The fall of the Fort of Jasrota



 After the assassination of Raja Hira Singh of Jasrota by Lahore army at Lahore, Lahore Durbar (the Sikh Court at Lahore, the government of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors (1799-1849)), decided to take over the Jasrota Empire. The primary reason for doing so was to loot the royal treasure of Jasrota and improve the financial condition of the Lahore durbar, which at that time was said to be in financial crisis & the army was getting involved into loots and riots. It was a known fact that Jasrota was financially healthy & was in possession of huge royal treasure which included Jewellery, Gold ornaments and cash.

Maharaja Gulab singh was very much aware of the situation and the intentions of Lahore Durbar. Bachna Jatt, who was the minister of Raja Hira Singh had also joined hands with the Sikh force. So in the absence of any Raja at Jasrota, Maharaja Gulab Singh with the help of his nephew, Raja Jawahar Singh, the younger brother of Raja Hira Singh, managed to shift the royal treasure of Jasrota to the hilly forts in Jammu. He also called the Jasrota army to Jammu as it was not possible for the army to fight in absence of any Raja & Bachna Jatt supporting Sikh army.

 

On Jan 06, 1845, in the supervision of Sardar Shyam Singh and Sardar Ratan Singh Maan, the Lahore Durbar sent an army of ten thousand men, ten battalions of Artillery and some three thousand Cavalry to Jasrota. Despite the fact that Raja Gulab Singh was having an agreement with Lahore Durbar that Jasrota could be taken over by them unopposed in the absence of any Raja and army. But the fear of the reputation carried by the brave Jasrotia’s, made Lahore Durbar send full force though they knew that there is no armed force and all the gates of Jasrota were left open.

When the Sikh army reached at the unguarded borders of Jasrota, which at that time included Basoli, Bilawar, Bhadu, and Sumrata & Lakhanpur, it was attacked by the common people of Jasrota who fought with bravery and courage. The Sikh army suffered huge loss in the battle. When Lahore Durbar sensed the threat posed by the people of Jasrota, they doubled the army and attacked Jasrota with artillery, destroying the entire empire.  Despite of having sent fully armed Sikh army to capture Jasrota and in the absence of any army or Raja, it took them eighteen days to take control of Jasrota and it overtook Jasrota on Jan 23, 1845.

It is said that Sikh army found only two lac twenty five thousand cash and could not find the royal treasure of Jasrota. They resorted to loot of all the villages in and around Jasrota. Women were looted of their jewels and ornaments, houses were burned & many were killed. All the art work for which Jasrota was once famous was destroyed. This was a tragic end of once a very powerful and famous empire. By 1850, very less population was left in Jasrota, which also moved to nearby villages.

The entire area was slowly and gradually covered by thick forests The ruins of the Jasrota fort still reminds the story of once a powerful empire, ruled by Jasrotia’s for nearly eight hundred and fifty years.

At present the palace is covered under the Jasrotia Wildlife Sanctuary. The Jasrotia Rajputs meet there once a year to remember their great history. A Yagya in the Temple, which has been built inside the palace, is also organised once a year on the meet.