’s archaeological monuments such as tombs, shrines and other religious places are being shattered owing to zero attention by governmental authorities.

These residents are supposed to be given homes in order to keep these sites exclusive.

Visitors, tourists and travellers should be given more facilities to access these sites.

Local journalist Abdi Mughal while talking exclusively to Daily Times said that it’s wrong to tell people not to spend the night at the monument knowing that they don’t have anywhere to go. He mentioned how it was the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of not only the locals but of these cultural sites as well.

There’s an urgent need to implement a strategy to save what is left so that this site can be seen and visited by our forthcoming generations too.