Culture & Heritage

Construction of Altit Fort

The 5^th ruler of Hunza Ayasho II married with Shah Khatun, the daughter of Abdal Khan of Baltistan. Abdal Khan gave in dowry, among other things, a gun which bears a date of 1539 AD. About 500 people including Balti artisans also accompany her to Hunza and most of them permanently settled in Altit. The step father of Shah Khatoon who came with her from Baltistan is the ancestor of the tribe Mushkun Kuts. The Balti artisans built the palatial forts of Altit (Broom Khun). An irrigation channel was also excavated that now irrigates the agricultural land around the fort. Inside the Altit fort a mosque was also built on the name of Bibi Ghoras. The fort has several halls and rooms for men, women, servants and a Salam Khana for public audience. Near this mosque a square tower in the ancient Hunza style was built. On this tower its date of construction is written as 955 A.H/1548 A.D. If this date is considered as the date of construction of Altit fort then the age of the fort is about 458 years. It means that the age of Baltit fort is around 400 years. However, Carbon 14 dating of the fort Shikari Tower timbers proves its origin more than thousands years. In this regard it is said that the first phase of Baltit fort dates back 750 years.

Back to history

© copyrights Zulfiqar Ali Khan All rights reserved-2006