Hatchi Khar (Fort)

Built by Raja Hatam Ali Khan, the ruler of Khaplu, this fort - palace is situated very close to the Hachi settlement in Khaplu. According to our local resource, Raja Tahawar Ali Khan, the site of this fort -palace once used to be a polo ground. Raja Hatam Ali Khan ordained the construction of this palace at the site of that polo ground. A 500-year-old chinaar (plane) tree still stands alive at one end of the old polo ground. The other side of the polo ground was used as a changra, or a communal gathering space, but this space was eventually on was used to build a mosque. This three -floor building of the fort -palace displays the rich tradition of palace architecture in Baltistan region. It is built with a massive cribbage and cator structure, using timber, stone and adobe. It has a rectangular plan and a passageway runs in the north -south direction which connects the separate floors of the building.