Baltit Fort Baltit Fort or Balti Fort is an ancient fort in the Hunza valley in Gilgit - Baltistan , Pakistan . In the past , the survival of the feudal regime of Hunza was ensured by the impressive Baltit fort , which overlooks Karimabad . The foundations of the fort date back to 700 years ago , with rebuilds and alterations over the centuries . In the 16th century the local prince married a princess from Baltistan who brought master Balti craftsmen to renovate the building as part of her dowry . The architectural style is a clear indication of buddhist Tibetan influence in Baltistan at the time . The Mirs of Hunza abandoned the fort in 1945 , and moved to a new palace down the hill . The fort started to decay which caused concern that it might possibly fall into ruin . Following a survey by the Royal Geographical Society of London a restoration programme was initiated and supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Historic Cities Support Programme . The programme was completed in 1996 and the fort is now a museum run by the Baltit Heritage Trust . Historical background . In the past several small independent states formed part of the history of the Northern Areas of Pakistan . Among them Hunza and Nager were traditional rival states , situated on opposite sides of the Hunza ( Kanjut ) river . The rulers of these two states , Mirs known as Thum ( also Tham , Thom or Thámo ) , built various strongholds to consolidate their power . According to historical sources , the Hunza rulers initially resided in nearby Altit Fort , but after a conflict between the two sons of the ruler Sultan , Shah Abbas ( Shάboos ) and Ali Khan ( Aliqhάn ) , Shaboos moved to Baltit Fort , making it the capital seat of Hunza . The power struggle between the two brothers eventually resulted in the death of younger one , and so Baltit Fort became the prime seat of power in the Hunza state . Ayasho II , Thum / Mir of Hunza in the early 15th fifteenth century married Princess Shah Khatoon ( Sha Qhatun ) from Baltistan ( In Moghul history Baltistan is called Tibet Khurd mean , little Tibet ) , and was the first to modify the face of Altit and , subsequently Baltit Fort . Baltistan had a very strong cultural and ethnical relation with the Ladakh territory to the east . Not surprisingly , the structure of Baltit Fort was influenced by Ladakhi / Tibetan architecture , with some resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa . Then additions , renovations and changes to the building were being made through the centuries by a long line of following rulers of Hunza . Home of many ancient forts , the Northern Areas of Pakistan lost some of its heritage around the 19th century as a result of attacks by the Maharaja of Kashmir . However , one of the biggest changes in the structure of the Baltit Fort came with the invasion of the British in December 1891 . Safdarali Khan , ruler of Hunza and his wazir Dadu ( Thara Baig III ) , fled to befriended Kashgar ( China ) to seek ' political asylum ' with their fellows and families . With the conquest of Hunza and Nager states the fortified wall and watch towers of the old Baltit village and watch towers of the Baltit Fort on its north - western end were demolished as required by the British . They installed his younger brother , Sir Muhammad Nazim Khan K . C . I . E , as the ruler of Hunza state in September 1892 . During his reign , Nazeem Khan made several major alterations to the Baltit Fort . He demolished a number of rooms of third floor and added a few rooms in the British colonial style on the front elevation , using lime wash and colour glass panel windows . Baltit Fort remained officially inhabited until 1945 , when the last ruler of Hunza , Mir Muhammad Jamal Khan , moved to a new palatial house further down the hill , where the present Mir of Hunza , Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan , and his family are still residing . With no proper authority entrusted the Fort was exposed to the ravages of time and over the years its structure weakened and began to deteriorate . His Highness Aga Khan IV initiated the restoration efforts for Baltit Fort in 1990 , when Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan and his family generously transferred the Fort to the Baltit Heritage Trust , a public charity formed for the explicit purpose of owning and maintaining the Fort . The restoration undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Geneva in association with the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan ( Pakistan ) , took six years to complete . The project was supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture as the main donor through its Historic Cities Support Programme , as well as by the Getty Grant Program ( USA ) , the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and the French Government . The restored Fort , resplendent in its formal regal glory , was inaugurated on September 29 , 1996 in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan IV and the president of Pakistan Farooq Ahmad Khan Laghari . It is now operated and maintained by the Baltit Heritage Trust and is open to visitors . The Baltit Fort serves as a good example of culture restored and preserved for future generations .