Pacco Qillo, Military fort in Hyderabad, Pakistan
Pacco Qillo is a military fort standing on a hillock with thick stone walls and multiple entry points characteristic of 18th-century defensive design. The structure contains various sections that served different purposes, from fortification to residential use.
The fort was built in 1768 as a strategic defense point for the region. Its importance grew when the regional capital relocated to Hyderabad in 1789, making it central to the new city's development.
The fort contains the remains of mosques and living spaces that show how people built and arranged their buildings during the Talpur period in Sindh. These structures reveal the blend of religious and domestic life that shaped the region.
Access to the fort is through the city center of Hyderabad, though the terrain can be steep and uneven as you approach. Wear suitable shoes for navigating the rocky ground and crumbling sections safely.
The fort was originally designed purely for defense but became the focal point of urban growth when regional leaders chose it as the seat of power for a new capital. This shift from military stronghold to city center reveals how one structure shaped Hyderabad's founding.
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