The keeper led the person blindfolded through the clandestine labyrinths to the treasure. When the two men emerged from the vaults, Nawab’s man informed him that the treasure was there and in abundance beyond imagination.
Legend has it, there is an abundance of treasure buried under Fort Derawar in Cholistan that remains to be explored. On the contrary, taking into account the research done by historians and archeologists, the treasure (if there was any) is gone.
According to one chain of history and the treasure trove of late Obaidullah Baig, Alexander the great came to Indus valley after winning the battle of Issus against Darius III’ s Army in Persia. He brought in a large amount of treasures (a hundred camel loads' worth) collected over the years of conquest[1].
Alexander entrusted it to one of his key officers named Nearchus, to travel approx. 470KM (07 days travel) towards northeastern side, and bury this treasure in the midst of the great sandy desert of Cholistan for future use. Withal, no such account is transcribed in the book of Nearchus titled, Indica.
Another version narrates according to a book named, Tarkhan-nama written in the 16th century; when Arghuns came to Multan, they fought against the ruling Langhas sultanate in 1525. In ordeal to save their lives, Sultan Mahmud Langah and his army went to Fort Derawar and locked themselves in for days till they didn’t have anything left to drink. Mirza Shah Hasan Arghun surrounded fort and his army paved way for themselves to get in and conquer the fort after 15 months battle in 1527.
Eventually Shah Hasan got hold of the treasure and distributed a lot of it amongst his army and then went to the, then Island of Bhakkar located between between Sakhar and Rohri in Sindh. With the remaining treasure he had to himself, he spread the carpet of pleasure and merrymaking[2].
The third narrative per Sahibzada Omar Abbasi (grandson of Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V) recounts, when the first Abbasi wrested the fort from Rajputs in 1733, Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan I sent for the treasure keeper. The treasure keeper pledged to direct them to the treasure on the condition, that only one person would accompany him. Nawab nominated one of his trustworthy men to accompany the keeper.
The keeper led the person blindfolded through the clandestine labyrinths to the treasure. When the two men emerged from the vaults, Nawab’s man informed him that the treasure was there and in abundance beyond imagination. Consequently, the Rajput keeper handed over the keys to the vaults and before anyone could stop him, he ran and leapt over the crenulations of the fort to his death.
Nawab's man tried his best to locate the vault in the maze but failed. Sensing greed and treachery, Nawab had his man tortured and executed. Hence, the treasure remains undiscovered beneath the foundations of the fort[3].
It is interesting that tales of the hidden treasures exist but the fact remains that no treasure has been found till now. Either it was bagged and disbursed by Arghuns, or it remains buried under the fort and remains to be reconnoitered. And perhaps, it was never there in the first place. There is no definitive riposte to this mystery.
In my next chapter, I will fill you in with the mesmerising story of majestic Fort Derawar, it's history and the renowned escapades associated with it. Stay tuned!