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Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Altit Fort

Altit Fort, Pakistan. Picture courtesy of Shahbazaslam1

Altit Fort is an ancient Fort in Altit Town in the Hunza valley in Gilgit, Pakistan. It was originally home to the hereditary rulers of the Hunza state who carried the title of “Mir”, although they moved to the somewhat younger Baltit Fort nearby three centuries later.

Built by the Mirs of Hunza, Altit Fort acted as a grand display of power to the Mirs of Nagar, the neighboring state and it has been standing gracefully ever since. It is a famous Shikari tower that was built at a strategic point that aids in monitoring the entire region giving the army a winning advantage.

Altit Fort and in particular the Shikari tower is around 100 years old, which makes it the oldest monument in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Let’s look at some of the outstanding facts about Altit Fort;

1. Altit Fort is the strongest structure of its time

Historical Altit Fort Strong structure. Picture By Shirjeel Imran Malik

An advanced engineering style deployed in the building has evidenced the walled fort is the strongest structure of its time and is considered to be the birthplace and capital of Hunza city.

The unique structure is over 1,000 feet above the Hunza River, and it is the only tower known in the entire land, especially during wartime.

The Hunza valley used to be under constant threat from Kairen Rus (Russian) and Chinese troops of that time.

2. Altit Fort gave the army a margin to prepare for defense

Altit Fort tower. Picture courtesy of Majidafridi2003

Standing on top of the tower gives an important reason as to why the tower is positioned at that place and appreciate its height.

With such elevation, all of the surrounding mountains, woods, and the river stream could be easily monitored giving the army of Altit City a fair margin to prepare for their defense.

The tower was not only used to keep an eye out for threats but was only used to throw off prisoners who were serving their death sentence.

3. Altit Fort led to rising of Baltit Fort

Baltit Fort, Karimabad, Hunza. Picture By Jamalhunzokuz

The fort became controversial some 400 years after its construction. In the late 1540s a dispute between two royal brothers of the Hunzas royal family, Prince Shah Abbas, Shabbos, and Prince Ali Khan saw the rise of another fort called the Baltit Fort which soon became the new capital of Hunza.

Prince Ali, the younger brothers made Altit Fort his stronghold and launched offensives against his elder brother. Legend has it that Ali was buried alive against a pillar inside the watch tower by Shabbos.

4. Altit Fort was once gifted to the Aga Khan Foundation in 1990

After the Indo-Park partition, Hunza was governed as a princely state but succession continued until 1972 when socio-politic reforms took away power from the royal family.

Altit Fort was later gifted to the Aga Khan Foundation in 1990. Their culture service department has done a commendable job in restoring the Fort which has been operating as a tourists museum since 2007.

5. Altit Fort was surrounded by the traders

The silk routes were used by traders. Picture by fdecomite

In its earlier days, the Fort was surrounded by the settlers of the city and traders who would bring along goods across the world making their way to land from China through the ancient silk route, and soon it became a cultural hub of the region.

It is incredible to note that traces of ancient life are still evident in Alitit Fort. One can find vessels and utensils used by the royal family on display.

There are skillfully crafted wooden doors, windows and stairs to have been restored to truthfully, albeit silently tell the centuries-old stories that have been witnessed.

6. Altit Fort is a site of attraction 

The people of Altit have striking features and they claim to have been the descendants of the Greek soldiers of Alexander the Great’s army.

However, the people of the old city of Altit are said to be descendants of the Turkic tribe of Huns. They were from the Persian Empire and that is the reason the city was named Hunukushal (village of Huns) in ancient times.

The locals are humble and down-to-earth people who warmly welcome the visitors.

English and Urdu are widely spoken and understood in the region making communications easy for tourists from both inside of Pakistan and outside.

7. Altit Fort was built by the Mirs (ruling family) of Hunza

The great Altit Fort was built by the Mirs (ruling family) of Hunza as a display of power to the Mirs of Nagar (twin state) and has stood tall in front of Karakoram since the 11th century.

Not only has it survived many attacks from aggressors but also withstood several earthquakes since it was built, perhaps making it one of the most astonishing architectural structures of its time.

8. The Royal Garden Altit Fort

Royal Garden, Altit Fort, Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan Picture by Fassifarooq

The Royal Garden of Altit Fort is enriched with a variety of fruit trees. Comfort and relaxable because of full silence with the sound of birds only.

Although different fruits are present in the Garden Apricot trees are greater in number. Even more, there are 24 different kinds of apricot are present in the Hunza valley.

The calm environment and all these different types of fruits make Altit Fort to be visited throughout.

9. Altit Fort is an Earthquake resistant

Earthquakes are the result of forces deep within the Earth’s interior that continuously affect the surface of the Earth.

The energy from these forces is stored in a variety of ways within the rocks. When this energy is released suddenly, for example by shearing movements along faults in the crust of the Earth, an earthquake results.

The structure of Fort is very flexible. The Fort can resist earthquake shocks of up to 8.5 Richter scale. We can say up to some extent this Fort is earthquake resistant. The Architecture of Hunza is really so rich.

10. Altit Fort is one of the oldest structures in central Hunza

In central Hunza, the thousand-year-old Altit fort and 700-year-old Baltit fort are some of the region’s oldest standing monuments and evidence of the valley’s feudal regime.

Traditionally home to the Mir, or king, of Hunza, Altit Fort was eventually vacated in favor of Baltit Fort.

The rectangular stronghold sits at the foot of the Ulter Glacier and commands a view of the Hunza Valley and its tributaries.