The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN (E): 2411-0132, ISSN (P): 2411-5487

Vol-1, Issue (7):251-254
www.theexplorerpak.org

MASONRY ART: PRESERVATION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN CHAKWAL

Anum Fayyaz, Mahwish Zeeshan
Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author:
Anum Fayyaz
PMAS- Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Anumfayyaz98@gmail.com
Abstract: The process of understanding and handling the architectural heritage in order to carefully deliver it to
future generations is preservation. Pakistan has prodigious historical significance with various historical sites. The
greatest way to honor the history is to preserve and maintain the historical buildings and the archeological sites.
The locale of the study was Choa Saidan Shah, Chakwal. The nature of the study was qualitative. A sample size of
19 was selected, while the data was collected through key informants and in-depth interviews from the selected
sampling units. The study shows that even though Pakistan has a great cultural heritage yet the shortcomings
related to preservation hinder the tourism economy greatly.

Key Words: Archeological sites,Katas Raj, Malot Fort, Takht-e-Babri, Kallar Kahar
INTRODUCTION
The construction of historical and memorial
buildings is a link of history because it always
brings to live the heritage of the historical age to
which it belongs (Awan 2008). Pakistan has a
variety of heritage buildings that are built with
stones. The material used in the construction of
buildings can be classified into organic and
inorganic material. The materials originated from
living things are organic materials such as wood
and the materials that are obtained from nonliving things are inorganic material such as stone
and metal. Conservation can be defined as the
process of understanding, interpreting and
handling the architectural heritage in order to
safely deliver it to future generations(Forsyth
2007).
In the area of Chakwal, many archeological or
historical sites were present such as Malot Fort,
Katas Fort, Kallar Kahar Museum, Takht. E. Babri
at Kallar Kahar, Sakhi Saidan,and Shah Shirazi
Shrine etc. These historical places are memorial
places. Archaeology studies humans previous
history and the past from the development of the
first stone tools (McPherron, et al. 2010). Katas
Raj fort is a Hindu Mandir present in Choa Saidan
Shah, Chakwal. Most of the Hindu visit this
temple to worship and pay pilgrimage. The study
was aimed to focus the historical significance of

the temple and its archeological importance. This

place was renovated by the former minister of
Punjab Chaudhry Shujat Hussain (President of
PML) in 2006. The temples and historical
architecture of Greeks were beautiful and perfect
because it is based upon the proper rules of ratio,
proportions and shapes which represents an
important events in the history of buildings
(Oliveira2003).
Hilly land of Salt Range contains many beautiful
historical sites too. One of them is known as
Malot Fort. It is situated in the village of Malot,
40 km away from Chakwal city. It is situated in
Choa Saidan Shah, Chakwal. Malot fort was built
about 980 A.D. Previously, it was in a very bad
shape but now it has been renovated. Two Hindu
temples were present in the Malot fort. Both
were
beautiful
illustration
of Kashmir
architecture. According to history, it is said that
last Hindu Raja embraced Islam at that place. It is
beautiful historic site and place of attention for
tourists and archeologists.Takht-e-Babri is a
small table land cut from limestone formation &
adjusted into a stage platform which is located in
the fruit garden from where the Mughal King
Babar use to view lake and address his army
(Khan, et al. 2011).Takht-E-Babri is located in
Kallar Kahar, in the district Chakwal. Kallar
Kaharis a town and part of Chakwal

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District in Punjab, Pakistan. It is also capital

of Kallar Kahar Tehsil. It is a tourist place located
25 kilometers southwest of Chakwal along the
motorway. It is 125 km away from Rawalpindi. All
these places are tourist attractions. People visit
these places to see the old tradition and culture.
Through these places and sites, people get
information and knowledge about the history.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The area of study was Choa Saidan Shah Chakwal.
The nature of the study was qualitative.
Qualitative research tends to focus on how
people or groups of people can have (somewhat)
different ways of looking at reality usually social
or psychological reality(Hancock, et al. 2007).
The data was collected through participant
observation and with the help of two major key
informants Tariq and Shakeel.Both were the
employees of Katas Raj.Further, in-depth
interviews were also used for the collection of
data.
RESULTS AND DISSCUSION
Katas Fort
Katas Raj Mandir holds a sanctified place in
Hinduism because of its scared water and the
story of the Pandavas exiled from their kingdom
who took refuge here(Babary and Zeeshan 2015).
It is considered the second most important Hindu
temple around the globe (Minhas 2010). There
were seven temples in Katas Raj, three of them
vanished and the four are still present. These
temples resembled the temples that are present
in Kashmir. Department of Archaeology and
Museums Government of Pakistan have handed
over the Katas Raj Complex to Directorate
General of Archaeology Government of the
Punjab in the year of 2005. The temples and
historical architecture of Greeks were beautiful
and perfect because it is based upon the proper
rules of ratio, proportions and shapes which
represents an important events in the history of
buildings(Oliveira2003).
Stone
Kanjoor stone was used in the walls of temples.
Temple work brings so much resistance because
it is the source of so much spiritual power to the
Latter-day Saints, and to the entire Church
(Packer 2002). This stone was a mixture of bones,
lime, coal, cereals. Cereals mainly mashed were
used for the mixture of walls. In 2008, tiles were
fixed in the floor of Katas fort. The oldest

material used in the manufacture of buildings is

called stone. With the help of this material, huge
and historical architecture of the past had been
produced. Due to the use of stone, a strong and
long lasting material produced. Many of the
centuries old buildings are still present (Awan
2008).Shiva linga is a stone. It is made of black
marble but this linga inside the Katas temple was
made of sand stone. Red stone was used in the
entrance of the temple Ram Chandara. Sand
stone was used in the Threshold.
Fossils
During the excavation of Ashoka in 2002, the
great big stupa was extracted. Different stones
were extracted during excavation of Katas fort
e.g stone of Chaki, different coins, carving stones,
statue of Bhuda. Archeology diggings have
revealed stonework house near Lake Hullen,
Isreal, (9000_8000B.C), where dry stone huts
were found, as one of the oldest building
structure (Laurenco 1996).
Museum
A museum was built in the Haveli of Hari Singh.
Two old doors are still present in the museum.
Different stones were put in the museum that
was extracted during the excavation process.
Penis stone, Urinary stone, Stupa stones, Pillers
(carvings), Flower stones (that mostly belong to
stupa), Writing stone known as katba, two other
pillers on which some signs and pictures of men
and women, statue on which pictures of horses
present. Many of the things that were extracted
during excavation process, were sent to the
Taxila and Kalar Kahar museum. A museum is a
permanent institution formed for the service of
society. Its function is to obtain, conserve,
communicate and exhibit for study purposes and
historic records. It is open to the public. It is used
in conserving the evidences and records of
history (Bogaard 2014).
Cave
A cave was present in front of katas fort.
A natural underground hollow space is called
cave. It is a large enough that a human can enter
in it. It is usually formed by weathering of rocks
(Whitney 1889).
Hill
North to katas, there was a small hill called
Kotara. There were houses of Muslims on that
hill but now all have vanished and only trees and
greenery were present. Old utensils were taken

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out during the excavation of Kotara hill. Earth

terrestrial surface is mostly covered by hills and
mountains. These contain a large number of
Earths Biodiversity.
Malot Fort
Malot fort is also a historical site in Chakwal. In
the past, Malot fort was named as Malik
Kot.Malot fort was located 15km away from
Katas raj in the west side. It was located on the
hill top. Malot was located near the Choi village.
The Malot fort was also called Namrod and
Ramrod. Malot fort was built about 980 A.D.
(Khan 2006).Malot Temple Fort dates back to the
sixth to early eleventh century are located along
Indus River and in the Salt Range
mountains.Malot fort is one of the historical
places of Chakwal. It was situated in Choa Saidan
Shah Chakwal. Previously, it was in a very bad
shape but now it has been renovated.
Temples
Two Hindu temples were present in the Malot
fort. Both were beautiful illustrations of Kashmir
architecture. According to history, it is said that
last Hindu Raja embraced Islam at that place. It is
beautiful historic site and place of attention for
tourists and archeologists.South Asia is the first
society which is known to the world as the
Harappa or Indus civilization and best signified by
the two main urban hubs of Harappa MohenjoDaro in Pakistan, has been the focus of main
attentiveness for various a domestic team of
archeologists and experts(Mughal 1990).
Stone
Malot temple was built from the red sand stones
of salt range mountains. It is just like a statue of
red stones. As the fort is on the top of a hill, it is
at a risk of danger because excavations for coal
mines and minerals are common in the area.
Takht-E-Babri
Takht e babri is located in Kallar Kahar, in the
district Chakwal. Kallar Kaharis a town and part
ofChakwal District in Punjab, Pakistan. It is also
capital of Kallar Kahar Tehsil. It is a tourist place
located 25 kilometers southwest of Chakwal
along the motorway. It is 125 km away from
Rawalpindi.Takht-e-Babri is a small table land
cut from limestone formation and adjusted into a
stage platform which is located in the fruit garden
from where the Mughal King Babar used to view
lake and addresses his army. There are a number
of fresh water springs which are used to irrigate

fruit gardens and also a perennial source of

recharge for Kallar Kahar Lake. Indian great
Mughal emperor Babar, while passing by the area
of kallar kahar stayed here in 1519 AD (Khan, et
al. 2011). The historical site of Kallar Kahar was
400 years old. He came from Kabul. Kabul is the
city of Iraq. His mission is to conquer Punjab and
Dehli. While passing through Kallar Kahar, he likes
this place and decided to stay here. This site was
called Takht-e-Babri.
Stone
Takht-e-Babri is a stone built by the order of King
Babar. This was made up of marble. This place
was made by the army of Baber. It was made by
carving a structure of a throne on the big rock.
Few stairs were built for going up ground.
Bagh-E-Safa
There was a flat platform on which Emperor
Babar used to address and give instruction to his
army men. He was impressed by natural beauty
of this place. So, he ordered to build beautiful
garden for him. This garden was still present and
it is called Mughal garden or Bagh-e-Safa. He
enjoyed good climate, beautiful local trees, lake,
and peacocks. He describe the beauty of Kalar
Kahar as very charming place with air(Rashid
2001). Bagh-Safa was located in the south west of
the lake. This was the first garden of Mughal
empire. It was 125 km away from Rawalpindi.
CONCLUSION
Traditions reflect the heritage and history of
nations.History manifests the fact that great
civilization of all worlds reformed themselves
with the help of knowledge and education. The
very significance of the site from archaeological
perspective stands at par with its sanctity being a
religious monument. Historical sites of any
country play an important role in the economy.
There is a need to take attention on the historical
sites of Pakistan. There is the duty of
Government to take steps for the conservation
and preservation of historical and archeological
buildings. Special attention for the renovation
and promotion of these sites is needed to stop it
falling apart and growth of tourism.
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