Road To History. Sher Shah Suri. Info Blog

 Road To History. Sher Shah Suri. Info Blog

The Road to History - II 

Sher Shah extended this centuries old route from Chittagong to Kabul and called it Jarnaili Sarak (جرنیلی سڑک). He planted the trees along the entire stretch on both sides of the road to provide shade to travelers. He dug wells and constructed caravanserais, where travelers would rest and recover from the days’ journey.

In Mughal era, the road was named as Sadak-e-Azam (سڑک اعظم) or Badshahi Azam (بادشاہی سڑک). And British called it Grand Trunk due to heavy plantation alongside the road. It was in 1830s, when the part of GT Road was first time paved. The road was considerably rebuilt between 1833 to 1860 by the British. 

The kingdoms and empires have long gone. But the 2400 KM long ancient route from Kabul (Afghanistan) to Chittagong (Bangladesh) still exists save with interruption of three international borders.  

The road-track leading to the Losar Baoli from Budha caves of Shah Allah Ditta village was once part of the mighty route - Jarnaili Sarak. Sher Shah built the road on the route and constructed a wall alongside it with gray limestone which still deceives the debris of time and provides strong foundation to the road. 

On top of the hill, there was a well from the Gandhara age. Sher Shah paved the well with gray limestone and turned it into baoli (stepwell) - its present shape. The baoli has taken its name from the nearby village of Losar Sharfu. Many locals erroneously believe that the well was dug by Mughal Emperor Akbar calling it “Akbar Badshah Di Khui”. One must not wonder for common men tend to attribute big things to big men.

Close to the baoli was a Masjid said to be built by Shahab ud Din. It’s marks can still be seen but those too are close to extinction. 

The Jarnaili Sarak (GT Road) has slipped towards West and now this route is part of Kenthla-Haripur Road. In 2007, a

federal ministers paved this road and affixed a plaque next to the baoli inscribing his name in bold letters. Today the plaque survives, but the road has been plunged to destruction.

Margalla Hills are said to be located at juncture of Gandhara and Soan civilizations. The well on top of the mountain is no less than a wonder but we are people who have no love for such useless things. The real estate and corporate sector, however, know well the art of selling these ‘useless things’. Today, heavy construction projects 

are going on in this part of Margalla Hills. While the genie of concrete is eating up beauty of the area, this place will soon be hub for highland resorts and expensive restaurants catering to serve the elite of the city.

- Gulbaz Mushtaq (10/10)