The main fort of Hyderabad, known as Pakka Qila ("solid fort"), sits on a rocky eminence above the old city and overlooks the flat plains of Sindh. Built in 1768 by the Kalhora ruler Ghulam Shah Kalhora, the fort was subsequently used by the Talpur Mirs who replaced them, and later by the British after their conquest of Sindh in 1843.
The fort walls still stand substantially intact. Inside, the structure has been considerably altered over the centuries and parts are used for military or administrative purposes. The views from the walls over the city and the dry bed of the old Indus channel are worth the climb. The neighbourhood around the fort, in the old city, is one of the most intact areas of historic Hyderabad.