1000+ years old Altit Fort Hunza Valley built atop mountain overlooking Karakorum Highway-Silk Route
Channel: Mountainwards with AK
Date: 2022-03-12

Altit Fort is the oldest and most iconic fort in Hunza valley, also in Gilgit Baltistan, built atop a dangerous vertical hill with approx. 10,000 foot breathtaking drop to a the dangerous Hunza River.  It is surrounded by highest mountains in Pakistan including Rakaposhi, Diran Peak, Golden Peak, Ultar Peak, Passu cones, Hoper Glacier, Batura Glacier.

It is the most daring pieces of construction of old Hunza people and a marvel of architecture built unbelievably dangerous location. The Altit Fort was residence of the Ruler of Hunza and was built to oversee Karakorum High Way (Old #SilkRoad/Route) and to over look movement of armies of enemies. 

It is a defensive and impenetrable Fort due to following reasons:

1. 10,000 feet vertical hill and the River Hunza at the foothill stopped enemy armies from attacking this fort in Hunza from the south.
2. The fort's elevated construction helped spot enemy armies from miles away.
3. The Altit Fort in Hunza valley is surrounded by closely built houses (same as Baltit Fort also located in Hunza Karimabad) with very narrow streets to stop movement of armies. This is a common tactic used by rulers of Hunza and other rulers of Gilgit Baltistan (forts in Skardu and other places also show the same features)
4. If enemy armies successfully crossed the maize of turning and twisting narrow streets and survived the shelling/fire traditional Molotov cocktails, the ambushes, and traps in the narrow streets - they would eventually reach a slippery hill to cross before reaching the Fort.

5. Once they reach the fort entrance they would face a narrow and low entrances doors intended to slow the attacking armies. 

6. The armies could not climb the walls of forts because they offered no support for climbing. 

7. The forts rooms and their doors were a huge obstacle as the doors were multiple, narrow and low. This would divide and slow the enemies and provide excellent opportunities to lay traps and ambushes. 

This fort is a massive tourist attraction in Hunza Valley along with Baltit Fort located in Karimabad. This is a must visit place for tourists coming to Gilgit-Baltistan specially to Hunza. It is near Attabad Lake, Hoper Glacier, Aliabad Bazar, Passu Cones, Gulmit, Hussaini Bridge, Rakaposhi Base Camp, Ultar, Karimabad Bazar, Duikar, and Baltit Fort. 

 Tourists are impressed with the genius use of surroundings to build this impregnable fort which could potentially survive a major ground attack even today. 

You must come and visit. #Altiffort #HunzaValley #TravelHunza  #Baltitfort #Karimabad #hunza #gilgitbaltistan #Army #DefencePakistan #VisitPakistan#history #hunzavalleytrip #karakoram #Summertrip #Hunzatour #Gilgit-BaltistanTours

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