# Bukkur Fort

- **Country:** Pakistan
- **Coordinates:** 27.695278, 68.887500
- **Location Text:** Sindh

Bukkur Fort, also known as Bakhar or Bhakkar, is a historic island fortress located in the Indus River between the cities of Rohri and Sukkur in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Often referred to as Old Sukkur, the site sits on an oval-shaped limestone rock approximately 800 yards long and 300 yards wide, rising about 25 feet above the water. The entire island is encircled by fortification walls that border the river on all sides. Although the structure is currently in a ruined condition, significant portions of the defensive walls remain standing. The architecture features several bastions with semi-circular and elliptical designs, along with gates of varying sizes, though many entrances are now obstructed by rubble. A modern railway line currently divides the island into two distinct sections.

The historical origins of the fort are steeped in debate and ancient legend. While some sources dispute the exact construction date, traditions trace its beginnings back to 944-45 A.D. during the Arab period. Historical texts like the Chach Nama reference a nearby stronghold called Baghrur Fort, which some scholars believe evolved into the current Bukkur Fort. It is suggested that the name Baghrur signified a divine gift and that the site played a strategic role during the campaigns of Muhammad bin Qasim against Raja Dahir. Throughout the centuries, control of the island fortress exchanged hands numerous times, reflecting its critical importance in regional military strategy and its position as a guardian of the riverine trade routes.

Today, Bukkur Fort stands as a silent testament to Sindh's layered past, preserved as a heritage site under the care of local authorities. While it is no longer an active military installation, the ruins offer a glimpse into the architectural ingenuity of early medieval fortifications in South Asia. The site remains accessible for historical study and tourism, managed as part of the broader cultural heritage of Sukkur District. Despite the wear of time and the intrusion of modern infrastructure like the railway, the fort continues to define the landscape of the Indus River, serving as a tangible link to the region's pre-Islamic and early Islamic history.

![Photo of Bukkur Fort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Vintage_picture_of_Bhakkar_Fort.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukkur (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)