Harkishan Garh Fort

Harkishan Garh Fort
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General information
Location	Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Coordinates	34°00′06″N 72°56′26″E
Estimated completion	1822–23

Harkishan Garh Fort is a fort in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

History

Harkishan Garh Fort was erected under the supervision of Governor Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa in 1822–23, subsequent to the Sikh annexation of Kashmir and Hazara. The fort features a 20-feet deep moat, designed for the defense of the Sikh garrison.

Initially, the fort was built to consolidate the Sikh control over the region and to serve as a launchpad for further expansion. From 1849 to 1853, the fort also functioned as the district headquarters for the British administration, until Major James Abbott moved it to Abbottabad.

Following Pakistan's inception, the police department claimed the western portion of the fort, while the revenue department took control of the eastern part. Both entities have reportedly maintained their presence in the fort, with modifications allegedly made in contravention of the Antiquities Act.

The municipal administration, tasked with conserving historical sites, is also reported to have built an overhead water tank on the fort's western section.

In 2019, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa decided to convert it into a museum.