Altit Fort

Name of Monument: Altit Fort

Location: Hunza Valley

Date of Construction: Roughly 10th century AD

Altit Fort is an ancient fort in the Altit town in the Hunza valley. 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. Altit Fort and in particular the Shikari tower is around 1100 years old which makes it the oldest monument in the Gilgit–Baltistan. The word ‘Altit’ means ‘this side down‘ and the area around the fort is inhabited by Burusho people. In the 16th century the local prince married a princess from Baltistan who brought master Balti craftsmen to build two forts (Altit and Baltit forts). The people of Altit are said to belong to the White Huns. The recent scientific studies have shown that at least part of the central tower of the fort was built over a thousand years ago, predating nearby Balit Fort by at least 300 years. Altit Fort is a spectacularly sited defensive work overlooking the Hunza river valley in Gilgit-Baltistan. The fort is located on the summit of the hill overlooking Hunza valley below. There is a great fall on one side where the river flows.

The fort has a unique architecture, and the planning is based upon square layout. it has a single side entrance from the town and has a single entrance on the side of the mountain. The entrance is a long pathway made of stones and the doors are preserved from the historical times. As one enters the fort one can see high walled rooms that the huge and the doors of the rooms are wooden. Their sides, where one can place candles in the rooms, are wooden as well as dark brown polish and white walls. One of the oldest areas, apart from the watchtower, is a lantern-roofed room on the second level that was likely used for official receptions. Its

distinguishing features are the four trapezoidal columns which taper from floor to ceiling, reflecting the cosmological concept of the ‘pillar of the world’, or axis mundi.  The rooms are made uniquely while giving them support through wooden pillars as the fort is made on top of a mountain and wind pressure is little high. The fort is beautifully made on top the mountain using stone ad wood with different level of construction. Upon entering there is walking path with wall carving s, there are guest rooms on each side and stairs that leads to the upper floor, which has bedrooms of the residents and a terrace with a watchtower. The other side of this floor leads towards the prison cell which has no source of light from the outer side.

On the rooftop of the fort, along with the shikari tower, an ancient mosque (place of worship) can be seen, which was built almost 400 years ago, after the emergence of Islam in Gilgit Baltistan. The terrace area has a boundary made from wood and view from the terrace shows the river and the village Nagar right next to Hunza. Along with that is the oldest part of the fort, the tower. The tower is well decorated with cribbage construction. The fort was built in stages. In the walls holes were kept in the walls for defense purpose in case of war.