Written by: Waseem Abbas
Posted on: May 09, 2022 | 
| 中文
On the top of the Fort. Masjid (left), Shikari Tower (center) and store (right)
Hunza is known for its rich cultural heritage besides its scenic beauty. It has many architectural monuments, such as the famous forts, Altit and Baltit. Any trip to Hunza is regarded as incomplete without visiting these two historic Forts. One of these architectural masterpieces in Hunza is the Altit Fort, which was built about 1100 years earlier. Altit means ‘this side down’, while Baltit means ‘that way’, in Brushushki, as the two forts are adjacent to each other.
Altit Fort
Silk road caravans used to pass through Hunza during the ancient times. The villages of Ganish, Ali Abad and Karim Abad were settled about 2400-2500 years ago, because the famous Silk Road passed through this valley. The fort was built atop the village at 7600 feet above sea level, so that a watchful eye could be kept on the passing caravans and the locality from atop the Fort. On one side of the Fort is the valley, and on the other side is the river 1000 feet below the Fort. The location of the Fort was such, as to prevent any assailants from entering it.
A view towards Gojal side from the Fort
Hunza was an impoverished locality a thousand years ago, and there was no grand fort in the region. When a princess from Shigar, Baltistan, who was married to the Prince of Hunza, saw the condition of the house of her husband, she requested her father to build a decent home for her. The king sent artisans and carpenters to Hunza to build a fort for his daughter, and that is how the fort came into being. The artisans from Tibet built it, due to which the building, walls and doors have Tibetan architectural influence.
Pots, made of metamorphic rocks, used by the Royal Family (Credits to Dawn)
The construction of the Fort has been done keeping in mind the seismic realities of the Karakorum region, which sits on the Eurasian Indian tectonic plates, a region that is fourth most prone to earthquakes. The Fort has been built with wooden cribbage and cators that can bear 8.5 scale earthquakes, as the flexible wooden joints will allow friction and movement of the building but would not let it crumble. Over the last thousand years, the structure of the Fort has not been effected by an earthquake or any other natural calamity.
An interior view of the Fort's main hall
The buildings and structures within the Fort reveal its history as well as that of Hunza. The Fort has a big conference hall which was used as the meeting hall, where the rulers used to hold political, judicial and diplomatic proceedings as was the case with all the forts of the time. Pots made of metamorphic rock are still displayed in the fort, that were used to cook food as these are high heat absorber. There is a wine cellar in the main room of the Fort as was the custom in pre-Islamic empires and forts. The outer halls of the Fort have small roshan dans (openings to let in light and air), which were also used to fire arrows at the enemy attackers. A grave inside the fort reveals the ugly history of atrocities of the pre-modern era rulers. The standing grave is said to be that of a prince who had revolted against his brother, and the elder brother had him immured or entombed live. There is also an underground cell, where those who were rebellious were kept shackled, unable to sleep or rest. However, if they repented, they would have to serve a vizier or a respected noble of the region for life, almost like a slave. Moreover, it is also said that those who continued to oppose the Mirs, would be thrown from the walls of the Fort to the Hunza river. Shikari Tower is on the top of the Fort, which was used by the soldiers as a watchtower over the valley and the caravans. The Fort also has a Masjid or Ibadatgah (place of worship), built around 400 years ago, after the advent of Islam. There is also a room on the top of the Fort which was used for the storage of dry fruits and vegetables.
The Standing grave
The doors of the Fort were deliberately designed to be very low in height so that whenever an intruder ventured in, he would have to bend down, making it easier for the defenders to capture him. Moreover, the small doors signify that the those who enter the Fort and come to see the Mir, would have to bow down in respect of him. Since the entrance areas were small, many people couldn’t enter the Fort at the same time, making it easier for the defenders to keep them out.
An ancient door in the Fort
The architecture and designs of the Fort reflects Buddhist and Tibetan influence, as the region was politically under Tibetan influence at the time, and Buddhism was practiced in this region. Just across the river, on the Karakoram Highway roadside towards Gojal are the Haldeikish, the sacred rocks dating back to 1st millennium AD. Traces of Buddhism are found in the wooden carvings within the Fort, while the typical arrangements of stones reflect the influence of Hinduism.
Intricate wooden work on the walls of the Fort reflects Tibetan influence
The 1100-year-old Altit Fort received the 2011 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The Aga Khan Development Network overtook the conservation project and is responsible for its everyday functioning.
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