Fort Munro hill station, situated at a height of 6,470 feet above sea level, is about 185 kilometres from Multan and around 85 kilometers from Dera Ghazi Khan in Suleiman Mountain Range. Fort Munro is just beyond the Punjab border. The term ‘fort’ appears somewhat overstated since the town appears more like a calm hill resort with gardens and orchards rather than a military station.
The town was recognized by Sir Robert Sandeman in the later part of the 19th century and named Fort Munro after Colonel Munro who was commissioner of the Derajat Division. It magnetizes a large number of tourists each year, mainly those who wish to run away from hot plains of southern Punjab to take pleasure in kind and enjoyable weather for a day or two. The Punjab Government has planned an Rs735 million cable car system and allied services project, which is most probable to kick off soon to attract people from nearby areas being the only hill station of southern Punjab in Dera Ghazi Khan District. The cable car would start from Khar, a small settlement at the foot of Fort, and go up to Fort Munro after a stopover at TDCP motel. TDCP resort presents outstanding boating on the Dames Lake.Fort MunroThis Fort is part of the Sulaiman Mountain range. The range is situated in central Pakistan, enlarging southward about 280 miles (450 km) from the Gumal Pass to just north of Jacobabad, separating the North-West Frontier Province and Punjab from Balochistan. Its heights slowly decrease toward the south, with peaks averaging 6,000–7,000 feet, the highest being the twin peaks called Takht-i Sulaiman, or Solomon’s Throne, which legend connects with King Solomon’s visit to Pakistan; the higher of the peaks, at 18,481 feet (5,633 m), is the site of a Muslim Ziyarat (shrine) visited once a year by many pilgrims. The range’s eastern face dips sharply to the Indus River, but on the west the range declines extra slowly. Juniper and edible pines abound in the north and olives in the centre, but vegetation is scarce in the south. The Ghat, Zao, Chuhar Khel Dhana, and Sakhi Sarwar are the principal passes in the north. In the south, west of Dera Ghazi Khan, lies the hill station of Fort Munro.
Fort MunroYou can reached either from Loralai (Balochistan) or from Multan (Punjab). From Punjab, the mountain range sets up near Rakhni, which is a border-post among Balochistan and Punjab. One can see the marks of both the provinces in the shops. There are lush green fields of cotton on both sides of the road. From Rakhni onwards the flatland provides way to the hills and the climb starts towards Fort Munro. The road is in fine shape and the climb is at a contented slope, save for some pointed bends and switchbacks as it criss-crosses through the mountains. The road rises sharply and rises to about 1600 Metres. The road then move towards a crossing, the right division leading towards Fort Munro, while the left fork goes on to Dera Ghazi Khan.
The area is mostly populated by Baloch tribes. In 1950, a merger of Balochi tribes with the Punjab was arrived at and a stone was erected atop the Fort Munro highest hill characteristic to remember the historic event.
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Source: (wateen.net)