Pakistan: Rohtas Fort

The massive UNESCO World Heritage site of Rohtas Fort spans about 70 hectares, making it one of Pakistan’s largest, and is situated on a strategic hill near the Kahan River. It was built in the 16th-century fortress by Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Suri Empire, following his victory over the Mughal emperor Humayun in 1541. The court has massive defensive walls over 4km long, with height of 18m and thickness of 10m, with 68 semi-circular bastions and 12 monumental gates, including the Sohail and Shah Chandwali gates. The fort includes a smaller inner fort for with palaces like the Raja Man Singh Haveli, Phansi Ghat, and Rani Mahal. Its water system, with three stepwells and 89 wells, ensured absolute siege resilience. It stood uncaptured for 4 centuries until the Sikh conquest in the 19th century.