Derawar Fort

From graveyards, we went straight to the Derawar fort, one of the archoelogical sites of the region. Despite its pathetic condition, Derawar is the only fort of all whose remnants are still intact to the place. Within and near fort are sites of a mosque, bazaar and the housing for imperial army; as well as Abbasi royal graveyard. The fort was originally called Dera Rawal because it was built as a tribute to Rawal Deoraj Bhatti, a Rajput autonomous king of the Jaisalmer and Bahawalpur areas who had his capital at Lodhrauva. Later Muslim Nawabs of Bahawalpur took over the fort in 18^th century. 

The fort has two distinguished peripheries, inner and outer. Within the outer periphery is guardroom, haramsara, and the (dried) lake. Inner periphery has a watch tower as entrance leading inside with brick walkways. There’s an underground tunnel system connecting the fort with the palaces. There there is a secretariat compound opposite to the observation post, having offices for government dignitaries. Then there is a masjid right next to it. The hang point (phansi ghaat) is still standing still at the place of its construction. At a height is baradari containing a room with exquisite fresco on walls and carved wooden doors and ceilings, with staircase leading to its roof. From the north-eastern bastion, the lake and the whole dessert can be viewed.

We had our own guide with us, besides we had already did some of our research before visiting the fort. Mostly you have to help yourself. Some parts of the fort are completely inaccessible either because they are demolished or are on their way of destruction. As fast as it is coming down, I believe it will all get razed to ground in just few years. Albeit people are trying to protect the structure but still it’s too humungous to conserve it all into its original form.

Rating

Site: 7/10

Accessibility: 6/10

Services: 5/10

Residents: 8/10

Market: 1/10

Resourcefulness: 4/10