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Mughal fort

Pitchers under the floor

Bangladeshi Archaeologists recently discovered 300 earthen pitchers meticulously lined up underneath the concrete slabs of the ground floor of Mughal Idrakpur fort (Durgo) in Munshiganj district on 12 May 2015. 

These pitchers were perhaps used as heat repellents to keep the rooms cool. The fort is a 300 years Mughal establishment in Bangladesh and one of the beautiful fort as well. Few teachers from Archaeology department of Jahangirnagar University have been visited the site. 

The archaeological department said that the pitchers are more than 170 years old. Excavation work related to the project has been stopped temporarily, to save the pitchers from damage. A large crowd had gathered near the fort area after hearing that the pitchers had been discovered. 

Idrakpur fort
Pitchers used in the fort

Mahabub ul Alam, assistant director of the archaeological department, said renovation was started with the help of an expert committee, which includes historian Dr. Mumin Chowdhury, specialist Saiful Hasan Badol, and the deputy commissioner of Munshiganj, along with other archaeologists, to preserve the historic fort.

Idrakpur fort
Archaeologists are giving speech about the discovery
The archaeologists said, “We think the floor was constructed using the pitchers, to keep the rooms cool. We have already informed the deputy commissioner to take steps to preserve the sanctity of the Mughal fort." Mir Jumla, the former Subedar of Bengal, had built the fort in 1660, during Aurangzeb's time. It was later used as the residence of the governor of the subdivision and was declared a heritage structure in 1909.

Mughal fort




About Idrakpur Fort: More than 350 years old Mughal architecture situated in Munshiganj district. In 1660 AD Mir Jumla, the commander of Bengal built the fort on the west bank of the Ichhamati river. Ichamati's direction now has changed in the course of time.

idrakpur fort


But Dhaleshwari, Meghna, and Shitalakkhya rivers are still flowing between one and three kilometers of the fort. The fort is slightly smaller in the area than Hajiganj and Sonakanda fort of Narayanganj. 82 m * 72m Built in rectangular brick, this fort was built on the bank of the Ichhamati river during the Mughal period to protect the entire area including Dhaka and Narayanganj from the Magh pirates and the Portuguese invasion.

idrakpur fort

At the confluence of Ichhamati and Meghna, the fort was important for military reasons. It is believed that it was built during the reign of Mughal Subahdar of Mir Jumla of Bengal (1660 AD).

Idrakpur fort Munshiganj


The high rectangular tower at the four corners of the wall surrounds the fort. The tower has a foam or holes so that the weapon can be fixed. Compared to a lesser range of fortifications, there is a circular large drum in the wall.

Idrakpur fort Bangladesh

There is a way to reach the drum part from the open square. On the east side of the Fort, there is a 32.5 meters high circular altar. There are stairs to reach the 9.14 meters high altar.

Idrakpur fort

The Fort is one of the four water wrecks that were built to protect Dhaka from outside enemies. Idrakpur Fort was declared as a 'protected archaeological heritage' in 1909 as a unique feature of Mughal architecture.

Mughal fort

26 comments:

  1. You can see the pitchers here. Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman from Archaeology department of Jahangirnagar university is talking about the discovery with guests and visitors.

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  2. I find it amazing how the vases/pitchers were used in the enginerring of the floor for the fort! Absolutely blew me away. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Wow great that you loved the article. Welcome, please visit other pages to know about more historical sites.

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  3. I didn't know about these beautiful sites, lovely pictures. A very interesting post :)

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  4. Wow interesting stories. We also have pitchers in our country used for cooking by few of the locals. So amazing how each cultures has some interesting stories to be told.

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    1. Really happy that you have found the article very interesting.

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  5. Many thanks Orphira and Akyn for your valuable comments

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  6. Wow how interesting! So the pitchers just provide better airflow under the ground to keep the heat down? It's amazing how the construction worked here. I love reading about any type of history or excavation!

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  7. THIS IS SO COOL! I think architectural structures of the past are so incredibly fascinating! Especially from different countries. I feel completely enlightened. Thank you :)

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  8. Wow, that is so cool about the pitchers! Beautiful photos too!

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  9. Loved your post! It is always nice to learn about new discoveries. The photos and structure in them are beautiful. Thank you for sharing is post!

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  10. I love going to places like this with old structures

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  11. This is absolutely fascinating! To think that they they used pitchers to construct the floor and used it to cool the room is amazing to me.

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  12. Very beautiful place, would love to go visit it.

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  13. The engineers who came before us were so ingenious! At first I assumed the pitchers would have been simple vessels, but they served such a great purpose. It's no wonder this site is considered historically significant.

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  14. Gorgeous! I like the color of the fort that change shade of red depending of the sun. Reminds me a lot of India.

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  15. This is genius and when you think it was done centuries ago then it actually blows your mind. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us! :)

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  16. Amazing! I love learning about the ancient world!

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  17. I am beginning to love your blog.It makes know so much about Bangladesh.I no longer picture it like I used to based on the pictures I have seen on international news of poor people and children.This is good work.Keep it up

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  18. Nice article and beautiful pictures. I love your niche it is very scarce.

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  19. Such beautiful photos! I would love to go to visit one of these days.

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  20. Such a beautiful historic place. Would love to visit

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  21. This is truly Amazing, I have known about the tourist places about Bangladesh from other sites but your description s the best

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