Altit Fort is located in Altit town,Hunza valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
(Written By pakistantravelerspk-pktraveler)
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| Altit Fort,Hunza,Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
Altit Fort is located in Altit town,Hunza valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It was originally home to the hereditary rulers of the Hunza state who carried the title Mir,Altit Fort and in particular the Shikari tower is around 1000 years old,which makes it the oldest monument in the Gilgit–Baltistan. The fort has received the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2011.
Altit word means this side down and the area around the fort is inhabited by Borosho people. The people of Altit are said to belong to the white Huns,The present language Bruchiski was brought here by the white Huns in 47 A.D but there is no link between boroshaski and any other language of today.Altit village meaning the village of Huns.The Huns came from the Huang-Ho valley in China. The name later changed to Broshal, translated as a village of Bruchiski speakers. They were spirit worshipers as Shamanism was in practice and also followed Buddhism and Hinduism. In the 15th century Islam was introduced. In 1830 many People converted to Ismailism.
The Altit Fort was restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Historic Cities Support Programme and the Government of Norway. It is characterized by small rooms and low portals with exquisite wood carvings. Altit Fort is a tourist site which has been completely open to the public since 2008.
According to Altit Village elders white Huns from the soldier of Alexander started human settlement in Altit when they were on way back from China. It is said that these were the ancestors of the Khanu Kuts tribe of Altit. Presently, majority of households of this tribe are living within the old cluster settlement known as Burum Khan. The Khunu kuts still has the status of Saath Guy, the privilege of starting any activity/event/work/festival within the village. On the other hand, people from Hussain kuts also claim to be the earlier settler in Altit. They claim that Hussain is modified from Hun. It is said that for centuries Hussain kuts remained as a ruling and strong tribe in the village. It is narrated that this tribe was strong and thus creating troubles for the Raja of Gilgit. Therefore, the Raja with the help of other tribes ordered mass killing of the people of this tribe.
The origin of different tribes and sub-tribes reveals that people from different regions migrated to Altit and permanently settled down. Presently, the people of Altit belong to one of these four major tribes.
Husain Kuts
Khano Kuts
Hukalo Kuts
Shoshorating