Cascade Resorts • Skardu • Ghanche
Shigar Fort: The 400 Year Old Palace on the Rock
In This Guide
About the Fort
Discover Shigar Fort in Shigar Valley, Gilgit Baltistan
Getting There
How to Get There from Cascade Resorts
Drive towards Skardu
Travel about 60 km, around 1.4 hours by road, from Cascade Resorts.
Take the Shigar Road
Follow the Shigar Road north from Skardu through the cold desert into the valley.
Find the fort in the village
The fort stands at the foot of a steep rock above the village.
Check visiting times
The fort is also a working heritage hotel, so confirm visiting times and any fee at the entrance.
Allow half a day
Give yourself at least half a day to see the fort, the museum and the village.
Experiences
6 Things to See at the Fort
Balti Culture Museum
Explore the grand audience hall, now a museum of Balti woodcarving and heritage objects.
Carved Woodwork
Admire the conserved carvings, screens and traditional bed niches inside the palace.
Palace on the Rock
See how the fort was built on a huge granite boulder at the foot of the cliff.
Garden Pavilion
Walk to the Kashmir style pavilion set in a square water basin beside a centuries old chenar tree.
Amburiq Mosque
Visit the 14th century Amburiq Mosque, a short walk from the fort.
Apricot Village Walk
Stroll through the village, famous for its apricot blossoms in spring and drying apricots in October.
Plan Your Visit
Visiting Shigar Fort? Stay 60 km away.
Return each evening to riverside rooms, fresh meals and mountain views at Cascade Resorts.
Seasons
Best Time to Visit Shigar Fort
Be Prepared
Tips Before You Go
- Confirm visiting times and any entry fee at the entrance before you go in.
- Respect hotel guests' privacy in the parts of the fort used as rooms.
- Allow at least half a day for the fort, the museum and the village.
- Visit Amburiq Mosque on the same trip, as it is a short walk away.
- Combine the fort with Blind Lake and Sarfaranga Desert on the same road.
In Focus
A Closer Look
Keep Exploring
More Places to Visit Near Cascade Resorts
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
It is about 60 km, around 1.4 hours by road.
Fong Khar is the local name of Shigar Fort and means the Palace on the Rock.
It is a 17th century palace, around 400 years old, built by the Amacha dynasty.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture restored it between 1999 and 2005 using original materials.
Sources do not list a fixed fee. Please confirm visiting times and any fee at the entrance.
Plan Your Stay
Explore the Royal Palace, Then Rest by the River
Shyok River Valley Road, Ghawari, Ghanche District, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
- Call us: +92 315 5554648
- Call us: +92 317 7468108
- Call us: +92 355 555 4648
Sunset Grill
Thorgu, Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
- Call us: +92 315 555 4648
- Call us: +92 355 555 4648
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