Altit fort is located in Altit a historic village on the eastern side of Karimabad across the Ultar stream at a distance of 2.5 km.The historical monument is above 800 years old which still has the appearance of historical palace, defensive fort and also contains colonial features. The fort is unique for its location of site on the Hunza River, the Haldaikish the sacred rocks of Hunza on the south and immediately on the north is the traditional settlement with a common space and a water reservoir in front of it.The fort is sited on a two rocks; the eastern rock is higher as compared to the western rock. The fort has been constructed in six different stages by using the various natural levels of the rock. The first level is located before the western side edge of the rock, which is containing a two floor building built in the first stage of the construction .The second level, contains a single floor building which was also constructed in the first stage of construction. These were built over 800 years ago. A three floor watch tower was constructed during the second and third stages of construction while the storage space was constructed during the third stage of construction. The mosque was constructed during the fourth stage of construction. A grain storage was constructed during the fifth stage of construction. In the sixth stage of construction the guest rooms were constructed after removing the grain storage located on the eastern side of the rock. Narrow corridors are used for accessing the construction at lower levels, while the mosque the storage area and the guest rooms can be easily accessed from the watch tower.

The Main entrance faces Ultar and opens into the ground floor narrow dark corridor which leads to a space with two small storage spaces inside it located on the east and western side. The main space contains a rectangular structure which physically seems a supporting structure made of rubble stone and cribbage frames has a story related to it. The story is of a prince who has been buried in standing position inside the structure; he was killed by his father after believing of his son’s involvement in a plan against his kingdom. The ground floor corridor further leads westward to a stair made of rubble stone masonry which connects it to the first floor. The first floor contains the royal kitchen which has the richest carving patterns on the column and the capitals. This kitchen used to be full of activities during the cooking of food for the agricultural festivals.

On the eastern side of the Royal Kitchen there is a lobby with a skylight containing the main door of the corridor which is laid out north south. The space located at the northern edge of the corridor is the royal room which is a traditional house with the spaces for sleeping, sitting, cooking, and two small storage spaces, a toilet and storage space on the south side of the room. The space at the south edge is the Royal Rani’s (Queen) Room, this has a fire place in the north wall and it has the traditional roof structure with the rotated square. From the north edge of the corridor further is the corridor which is laid out east west ward leads to stairs made of rubble stone masonry.

After climbing these stairs there is the three floor watch tower constructed. The storage space is located at the south side of the tower and it is located at the higher level of the rock. The mosque, the royal throne and the guest rooms are at the north side of the watch tower with a minor level difference. Structurally the watch tower is rich in features containing cribbage work and mud brick infill, with windows looking in all directions. The royal throne is placed in front of the mosque on the eastern side with a panoramic view of the Altit settlement.

Salient Feature(s):

It is the birth place of the Hunza Kingdom and the first fort of the region. Its construction on two rocks enriches the features of the fort. 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, latter after the arrival of the British the fort became a guest house. The fort was used only in summer for a short while after the change of the capital to Karimabad.

State of Conservation and Site Management:

Altit Fort was donated by Prince Amin Khan to the Aga Khan Foundation for conservation in 2001. Emergency repairs were carried out in 2001; initial documentation has been initiated in 2002 and will be continued in 2003.