Kurachy Fort - Present day Karachi

Kurachy Fort

The village that grew out of this settlement was known as Kolachi-jo-Goth (The Village of Kolachi in Sindhi). When Sindh started trading across the sea with Muscat and the Persian Gulf in the late 18th century, Karachi gained in importance; a small fort was constructed for its protection with a few cannons imported from Muscat. The fort had two main gateways: one facing the sea, known as Khara Dar (Brackish Gate) and the other facing the adjoining Lyari river, known as the Meetha Dar (Sweet Gate). The location of these gates corresponds to the present-day city localities of Khaaradar (Khārā Dar) and Meethadar (Mīṭhā Dar) respectively. 

During the rule of the Mughal administrator of Sindh, Mirza Ghazi Beg the city was well fortified against Portuguese colonial incursions in Sindh.

Karachi Fort - A sketch of the fort 1830 (From an English Writer's travelogue)

1860 photograph of British ships entering Karachi waters

Part of the town of Karachi, with mud houses; camels and villagers in foreground. April 1851

A map of Karachi harbour from 1838 

A sketch showing Alexander’s naval fleet, under the command of Admiral Nearchus, who is believed to have stayed at a town located at the site of present-day Karachi, while travelling from the Indus Delta to the Euphrates

The Manora island with light house and fort Karachi harbor

Karachi Harbour, with local craft under sail and at anchor in the foreground and the Manora Lighthouse in the distance, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1890s.