Rawat Fort

Rawat, Pakistan, Pakistan

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Rawat Fort, located near Rawalpindi in Pakistan's Pothohar Plateau, is an early 16th-century fortified caravanserai built by the Gakhar tribe.

It likely stands on the site of an earlier Ghaznavid fort from 1036 CE. The fort is nearly square, measuring about 93 by 106 meters, and features two main gates along with thick defensive walls and bastions. Inside, there is a large mosque with three domes and an octagonal tomb believed to be that of Sultan Sarang Khan, a Gakhar chieftain who died fighting Sher Shah Suri’s forces in 1546.

Many smaller graves are also present in the courtyard, thought to belong to Sarang Khan's family and followers. The fort served as a defense point for the Pothohar Plateau during the Mughal era and later conflicts. Today, it is a federally protected cultural heritage site, although parts of it suffer from neglect and need preservation efforts.

Its architecture and historical role reflect the strategic importance of the site over centuries.​