Asia

[Visited: September 2019]

It is hard to miss the view of Baltit Fort when you approach Karimabad, especially when you drive up the Hunza Valley from the west. The rectangular building sits high above the valley, once a formidable stronghold of Hunza rulers. Initially, the rulers resided in Altit Fort, but two brothers got into conflict, and the surviving brother made Baltit Fort his residence. After hiking the mountains behind the fort, and the valley on the opposite side, it is time to actually visit. We walk up from Karimabad, and enter the fort through the stairs. From the square at its feet, the fort rises dramatically above our heads. Part of its impressive walls are covered by scaffolding, unfortunately blocking our view of part of the buildings on the top floor. A guide takes us on more stairs,until we reach the second floor.
Here, we see corridors, wooden stairs, decorated wooden panels. We visit several rooms and the kitchen while the guide explains us about life in Baltit Fort, and its history. We climb the stairs leading to the roof, where we find several buildings and a big open space. The views around are nothing but stunning, with Rakaposhi, Ultar Peak, the Golden Peak, and many other 7000m+ moutains that stand around Hunza Valley. We see rivers running down the valleys to the Hunza river, lined by poplar trees that are still green. Under a semi-circular roof supported by slender, red wooden columns, we see the throne of the ruler. It is easy to see why he chose this spot for his throne: the views are spectacular; although it is not possible to see Ultar Peak from here. A few buildings here have Tibetan characteristics: they remind me of the Potala palace in Lhasa with their forbidding walls.
We walk through the building, with stained glass windows in ornamental frames, again with fantastic views of the valley below and the mountains in the distance. Walking through the dark building, we see old pictures of rulers, furniture, mats on which visitors would sit. The fundaments of Baltit Fort are around 700 years old, and were renovated by craftsmen brought here from Baltistan by the princess, as dowry for her wedding with the local prince. Emirs ruled from this palace until 1945, when they moved to another palace closer to the valley. Baltit Fort deteriorated under the influence of the elements and abandonment, until restoration started in 1990. It is once more the crown on the valley of Hunza, this time without the power that sits in it, but with the value it now has acquired for both locals and visitors.

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Personal travel impressions both in words and images from Baltit Fort (Pakistan). Clicking on the pictures enlarges them and enables you to send the picture as a free e-card or download it for personal use, for instance, on your weblog. Or click on the map above to visit more places close to Baltit Fort.
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Baltit Fort > Pakistan > Asia

[Visited: September 2019]

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