Nilt Fort

The small settlement of Nilt is famous in frontier history for being a fortified stronghold and the site of the battle of Nilt, fought between the British colonial soldiers and Hunza-Nager in December 1891. The fort does no longer exist. The fort was constructed on a high rocky spur and thought to be impregnable due to its strategic location. It is said it took more than two years to build the fortification and the Raja was extremely confident that no invader, local or foreign, would be able to penetrate it. At the time of battle of Nilt Mir Safdar Khan ruled Hunza and Mir Jafar Khan ruled over Nager. The fort at Nilt was manned by fighters from Nager under the fearsome Wazir Muhammad Shah, while the Hunza forces garrison Mayun fort on the right bank of the Hunza River. At the other end Col.A.G.A. Durand and 15 British Officers commanded the Hunza-Nager Field Force.