Bala Hisar Fort, Military fortress in Peshawar, Pakistan
Bala Hisar Fort is a military fortress in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, perched on an elevated mound. Its thick brick defensive walls enclose watchtowers and barracks spread across the compound.
Babur built the first structure in 1526 after conquering the region. The British administration reconstructed the fortress in brick in 1834, giving it its present form.
The name comes from Dari Persian and means high fort. This linguistic root recalls the centuries when rulers from different cultures exercised their power here.
The compound serves as headquarters for the Frontier Corps and has restricted public access. A small museum inside displays military objects and documents from the region's past.
The Chinese traveler Xuanzang described a royal residence at this site in the seventh century. His records confirm the early importance of the location as a center of power in the region.
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