The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences ISSN (E): 2411-0132, ISSN (P): 2411-5487 Vol-1, Issue (7):251-254 www.theexplorerpak.org

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MASONRY ART: PRESERVATION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN CHAKWAL Anum Fayyaz, Mahwish Zeeshan

Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi

Corresponding Author: Anum Fayyaz PMAS- Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi Anumfayyaz98@gmail.com Abstract: The process of understanding and handling the architectural heritage in order to carefully deliver it to future generations is preservation. Pakistan has prodigious historical significance with various historical sites. The greatest way to honor the history is to preserve and maintain the historical buildings and the archeological sites. The locale of the study was Choa Saidan Shah, Chakwal. The nature of the study was qualitative. A sample size of 19 was selected, while the data was collected through key informants and in-depth interviews from the selected sampling units. The study shows that even though Pakistan has a great cultural heritage yet the shortcomings related to preservation hinder the tourism economy greatly.

Key Words: Archeological sites,Katas Raj, Malot Fort, Takht-e-Babri, Kallar Kahar INTRODUCTION The construction of historical and memorial buildings is a link of history because it always brings to live the heritage of the historical age to which it belongs (Awan 2008). Pakistan has a variety of heritage buildings that are built with stones. The material used in the construction of buildings can be classified into organic and inorganic material. The materials originated from living things are organic materials such as wood and the materials that are obtained from non-living things are inorganic material such as stone and metal. Conservation can be defined as the process of understanding, interpreting and handling the architectural heritage in order to safely deliver it to future generations(Forsyth 2007). In the area of Chakwal, many archeological or historical sites were present such as Malot Fort, Katas Fort, Kallar Kahar Museum, Takht. E. Babri at Kallar Kahar, Sakhi Saidan,and Shah Shirazi Shrine etc. These historical places are memorial places. Archaeology studies humans previous history and the past from the development of the first stone tools (McPherron, et al. 2010). Katas Raj fort is a Hindu Mandir present in Choa Saidan Shah, Chakwal. Most of the Hindu visit this temple to worship and pay pilgrimage. The study was aimed to focus the historical significance of

the temple and its archeological importance. This place was renovated by the former minister of Punjab Chaudhry Shujat Hussain (President of PML) in 2006. The temples and historical architecture of Greeks were beautiful and perfect because it is based upon the proper rules of ratio, proportions and shapes which represents an important events in the history of buildings (Oliveira2003). Hilly land of Salt Range contains many beautiful historical sites too. One of them is known as Malot Fort. It is situated in the village of Malot, 40 km away from Chakwal city. It is situated in Choa Saidan Shah, Chakwal. Malot fort was built about 980 A.D. Previously, it was in a very bad shape but now it has been renovated. Two Hindu temples were present in the Malot fort. Both were beautiful illustration of Kashmir architecture. According to history, it is said that last Hindu Raja embraced Islam at that place. It is beautiful historic site and place of attention for tourists and archeologists.Takht-e-Babri is a small table land cut from limestone formation & adjusted into a stage platform which is located in the fruit garden from where the Mughal King Babar use to view lake and address his army (Khan, et al. 2011).Takht-E-Babri is located in Kallar Kahar, in the district Chakwal. Kallar Kaharis a town and part of Chakwal

mailto:Anumfayyaz98@gmail.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_toolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakwal_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakwal_District

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District in Punjab, Pakistan. It is also capital of Kallar Kahar Tehsil. It is a tourist place located 25 kilometers southwest of Chakwal along the motorway. It is 125 km away from Rawalpindi. All these places are tourist attractions. People visit these places to see the old tradition and culture. Through these places and sites, people get information and knowledge about the history. MATERIALS AND METHODS The area of study was Choa Saidan Shah Chakwal. The nature of the study was qualitative. Qualitative research tends to focus on how people or groups of people can have (somewhat) different ways of looking at reality usually social or psychological reality(Hancock, et al. 2007). The data was collected through participant observation and with the help of two major key informants Tariq and Shakeel.Both were the employees of Katas Raj.Further, in-depth interviews were also used for the collection of data. RESULTS AND DISSCUSION Katas Fort Katas Raj Mandir holds a sanctified place in Hinduism because of its scared water and the story of the Pandavas exiled from their kingdom who took refuge here(Babary and Zeeshan 2015). It is considered the second most important Hindu temple around the globe (Minhas 2010). There were seven temples in Katas Raj, three of them vanished and the four are still present. These temples resembled the temples that are present in Kashmir. Department of Archaeology and Museums Government of Pakistan have handed over the Katas Raj Complex to Directorate General of Archaeology Government of the Punjab in the year of 2005. The temples and historical architecture of Greeks were beautiful and perfect because it is based upon the proper rules of ratio, proportions and shapes which represents an important events in the history of buildings(Oliveira2003). Stone Kanjoor stone was used in the walls of temples. Temple work brings so much resistance because it is the source of so much spiritual power to the Latter-day Saints, and to the entire Church (Packer 2002). This stone was a mixture of bones, lime, coal, cereals. Cereals mainly mashed were used for the mixture of walls. In 2008, tiles were fixed in the floor of Katas fort. The oldest

material used in the manufacture of buildings is called stone. With the help of this material, huge and historical architecture of the past had been produced. Due to the use of stone, a strong and long lasting material produced. Many of the centuries old buildings are still present (Awan 2008).Shiva linga is a stone. It is made of black marble but this linga inside the Katas temple was made of sand stone. Red stone was used in the entrance of the temple Ram Chandara. Sand stone was used in the Threshold. Fossils During the excavation of Ashoka in 2002, the great big stupa was extracted. Different stones were extracted during excavation of Katas fort e.g stone of Chaki, different coins, carving stones, statue of Bhuda. Archeology diggings have revealed stonework house near Lake Hullen, Isreal, (9000_8000B.C), where dry stone huts were found, as one of the oldest building structure (Laurenco 1996). Museum A museum was built in the Haveli of Hari Singh. Two old doors are still present in the museum. Different stones were put in the museum that was extracted during the excavation process. Penis stone, Urinary stone, Stupa stones, Pillers (carvings), Flower stones (that mostly belong to stupa), Writing stone known as katba, two other pillers on which some signs and pictures of men and women, statue on which pictures of horses present. Many of the things that were extracted during excavation process, were sent to the Taxila and Kalar Kahar museum. A museum is a permanent institution formed for the service of society. Its function is to obtain, conserve, communicate and exhibit for study purposes and historic records. It is open to the public. It is used in conserving the evidences and records of history (Bogaard 2014). Cave A cave was present in front of katas fort. A natural underground hollow space is called cave. It is a large enough that a human can enter in it. It is usually formed by weathering of rocks (Whitney 1889). Hill North to katas, there was a small hill called Kotara. There were houses of Muslims on that hill but now all have vanished and only trees and greenery were present. Old utensils were taken

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallar_Kahar_Tehsil

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out during the excavation of Kotara hill. Earth terrestrial surface is mostly covered by hills and mountains. These contain a large number of Earths Biodiversity. Malot Fort Malot fort is also a historical site in Chakwal. In the past, Malot fort was named as Malik Kot.Malot fort was located 15km away from Katas raj in the west side. It was located on the hill top. Malot was located near the Choi village. The Malot fort was also called Namrod and Ramrod. Malot fort was built about 980 A.D. (Khan 2006).Malot Temple Fort dates back to the sixth to early eleventh century are located along Indus River and in the Salt Range mountains.Malot fort is one of the historical places of Chakwal. It was situated in Choa Saidan Shah Chakwal. Previously, it was in a very bad shape but now it has been renovated. Temples Two Hindu temples were present in the Malot fort. Both were beautiful illustrations of Kashmir architecture. According to history, it is said that last Hindu Raja embraced Islam at that place. It is beautiful historic site and place of attention for tourists and archeologists.South Asia is the first society which is known to the world as the Harappa or Indus civilization and best signified by the two main urban hubs of Harappa Mohenjo-Daro in Pakistan, has been the focus of main attentiveness for various a domestic team of archeologists and experts(Mughal 1990). Stone Malot temple was built from the red sand stones of salt range mountains. It is just like a statue of red stones. As the fort is on the top of a hill, it is at a risk of danger because excavations for coal mines and minerals are common in the area. Takht-E-Babri Takht e babri is located in Kallar Kahar, in the district Chakwal. Kallar Kaharis a town and part ofChakwal District in Punjab, Pakistan. It is also capital of Kallar Kahar Tehsil. It is a tourist place located 25 kilometers southwest of Chakwal along the motorway. It is 125 km away from Rawalpindi.Takht-e-Babri is a small table land cut from limestone formation and adjusted into a stage platform which is located in the fruit garden from where the Mughal King Babar used to view lake and addresses his army. There are a number of fresh water springs which are used to irrigate

fruit gardens and also a perennial source of recharge for Kallar Kahar Lake. Indian great Mughal emperor Babar, while passing by the area of kallar kahar stayed here in 1519 AD (Khan, et al. 2011). The historical site of Kallar Kahar was 400 years old. He came from Kabul. Kabul is the city of Iraq. His mission is to conquer Punjab and Dehli. While passing through Kallar Kahar, he likes this place and decided to stay here. This site was called Takht-e-Babri. Stone Takht-e-Babri is a stone built by the order of King Babar. This was made up of marble. This place was made by the army of Baber. It was made by carving a structure of a throne on the big rock. Few stairs were built for going up ground. Bagh-E-Safa There was a flat platform on which Emperor Babar used to address and give instruction to his army men. He was impressed by natural beauty of this place. So, he ordered to build beautiful garden for him. This garden was still present and it is called Mughal garden or Bagh-e-Safa. He enjoyed good climate, beautiful local trees, lake, and peacocks. He describe the beauty of Kalar Kahar as very charming place with air(Rashid 2001). Bagh-Safa was located in the south west of the lake. This was the first garden of Mughal empire. It was 125 km away from Rawalpindi. CONCLUSION Traditions reflect the heritage and history of nations.History manifests the fact that great civilization of all worlds reformed themselves with the help of knowledge and education. The very significance of the site from archaeological perspective stands at par with its sanctity being a religious monument. Historical sites of any country play an important role in the economy. There is a need to take attention on the historical sites of Pakistan. There is the duty of Government to take steps for the conservation and preservation of historical and archeological buildings. Special attention for the renovation and promotion of these sites is needed to stop it falling apart and growth of tourism. REFERENCES Awan, Muhammad Yousaf 2008 Building Stones and State of

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2015The Explorer Islamabad Journal of Social Sciences-Pakistan