Malot Fort

Malot Fort
A view of Malot Fort
General information
Location	Chakwal District, Pakistan
Coordinates	32°41′0″N 72°48′0″E
Completed	10th Century

Malot Fort (Urdu: ملوٹ قلعہ) is a temple-fortress located in Chakwal District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It is part of the Salt Range in Kalar Kahar.

History

Ruins of a temple at Malot

Malot Fort was built in the 10th century AD and has the synthesis of Kashmiri and Greek architecture. Constructed following the decline and eventual disappearance of Greek Taxila, Malot Fort was developed by the stonemasons of the Potohar plateau who preserved the Greek architectural techniques across multiple generations. Rudyard Kipling described it in his novel, Kim as "...by workmen whose hands were feeling, and not unskilfully, for the mysteriously transmitted Grecian touch."

Over the course of a millennium, the hill on which Malot resides has experienced geological alterations, resulting in the formation of narrow fissures.

Architecture

Malot Fort built of local red sand stones of Salt Range mountains, is located on the road leading to Malot village near Choi village.