Altit Hunza lies at a distance of one kilometer from Karimabad.
A link road bridges Altit with Karimabad.
People:
As it is told that Hunzukutz (the inhabitants of Hunza) are the ascendants
of Alexander the great, so they are very smart and handsome with strong
physique. Every year more than ten persons get selected for Pakistan
military forces. people of Altit are well-known allover the world for
their hospitality and the long life .according to a research the long life
of people of Altit is due to the reason that they use Hunza water for
drinking and cooking purposes which flows from glaciers and brings a lot
of minerals with it besides that they attribute their long life to the
food they use in which Dirum Phitti, Buruse berikutz are commonly used
dishes. The average age of Altit people is almost 90 years. As it is said
that increased life expectancy is a curse due to the problems people face
in their older ages, but as far as people of Altit are concerned they can
do farming and all other activities of life so well as a young man of
twenty.
Sources
of Income:
As almost all the people are well qualified so they earn thier living
working in different fields in the cities in which commerce, medical,
engineering, military are the common fields. A small part of the
population depends on farming in which cultivation of potatoes is most
profitable occupation.
Dress:
People of Altit wear shalwar qameez and pant shirt as well. Older people
wear a special cap made up of wool. In winter they wear shuqaa (a long
coat) made up of wool. Old ladies wear a round cap on their head which is
embroided with different collections of colors of threads which is
prepared at least in three months by a skillful lady.
Language:
The language spoken by the inhabitants of Altit is Burushaki which is one
of the unique languages of the world. This language is found no where in
the world except Hunza.
Education:
A community base school "New Beacon House Scholl" is run on the basis of
self help of the local people. Each and every individual of Altit has
construction and promotion of this school. More than 400 students are
getting education from this school. It is a matter of pride for Pakistan
that in Altit the literacy rate is more than 80%.
Altit fort:
Altit fort is the oldest fort in Northern Areas of Pakistan constructed
about 900 years ago. This fort has been constructed at a very amazing
place where there is a steep rock of mountain which has a height of nearly
1000 feet from the Hunza River which flows at the back side of Altit fort.
The fort was constructed on such a site keeping in view that the enemies
would not be able to attack from the back side and from the front side it
is defended by the public houses. Modern engineers are very much amazed to
see the construction because when this fort was constructed there were no
construction equipments and tools. Technology was not as developed as it
is today. The people of that time have used their utmost abilities and
skills for the construction of fort.
