Culture and Heritage in Northern Areas
The Northern Area has special characteristics in cultural and historical construction. The forts in Northern Area which have a cultural heritage of international importance exist in Hunza Nagar and Baltistan specially. The historical buildings and houses designed by the people of area belonged to Tibet and central Asia. The NAs has number of cultural and heritage cites (forts, towers and palaces) which have been built in around 13th century. The Baltit fort in Hunza which had been built in 13th century and Altit fort Hunza, which is eight hundred and fifty years old. The state forts and community based assets and architectural heritage need restoration, preservation and conservation activities in the area. The assets can generate numerous economic opportunities for the people through tourism development, if these monumental buildings revived or restored.
The following are cultural and heritage cites
Historical settlements
Historical monuments, historical buildings and defense buildings
(Forts, palaces, watch towers)
Common spaces
Polo grounds, grounds, Chataqs/Biaks (public gathering area), bridges
Archeological sights
Mix sites
The main cultural and historical defensive sites in Northern Area
Baltit fort Hunza
Altit fort Hunza
Ganish fort Hunza
Nagar palace
Gohar Aman’s tower Gilgit
Kharpocho fort Sakardo
Shigar fort
Amboriq mosque Shigar
Kidingdong mosque Shigar
Khapolo fort
Shigar fort
Karmang fort
Diamer Chilas fort
Gupis fort
Sherqilah fort
The Aga khan cultural service Pakistan (AKCSP) is active in the restoration of old forts for the last ten years which were becoming ruins and unable of any use. The Aga khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) established in 1988 by His Highness the Aga khan with the mandate to promote cultural development and heritage conservation in NAs. Trust has been focusing its activities on the improvement of built environment by acknowledging architecture as an important instrument of cultural identity the trust seeks to encourage architecture and urban renewal processes.
Since 1992, AKCSP has been promoting community based conservation activities in Gilgit and Baltistan for preservation of architectural heritage and other environmental assets. Its restoration and re-use of the almost 700 years old Baltit, fort for rehabilitation and revitalization of the historic settlements of Karimabad Hunza in Gilgit region. The work is in progress in almost areas (Altit fort, Ganish and Chumarkhan) of Hunza and Kharpocho fort, Shigar fort-palace in Baltistan. This program AKTC assists the local craftsmen and artisans in the promotion of local festivals and provides support to environmentally appropriate building schemes in the area.
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