Revisiting the History of Sindh’s Forts

A Comparative Study of Rani Kot, Kacha Qilla, and Pakka Qila with a Reinterpretation of Nerun Kot

Abstract

This study re-evaluates the historical identification of Nerun Kot, traditionally associated with Hyderabad, by conducting a comparative architectural and historical analysis of three key forts in Sindh: Rani Kot, Kacha Qilla, and Pakka Qila. Combining onsite fieldwork, satellite imagery, and archival research, the paper examines construction materials, fortification patterns, citadel layouts, and water management systems to test the hypothesis that Rani Kot corresponds to the historic Nerun Kot. Field observations reveal that Rani Kot’s massive stone walls bonded with gypsum paste, 64 bastions of mixed designs, integrated citadels, and a perennial freshwater spring sharply contrast with the smaller, mud or brick built Kacha Qilla and Pakka Qila, which lack natural water sources and extensive fortification systems. Historical texts—including Chach Nama (Fatahnama-e-Sindh), and Tarekh-e-Mazhar Shah Jahani further corroborate this evidence, consistently placing Nerun Kot in the Kirthar mountain range near Sewhan and describing features identical to those of Rani Kot. By synthesizing architectural and textual data, this study challenges the prevailing consensus and concludes that Nerun Kot was not Hyderabad but Rani Kot. Beyond clarifying a contested historical attribution, the research demonstrates the value of integrating field based and archival methods to refine understandings of Sindh’s heritage and fortification history.