Lakhpat fort

Lakhpat is a sparsely populated town and sub-district in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat located at the mouth of Kori Creek. The town is enclosed by 7 km long 18th-century fort walls.EtymologyThe town is named after Rao Lakha who ruled in Sindh about the middle of the thirteenth century.HistoryHistorically it has been very important trading post connecting Gujarat to Sindh. The waters of Sindhu river used to flow into Lakhpat and further onto Desalpar Gunthli. Within historic times Lakhpat has had only one very short period of prosperity. Rice used to be cultivated and Lakhpat used to give an annual revenue of 800,000 Koris just from rice. It is also said that Lakhpat used to generate an income of 100,000 Koris everyday from maritime activities. Fateh Muhammad, about the close of the eighteenth century (1801), enlarged and rebuilt its wall, and here for a time great part of the trade of Sindh centred. Though he thought it one of the chief supports of his power, Lakhpat declared against Fateh Muhammad when he opposed the Rao of Cutch State in 1804. A few years later (1809), the commandant of the fort, Mohim Miyan, drove out the agents of Hansraj and governed the town on his own accounts. In 1818 Lakhpat had 15,000 people and yielded a yearly revenue of £6000. After the earthquake of 1819 a natural dam known as the Allahbund was formed, Indus river changed its course of flow and started flowing into the Arabian sea further north. Thus Lakhpat lost its importance as a port. By 1820, the population reduced to 6000 inhabitants, consisting chiefly of mercantile speculators from other countries and families of Hindus driven from Sindh. The walls were in good repair, but the houses were ruined and did not fill one-third of the area. In 1851 all trade had left the town, and it has since remained poverty-stricken and half deserted. The population reduced to 2500 by 1880.