Malot Fort | |
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General information | |
Location | Chakwal District, Pakistan |
Coordinates | 32°41′0″N 72°48′0″E / 32.68333°N 72.80000°E |
Completed | 10th Century |
Malot Fort ( Urdu: ملوٹ قلعہ) is a temple- fortress located in Chakwal District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. [1] [2] It is part of the Salt Range in Kalar Kahar. [3] [4]
Malot Fort was built in the 10th century AD and has the synthesis of Kashmiri and Greek architecture. [5] 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. [6] Rudyard Kipling described it in his novel, Kim as "...by workmen whose hands were feeling, and not unskilfully, for the mysteriously transmitted Grecian touch." [6]
Over the course of a millennium, the hill on which Malot resides has experienced geological alterations, resulting in the formation of narrow fissures. [5]
Malot Fort built of local red sand stones of Salt Range mountains, is located on the road leading to Malot village near Choi village.