Kusak Fort
On Saturday, 21 January 2023, the artist started the journey to the destination
Kusak Fort, situated at a distance of 48 km from Chakwal City. The climb
to the fort is a challenging one, and guidance from the locals is essential.
The remnants of the fort await tourists when they complete the climbing
endeavor. The artist ascended the fort, which took an hour to reach the
summit, then shot and videographed the Kusak Fort's devastated ruins.
Raja Jodh, one of the sons of the renowned Janjua Sultan, Raja Mall Khan
Janjua, who constructed the Malot Fort in the 10th century, erected the
fort in the 11th century. This fort is located 25 kilometers to the southeast
of Kallar Kahar atop a mound in Kahoon Valley (the attractive hilly landscape
of the Salt Range connecting Kallar Kahar and Choa Syedan Shah). A palace
for the ruling monarch was also built near the fort, as were around seventy
homes for its tiny army. Kusak Fort is located to the north of Kusak settlement.
Before the establishment of Pakistan, Kusak had a significant position;
the bulk of the population was Hindu, and commerce was likewise controlled
by Hindus. Inside the fort, Hindu temples were constructed, as well as
two ponds for the people who lived there. A well was also erected for
the fort's residents, which nevertheless supplied water to the entire
community. Is. The steps leading into this fort are formed of massive
stones, and to the south of the temple, there is a Theda and four walls.
The two water ponds that were established previously have already dried
up. The Kusak fort has a total size of roughly half a mile and a height
of around 270 feet on the south-eastern walls. On the north side, there
are two doors, one of which has been lowered. In the western portion of
Kusak, around 70 residences have been built. A bungalow-style residence
inside the fort was allocated for the monarch or rulers. Rainwater was
collected in the ponds and utilized to make drinking water. Grain storage
houses have also been constructed. When there were no carriages and British
officers had to ride to India on horseback, post bungalows and rest homes
were frequently erected at distances of 18 to 20 miles between where British
officers could relax. I used to stop here to get it. The Public Works
Department maintained these bungalows and rest homes, but with time and
modernization, post bungalows and rest houses lost their significance.
The Chakwal area is littered with the remnants of these structures. A
derelict postman's cottage may be seen around 30 kilometers east of Chakwal
city in Sardhi village. These homes' walls are decaying and covered with
grass. A rest stop in Kusak village provides a similar image of itself.
Postal bungalows first appeared around 1840 and were constructed for the
postal department since the mail service was one of the most significant
services provided by the British. Dak Bangla was the name given to the
rest quarters erected for postal personnel. Similarly, a post office was
erected at Kusak village during the same period, next to the Kusak Fort.
The bungalow is a single-story terraced structure with a spacious central
dining area, verandah, and kitchen. This house is beautiful since it is
set in the hills and is surrounded by a lush green mountain range, and
people come here to experience the historical legacy of this location.