THE HISTORY, ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF MASTUJ FORT CHITRAL, KHAYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

The present research examines the history and architecture of Mastuj Fort, Chitral, Khayber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Historical and Cultural sites are the places acknowledged for the importance of the nation’s history and culture, which provide a tangible linkages with past events and provide a connection with the present era. The Northern Areas of Pakistan, including Chitral, there are many historic places, and the Mastuj Fort is one of them which has a great historic importance and unique art and architecture. The research has explained the art and architecture of the Mastuj Fort with a relationship to the past events with the present ear. This research is a qualitative, based on the primary and secondary data, included the survey-based data, photographs, observation and analysis of previous researches and books as well as the newspapers. The universe of the study was Mastuj, which is located at 36o 170N 72o 31 OE with the altitude of 2359 meters which is equal to the 7742 feet’s. the Tehsil Mastuj is comprises of different small villages, such as, Buni, Mastui Khuzh, Marthing, Chuinj, Parkusap, Reshun and Ayeer. The research was divided into four chapters, such as overall background of Chitral, history and architectural of the Majtuj Fort, current development and future perspectives. The overall architecture of this Mastuj Fort was designed on the base of research work on it. The walls of the forts was constructed through mud, stone, brick, and other green leaves of plants. These leaves of plants were mixed into the mud which strong the mixture of the mud and bricks. The mud and stones were mostly used to construct the walls and the boundaries, including the central wall as well as the inside houses. The Mastuj Fort was built more than 300 years ago, but due to natural calamities like frequent earthquakes in the region, It was revamped a couple of times after it was built until in 1883 it took shape of the present Fort. Due to the negligence of the administration regarding the rehabilitation of the fort, the condition of the fort is now vulnerable condition. The original fort of the Mastuj was old dated backed to the Abdullah Khan, the Turk ruler of the Kashgharia. Second time it was constructed during the time of Shah Khairullaha. The third time again constructed by the reign of Raja Gohar Aman and finally, it was built in the reign of Mehtar Shuja-ul-Mulk, under the supervision of K.S Mehtarjou Ghulam Dastigir of Kesu in the year backed 1917. The government and local body’s need to pay attention towards this place and explore the fort locally and internationally through media and other channel, so that the archeological importance will be remain in future.