Skardu (Part IV): When the cherries were within arm's length in Shigar

Shigar Valley:

Today's post is solely dedicated to Shigar Valley, particularly Shigar Fort. It wouldn't be fair to include other visiting places from my Skardu archives in today's blog. This place deserves every ounce of praise and attention and some 6000 words. Please bear with me. I assure you that it's worth your time :)

^{Shigar Fort: Sunday, 12 July 2020 1:24 pm}

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Our mainstay was Skardu, as I have mentioned in my previous travel diaries recounting my Skardu adventures. So, we planned a one-day trip to visit the nearby Shigar Valley - a tourist attraction worth exploring.

The Shigar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, has a rich history. It dates back centuries, serving as a key point along the ancient Silk Road. The culture of the valley is influenced by Balti since the 16th century and it retains a blend of Tibetan, Persian, and Central Asian traditions till to the date. The valley was once ruled by local Rajas hence it boasts numerous forts and places of heritage value. The main attraction in the valley the historic Shigar Fort, which is now a heritage museum.^{Researched from different sources}

Today, this valley is a popular tourist destination renowned for its natural beauty, offering outdoor activities and opportunities like trekking, Jeep rides in the Shigar desert (Sarfaranga desert), and hiking, to experience its vibrant cultural heritage.

We started our journey in Skardu town. The Skardu road is the main artery connecting Skardu to other towns and valleys in the region. As we travelled along Skardu Road, we passed through various landscapes, including valleys, mountains, and riversides. After about 32 kilometers (approximately 20 miles) from Skardu, we reached the town of Shigar, which is the main settlement in the Shigar Valley.

^{Shigar Valley: panoramic view from a moving vehicle}

Shigar Fort:

Before taking you on a virtual tour of this magnificent fort turned into a luxury hotel, let me give you a little sneak peek into its history.

Shigar Fort, meaning "Fort on Rock," is an ancient castle in Baltistan, Pakistan, situated in the city of Shigar near Skardu. According to numerous sources, this ancient landmark in Gilgit Baltistan was built over 400 years ago by the Raja of Amacha Dynasty. After the Raja (king) and his family passed away, the fort was left empty for a long time. In the mid-20th century, the rulers abandoned it completely, causing it to decay badly. The harsh weather in Skardu, with heavy snow, also added to its destruction.

in 2004, the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan restored the fort and transformed it into a luxury hotel, also known as a heritage guesthouse, to boost cultural tourism in the region. Serena Hotels, an international chain of luxury hotels, currently manages the fort as both a museum of Balti culture and a hotel. Since its restoration, the fort has become a prominent attraction, drawing over 20 thousand visitors or hotel guests annually. sr

It was the time of COVID when we visited Skardu, as I have mentioned in one of my previous blogs. There were few to no tourists visiting the place, so we had all the visitor attractions to ourselves. So much so that when we reached the fort, it was locked for the visitors and had to be accessed upon special request.

^{The doors of the fort are of medium height and are decorated with several geometrical shapes. Wood has been used extensively on the interior as well as the exterior of the fort.}

We spent almost the entire noon there. While exploring the surroundings of the castle-cum-fort, I carefully examined its exterior and noticed that the architectural design resembles many of the ancient forts in the region (I compared it with some pictures). The use of square stone blocks and long wooden structures is a distinctive feature throughout the fort. The walls are mostly made of mud and are extremely thick, perhaps for providing strength in its glorious days.

The fort comprises different sections that were possibly utilized by the royal family. Small windows were constructed throughout the various parts of the fort for adequate airflow or perhaps for the princesses of the castle to overlook the rich orchards and lush green gardens. Who knows!

^{please look at these cute little windows}

I must say that the restoration team has meticulously preserved all the original architectural features, ensuring extreme caution in the process.

The expanse of gardens and orchards surrounding the fort makes it a one-of-a-kind place. I mean, I could literally visualize the princesses roaming around those gardens and picking cherries as they pleased.

^{Well, this is just me posing as an imaginary princess.}

Mystery tree in Shigar Fort:

Some thousand-year-old mystery tree in the vicinity of the fort has folklore related to it. This very old Channar tree (Channar trees are characteristic of Shigar Valley) has a hollow trunk, and legend has it that it catches fire every 300 years. We were informed of this by the local guide or the guardian of the place. Later, I couldn't find any information related to this story on the internet. Nevertheless, all of us made sure to take a good look inside the hole of the tree.

Now, who lives for a period of 300 years to verify this story, and more importantly, where do we stand in the time period of the "300 span"? I did wish that it was the end of the 299th year, and maybe just maybe I could see the fire, the littlest flame while peeping inside that hole. But I guess we were somewhere on the 150th day of the 300-year time span.

Shigar Fort in Autumn:

Some of my friends visited Skardu and Shigar Fort later in autumn, and they swore by its beauty. I am sharing with you a taste of warm autumn and Shigar Fort, a unique blend of culture, history, and exquisiteness.

^{courtesy of a friend who visited Shigar Fort in Autumn}

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_{P.S:. I may have used some of these photos under a different topic on Steemit. Otherwise, this post is unique, new, and also #steemexclusive.}

_{I hope you are enjoying these posts as I have poured my heart and soul into these travel blogs, documenting a trip from four years ago. Scouring through countless photos to compile these posts was a labor of love. Your positive response has been incredibly motivating, driving me to complete these diaries. Just one more to go. Please stay tuned. Below are the links to my previous three Skardu travel blogs. Profound regards.}

_{Skardu part III}

_{Skardu part II}

_{Skardu part I}