Naukot Fort

Naukot Fort was built by Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur in 1814, which is located some 63km south of Mirpur Khas town, lies at the edge of the desert. Another 3km on the road to Mithi an awe-inspiring fort attracts the eye in the wilderness. It is said to have been constructed by Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur to consolidate his power in the desert and to subdue the than and make effective and forceful arrangements to collect dhal, revenue.

The fort is built of burnt-bricks in mud mortar and measures about 1 13m in length and 98m in width. Another squarish construction on the southern side of the fort, measuring 15m x 13m has in it the only entrance and narrow access to the interior of the fort. All the walls and bastions give tapering look. The narrow entrance is approached through ~a crooked passage formed by two heavy and semi-circular bastions. The bastion close to the doorway, and making a part of the squarish construction, is about 9.5m high with a diameter of about 42m at the base.

The arched entrance is around 7m in height and about 4m in width. The approach to the interior of the fort is through causeway type hall and room, which make part of the squarish construction, itself a fortress. The fort has nine semi-circular bastions, two of them guarding the main entrance, four at the corners and one each in the middle of the northern, southern and western walls. A 4m wide wall runs on the four sides of the fort. It has two burnt-brick stairs to climb the wall top, from the interior of the fort.

Inside the fort there are a few remains of rooms etc., which may go to suggest that these were the residential quarters. A small construction like a dungeon could have been the barood khana, or the place to store ammunition. 

Talpur is a Sindhi speaking Baloch tribe settled in Sindh. Talpurs settled in northern Sindh, spoke the Sindhi language very soon their descendants and allies formed a confederacy against the Kalhora dynasty. Later, however, they enjoyed good relations with the Kalhoras and were invited by them to help organize unruly Baloch tribes living in Sindh. Although most of the Talpur's are basically the founders of Sindhi unity. Talpur dynasty ruled Sindh, in present-day Pakistan, from 1783 to 1843 and were overthrown by the British East India Company led by General Charles James Napier. Written By Aziz Sanghur