- Type
- Fortress
- Location
- Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
- Coordinates
- 36.3256°, 74.6697°
History
The fort grew up centuries ago as the seat of the rulers of Hunza, a small mountain principality in a valley on a route through the Karakoram; local tradition traces its origins back several hundred years. According to oral history, in the 16th century one of the Mirs married a princess from Baltistan, who brought Balti craftsmen as part of her dowry, and they rebuilt the castle. Later rulers added storeys and rooms, so the building grew into an irregular mass. In 1945 Mir Muhammad Jamal Khan moved to a new palace in the valley, and the abandoned fort fell into decay. The Aga Khan foundation restored it between 1990 and 1996 and opened a museum inside.
What to see
Steep lanes through old Karimabad lead up to the fort. Its stone and timber interiors hold the Mirs' former chambers, an audience hall, a kitchen and storerooms, along with collections of household objects, costumes and weapons. The roof and wooden balconies overlook the whole Hunza valley with its apricot orchards, Rakaposhi peak across the river and the Ultar glacier rising right behind the fort.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q1247039
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