The story of Nandna Fort

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Written and researched by : Ch. Zahid Hayyat
Prime minister Imran khan inaugurated the
“Shahrah e Wirsa “in district Jehlum a few days ago, starting frrmim Nandna Fort and passing through “Shiva temple “,,,,, “Talla Jogiyan “,,,,,,, “Khewra mines “,,,,, “Mallot Fort ” and reaches to “Takht _e _Babri” in Kallar kahar.
Nandna Fort is also honoured for that a thousand years ago “Alberuni” measured the
“Earth diameter ” on sitting at this place. Which is so accurate that the measurement taken by the most modern tools there is the difference of only 16.8 kilometers between Alberuni’s measurement and modern tools measurement.
When was Nandna Fort built? According to the history of “Shahnama” and “Abu Nasar” it is found that the governers of Balakh and Khasaran betrayed against the Caliph of Baghdad or Abbasian Caliphate then Bhatti Rajpoot ruled over Ghazni whose subordinates were three provinces and six states. In 956 the Samani ruler AbdulMaalik took over the Ghazni from Asstpaal known as Bheem paal and moved him out of his country then it shifted to small Lahore and Hind. In 1008 Sultan Mehmood Ghaznivi and Sultan Qyogohar defeated Asst paal, he went to the highest mountain top of salt mines in 971 and constructed this fort. Which was completed in Jai paal’s reign. Jai paal named this fort after the name of his son Anand paal which was central area of the state Bhattia. One raja of this family “Tarcholen paal” had an peace agreement with Sultan Mehmood. But his son Bheem paal betrayed the agreement. At which Sultan Mehmood ran over the Nandna Fort in 1013 but due to severe cold season he had to postpone his mission until spring 1014 because the severe cold season was hurduling. On hearing this news of Sultan Mehmood’s invasion Tarcholen went Kashmir to the Raja Sangara Maharaja tonite soldiers but behind him…. his son was defeated and ran to plain areas. This is how this fort was enruled by Sultan Mehmood.
“History of Jehlum “by Anjum Sultan Shahbaz it is stated in page no. 266 that three time periods passed on this fort. First period was of Hindu Pundits and they ruled here. In this reign pencil like tenples were constructed andbthe stines which were used in construction peepel leaves were carved on them. Some of the coins of that period are also found on which peepel leaves are carved. The second period was of Raja Jai paal. In this reign temples of different styles were constructed and royal style was adopted. Third period was of Sultan Mehmood Ghaznivi,,,,,, who invaded Nandna Fort in 1014 and conquered this fort only in seven days. He constructed a splendid mosque here which was the only masterpiece of architect. After conquest Alberuni asked Sultan Mehmood for staying in this fort,,,,, which was accepted. Alberuni made an experimental lab here and he fitted all the scientific tools of that time which Hindus called the “Metallic Bows”. There are the sayings that there was severe dearth of water in Nandna Fort and water was brought from far away areas…… it was the responsibility of Shuders. The pundits believed that pure sweet water accumulations were under “Kattas Raj”. According to Hindus teachings when Parvati devi suicide in her grief pious water was flowed out of “Shiv Maharaja’s” eyes. Kattas pond was made by the tears fallen from his right eye and the “Pushker waterfall” near “Ajmair” was made of the tears fallen from his left eye. No one was allowed to use th I pious water except Hindus.
At which Alberuni studied the fort mountains and started mining process under a rock. A stream of water flowed out from there at which Hindus gave him the name of “VidyaSaagar”. The other story is that a girl from shuder family accepted Islam on Alberuni’s hand and her family gave her poison due to which she remained unconscious for so many days
By Alberuni’s treatment she totally recovered then many individuals of her family accepted Islam. Alberuni wrote about Hindustan in his book “Kitab _ul _Hind”,,,,,,, which is known as the first best book of human knowledge. Here a waterfall runs down the fort with which water turbines run. There are big rocks on both sides of the fort. This fort was a masterpiece of its period. Red stone was used in its main gate which was 25 feet high above the earth surface and was 18 feet wide…… it’s remains are still present. It is also said that there is a tunnel in this fort going to “Kassk Fort” which is 6 kilometers far away from Nandna Fort. It may be possible that it is mined the tunnel may be found. The route to reach the Nandna Fort passes from the village is also of great historical importance. The town named Baghanwala,,,, it is said that the Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar used to hunt here and he planted a garden here,,,,,,, during this he was caught in such a condition that he balded his head. His companions also did the same following the emperor. The garden planted by Akbar is still present in some condition but it is destroyed. But the garden can be granted its splendour by the waterfall coming from the mountains. For going to the high mountain top of Nandna,,,,,,,, we have to pass through a stream “Shiv Ganga” attached to Baghanwala……. Which is surrounded by all of the beauty of nature. The remains of fort are fading away with each passing day.
Sometimes here the temple bells and at the same time the sounds of “Allah o akbar” echoed in the mosque constructed near. Now a hope is generated that the Prime minister of Pakistan has inaugurated the Nandna trail and the mosque will rehabilitate again. The activities of nandana revive again and it become a great historical grand visiting traditional center

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