Baltit Fort قلعہ بلتت
Baltit Fort
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General information
Town or city	Karimabad
Country	Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Coordinates	36°19′32″N 74°40′11″E / 36.325556°N 74.669722°E / 36.325556; 74.669722

Baltit Fort (Urdu: قلعہ بلتت) is a fort in the Hunza valley, near the town of Karimabad, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. Founded in the 8th century CE, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list since 2004.^[1]

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.^[2]

Awards and recognition

• 2005 Time Asia, Best of Asia Award^[3]

Gallery

• 
  Baltit Fort
• 
  Spantik as viewed to the south-east from the fort
• 
  Ultar Peak towers above the fort
• 
  Dance with traditional music at Baltit Fort
• 
  The fort is decorated with simple stain-glassed windows
• 
  View of Baltit Fort
• 
  Baltit Fort, Hunza Valley
• 
  The fort's historic cannon is now on display for visitors
• 
  The fort's guards wear distinctive uniforms
• 
  The fort displays local antiques
• 
  Antique Russian rifles gifted to Mir of Hunza

Bibliography

• Biddulph John, Tribes of Hindoo Koosh, The Superintendent of Government Printing-Calcutta, India 1880, Reprint: Ali Kamran Publishers, Lahore-Pakistan, 1995.

See also

• Altit Fort
• Shigar Fort
• Khaplu Fort
• List of forts in Pakistan
• List of museums in Pakistan

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baltit Fort.

• Official website of the Baltit Heritage Trust
• Baltit Fort at Google Cultural Institute