Fort Munro is a hill station in the province of Punjab, Pakistan, also known as the Muree of south Punjab, which is 6,470 feet above sea level in District Kot Addu, Punjab, Pakistan. The hill station was developed as a summer hill town during the late 19th century in the British colonial era by Sir Robert Groves Sandeman. It is named after the then commissioner of the Multan division, Colonel Andrew Aldcorn Munro, who later became a Major-General in the British Army. Fort Munro was the headquarters of the Multan’s Commissioner during the summer season during British rule. Before the British developed the area, it was known as Loilaresir.
The colonial residence of the Political Assistant (PA), Sandeman’s Lodge, the Commissioner’s House and the DCO’s house was built on the hill and used as a summer residence. A small Christian cemetery is also located near the Deputy Commissioner’s house.
During the hot summer months, many people come here for short tours. It is about 85 km from Dera Gazi Khan and approximately 185 km from Multan in the Sulaiman Mountains, also known as Koh-e-Sulaiman.
The Sulaiman Mountains are a North-South expansion of the Hindukush Mountain system in Pakistan. In Pakistan, they rise throughout the Northern areas of Baluchistan Province, the Southern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, and some areas of Punjab Province. In South-Western Punjab, these mountains include two districts, Dera Ghazi Khan and the Rajanpur district, which lies on the West of the river Indus near the border of Baluchistan. The people of Fort Monroe, especially from the Leghari tribe, are nomadic.
Fort Munro is 1800 meters high in altitude. It can be accessed from Loralai in Baluchistan or Multan (Punjab). From Punjab, the mountain range begins near Rakhni, the border crossing between Baluchistan and Punjab.
Fort Munro is part of the Koh-e-Sulaiman. The range is spread across central Pakistan and extends about 280 miles (450 km) from Gumal Pass to the North of Jacobabad, separating KPK and Punjab from Baluchistan. The height of the Sulaiman Mountain Range gradually decreases as we travel towards the South. The highest point is the two peaks, Takht-e-Sulaiman, about 30 miles from the Gumal Pass. The legend relates this to King Solomon’s visit to Pakistan.
At a height of 18,481 feet (5,633 meters) has a Muslim Shrine that attracts thousands of Muslim pilgrims every year.
The Eastern front of the range slopes steeply towards the Indus river, while in the West, the escarpment decreases gently. Juniper and edible pines are in the North, with olives in the centre, whereas the vegetation is scarce on the Southern side. The main passes in the northern region are Khel Dhana, the Ghat, Sakhi Sarwar, Chuhar and Zao. Fort Munro hill station is located in the South-West of Dera Ghazi Khan. This hill station of Punjab sometimes also experiences snowfall in the winter season.
The temperature during extreme summers in May and June remains between 34 degrees centigrade during the daytime, and during the night, it can drop as low as 18 degrees centigrade. In contrast, the temperature goes up and down between 13 degrees and -2 degrees centigrade during December and January.
While travelling on the road towards Fort Monroe, it offers a view of such a beautiful natural landscape that leaves a lasting effect on your memory. The beautiful scenery of the route is impressive. The winding roads between mountains and green valleys have a very relaxing effect. Here there is a lovely lake called Damas Lake, surrounded by mountains, and many streams in between the hills add to the beauty of this place. This lake is also a source of potable water for local people to drink.
The Fort Munro Steel Bridge is the largest bridge made of steel in Pakistan and the second largest in Asia. It covers a vast area of 33 km long that connects the western route of CPEC and the southern part of Punjab. This project aims to make the hilly section of the road broader and safer by installing eight steel bridges suitable for all types of traffic. These bridges are among the most spectacular bridges in the world. The bridges are 1.5 kilometres long and have columns more than 150 feet high.
Many tourists visit Fort Munro every year. Most of them are tourists who want to escape the hot climate of southern Punjab and enjoy a day or two of mild and pleasant weather visiting this city. In July 2015, the Punjab government issued over 2 billion rupees to enhance the essential amenities for the hill station to make it a major tourist destination. Out of the allocated budget, Rs 750 million was for installing the cable car and chairlift facility between Fort Munro and Khar, Rs 300 million was allocated for the supply of clean drinking water, Rs 300 million was allocated for sewage and drainage system, and Rs 1.6 billion was allocated for constructing a cadet college and six new carpeted road.
In addition, the new landscaping and cut flower cultivation designs would also strengthen the development in this area and open new employment opportunities. The Punjab Forest Department would also convert 300 acres of land near the hill station into a forest. It is also believed that the Irrigation Department has proposed the construction of six small-scale dams in Fort Munro. A development project to attract people from the surrounding areas, the only hill station in southern Punjab in the Dera Ghazi Khan district, is set to begin soon. Fort Munro is an excellent summer resort for those living in South Punjab.
Many sick people come here for refreshment and recovery. Fort Munro is worth a visit. A very calm and relaxed area which holds onto you tightly. The governments have been trying to promote tourism in the region by adding new infrastructure and basic amenities for the people to make it a pleasant summer hill station.