Altit Fort

 The majestic historical Altit fort is center of attraction due to its architectural design and strategic location. Altit is one of the oldest settlements of Hunza valley. During the time when Hunza was under the central government of Gilgit principality, Altit served as the capital and sitting place of Hunza. Altit is the birth place of the Hunza Kingdom and Altit fort is the first fort of the region. During early period of former Hunza state Altit was the capital. The artisans from Baltistan who accompanied the wife of Mir Ayasho II constructed this fort during 1540s A.D. The fort has been constructed in six different stages by using various natural levels of the rock. The construction has been made right on the edge of a sheer rock cliff that drops 1000 feet straight down to the Hunza River.

 In the beginning it was built as a palace, soon after the addition of the watch tower a defensive architectural element it transformed to a fort. There is great possibility that different stages of the fort have been constructed during different times because the actual age of the fort is said to be more than 800 years. However, the date of construction on the fort tower is written as 955 A.H/1548 A.D thus the age is calculated as 458 years. This fort is said to be around 50-100 years older than the Baltit Fort. When the state capital transferred to Altit it remained vacant and occasionally used as a guest house.  The fort was in disposal of Raja Amin Khan who donated it to Aga Khan Cultural Services, Pakistan (AKCSP) in 2001. AKCSP after some emergency repairs is now working to preserve this historical heritage

Altit Fort

Cultural Heritage: UNESCO Award for Hunza fort

The Altit fort in Hunza, restored by the Aga Khan Development Network has received the Unesco Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. PHOTO: Courtesy AKTC

ISLAMABAD: The 900-year-old Altit Fort in Hunza has received the 2011 Unesco Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
According to a statement released by the Aga Khan Development Network, which undertook the conservation project, the old fort is an important tourist attraction in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Conservation works focused on mending structural defects, stabilising and repairing existing walls, replacing some roofs, treating wood decay and providing appropriate lighting.
The UNESCO Awards for Conservation present the awards with hopes that recognising private efforts to restore historic properties would encourage other property owners to undertake conservation projects within the community, either independently or by seeking public-private partnerships.